Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breast

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts (skinless and boneless)
• 4 thick-bacon strips
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tsp sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 sprig of fresh thyme

Instructions

1. 1

   Brine chicken: Fill a large bowl with 2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of salt. Stir to combine until the salt is dissolved. Add the chicken breasts and let them brine for 15 minutes. Start your stopwatch…or just catch up on your latest Netflix binge for about half an episode's worth of time.

2. 2

   Dry chicken: Remove the chicken from the brine. Rinse them with cold water. Pat dry on a paper towel.

3. 3

   Season chicken: Preheat your oven to 450°F. Place the chicken breasts in a large baking dish. Season the chicken on both sides with a pinch of sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.

4. 4

   Wrap chicken: Wrap each chicken breast with two strips of bacon until completely coated, then brush with the olive oil and top with the thyme leaves.

5. 5

   Bake the chicken for 15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the bacon is crispy. Remove the baked chicken breast from the oven and transfer to a clean plate. Let the chicken rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing.