If you are looking for a quick chicken dinner that is a little different from the usual roast chicken, curry or stir-fry, this spicy air-fryer chicken with bacon and dates deserves a place on the menu.
The combination might sound unusual at first. Bacon is salty and smoky, dates are naturally sweet, while chilli brings the heat. But once everything cooks together, the dates become soft and jammy, coating the chicken and bacon with a sweet-and-spicy flavour.
The recipe is also remarkably simple. The chicken, bacon, chilli sauce and oil are mixed together before going into the air fryer, with the chopped dates added towards the end so they soften without burning.
And because the air fryer cooks the ingredients quickly at high heat, you can have dinner on the table without spending the evening standing over the stove.
Why The Sweet And Spicy Combination Works
The secret to this recipe is contrast.
Chicken provides the main protein, while bacon brings saltiness and a smoky flavour. The chilli sauce adds heat and acidity, and the dates provide sweetness.
As the dates heat up, they soften and become almost syrupy. That sweetness helps balance the chilli and saltiness from the bacon.
For South African kitchens, you can use your favourite hot sauce, chilli sauce or peri-peri sauce depending on how much heat you want.
If you prefer a milder dinner, start with a small amount of chilli sauce and add more at the table.
Ingredients
Serves: 3–4
Preparation time: About 10–15 minutes
Cooking time: About 15 minutes
Total time: About 25–30 minutes
- 500g boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 120g bacon, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce, chilli sauce or peri-peri sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 pitted dates, roughly chopped
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley or spring onion, chopped, for serving
To Serve
Choose whichever suits your household:
- Cooked white or brown rice
- Roasted potatoes
- Fresh green salad
- Crusty bread
- Pap for a more South African-style plate
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Times Post tip: Chicken thighs tend to remain particularly juicy in an air fryer, while chicken breast is leaner and cooks quickly. If using breast, avoid overcooking it.
How To Make Air Fryer Spicy Chicken With Bacon And Dates
1. Prepare The Chicken
Trim any excess fat from the chicken and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
Try to keep the pieces roughly the same size. This helps them cook more evenly.
Place the chicken in a large bowl.
2. Add The Bacon And Chilli
Add the chopped bacon, hot sauce or chilli sauce and olive oil.
Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Mix everything thoroughly so that the chicken and bacon are evenly coated.
There is no need to add a large amount of oil. The bacon will release some of its own fat as it cooks.
3. Preheat The Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C for about five minutes.
If your air fryer recommends a different setting for your particular model, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
For easier cleaning, you can use air-fryer parchment that is designed for your appliance.
4. Air Fry The Chicken And Bacon
Place the chicken and bacon mixture into the air-fryer basket in a reasonably even layer.
Cook for about 7–10 minutes, shaking the basket once or twice during cooking.
At this stage, the chicken should be starting to brown and the bacon should be becoming crisp.
5. Add The Dates
Scatter the chopped dates over the chicken and bacon.
Return the basket to the air fryer and cook for another 3–5 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through, the bacon is browned and the dates have softened.
Keep an eye on the dates during the final few minutes because their natural sugars can brown quickly.
6. Finish And Serve
Transfer everything to a serving dish.
Scatter over chopped fresh parsley or sliced spring onion if you have some available.
Serve immediately with rice, potatoes, bread or a crisp green salad.
The Trick To Getting The Chicken Nicely Browned
Don’t pack the air-fryer basket too tightly.
The air fryer works by circulating hot air around the food. If the basket is overloaded, the chicken can steam rather than brown properly.
If you are doubling the recipe, it may be better to cook it in batches rather than filling the basket to the top.
Also remember to shake the basket during cooking. This helps expose different sides of the chicken and bacon to the hot circulating air.
How Hot Should You Make It?
This is one recipe where you can easily adjust the heat.
For a mild version, use a tablespoon of a mild chilli or peri-peri sauce.
For medium heat, use two tablespoons of your preferred hot sauce.
For serious chilli lovers, add extra chilli sauce after cooking or serve it alongside the meal.
You can also add a pinch of smoked paprika for extra depth without making the dish significantly hotter.
What Can You Use Instead Of Dates?
If dates aren’t readily available, dried apricots make a good alternative.
They won’t taste exactly the same, but they provide the same idea of adding a sweet, fruity element to balance the salty bacon and spicy chicken.
If using dried fruit, chop it into small pieces so it can soften quickly during the final stage of cooking.
Can You Make It Without An Air Fryer?
Yes.
If you don’t have an air fryer, spread the chicken and bacon mixture across a large baking tray and roast it in a preheated 220°C oven.
Add the dates towards the end of cooking and continue roasting until the chicken is cooked through and the bacon is browned.
The air fryer is simply the quicker option and can give the chicken and bacon a particularly good browned finish.
What To Serve With It
For a quick weeknight dinner, keep the sides simple.
Rice: The rice absorbs the spicy, sweet juices from the chicken.
Roasted potatoes: A good choice if you want something more substantial.
Green salad: The freshness cuts through the richness of the bacon.
Bread: Perfect for mopping up the juices.
Pap: For a distinctly South African spin, serve the chicken alongside soft pap and a simple tomato-and-onion relish.
Times Post Kitchen Verdict
This is the sort of recipe that works particularly well on a busy weeknight: few ingredients, minimal preparation and very little washing-up.
The real attraction, however, is the flavour.
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The salty bacon, sweet dates and spicy chicken create a combination that is considerably more interesting than the usual quick chicken dinner.
Difficulty: Easy
Prep: 10–15 minutes
Cooking: 10–15 minutes
Serves: 3–4
Best for: Quick weeknight dinners
