Herby Cauliflower Rice with Pecans and Candied Bacon-Wrapped Chicken

Bacon-wrapped chicken with brown sugar and chili powder is baked next to cauliflower rice in this sheet pan dinner ready in about an hour.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 50 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 500 Calories

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 2 cloves garlic, grated
• 2 pounds riced cauliflower
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme, divided
• 4 thinly sliced chicken breasts
• 8 thin bacon slices
• 0.5 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 0.25 cup brown sugar
• 0.75 teaspoon chili powder
• 0.33333334326744 cup chopped pecans, or more to taste
• 2.5 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil, ensuring the foil goes up the sides of the sheet to catch all the juices.

Step 2

Heat a skillet over medium heat; add pecans and cook, stirring frequently, until toasted, about 5 minutes.

Step 3

Combine cauliflower, olive oil, garlic, 2 teaspoons thyme, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and black pepper in a bowl; spread over 2/3 of the prepared baking sheet.

Step 4

Season chicken with remaining 1 teaspoon thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and ground black pepper. Wrap each chicken breast with 2 pieces bacon, covering the entire surface of the chicken. Arrange chicken in 1 row down the remaining 1/3 of the baking sheet.

Step 5

Mix brown sugar and chili powder together in a bowl and sprinkle half of it over the bacon-wrapped chicken.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes; stir cauliflower and flip bacon-wrapped chicken using tongs. Sprinkle the remaining brown sugar mixture over chicken. Continue baking until chicken is no longer pink in the center and bacon is crisp, 20 to 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Broil for a few minutes if bacon needs crisping.

Step 7

Remove chicken from baking sheet and stir cauliflower into the bacon and chicken drippings. Stir in toasted pecans and parsley. Spoon cauliflower into bowls and top with bacon-wrapped chicken.