This air fryer Pesto Chicken Breast is delicious and easy to make in under 20 minutes. A weeknight chicken dinner for the whole family. The chicken is coated with tasty pesto sauce and you can serve it with creamy mashed potatoes or seasoned rice and vegetables. You can enjoy it on its own or with a simple salad.
Air Fryer Pesto Chicken Recipe
This air fryer pesto chicken breast recipe requires minimal effort and is quick to put together. Feel free to use store-bought pesto sauce for this recipe. You can make your sauce from scratch if you prefer. It requires simple ingredients like boneless chicken breast and pesto. You can add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. The chicken is cooked to perfection in an air fryer, resulting in a tender, juicy, and flavorful meal. This dish is budget-friendly and can be served with various side dishes. It is a great option for meal prep and will make a .delicious meal
Are you making your pesto sauce at home? If yes, use fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic cloves, parmesan cheese grated, olive oil, salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Pesto sauce is a healthy alternative to other creamy sauces.
All you must do is place the seasoned chicken breast in the air fryer basket and air fry it until fully cooked. The internal temperature reaches 165F/74C (use a meat thermometer to check for doneness if in doubt).
The cooking time for chicken breast depends on the thickness of the chicken.
Learn how to make your air fryer pesto chicken breast.
Ingredients and Variations
Chicken breast: you can use any cut of chicken of your choice. Chicken breast cutlet or chicken tenders. I used boneless skinless chicken breasts.
Pesto – I used a store-bought jar of pesto sauce. You can make your homemade pesto sauce.
Chilli flakes - if you want the pesto chicken a little spicy, you can add some pepper. Black pepper or cayenne pepper will work too.
Air fryer temperature varies depending on size, make, and model. My delicious cravings recipe time is subject to a preheated air fryer. If you are trying this recipe for the first time, deduct 2 minutes from the cooking time and increase it if needed to allow the food to cook evenly.
How to Make Pesto Chicken Breast in Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer for 3 minutes at 200C/400F. Prep the chicken by removing any unwanted fat, pat dry with a kitchen paper towel, and butterfly the chicken breast.
Use a spoon or a brush to apply the chicken pesto sauce on both sides of the chicken breast and coat generously.
Place the chicken into the air fryer basket and cook at 180C/360F for 12 minutes. Turn over halfway through the cooking.
Once done, carefully remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
How to Store and Reheat
Chicken can be stored in the fridge for up to 3-5 days in an airtight container or the freezer for up to 2 months.
To reheat: you can eat it cold or at room temperature if you serve it with salad. Reheat chicken breast in the air fryer at 160C/320F for 5 minutes or until hot.
If reheating from frozen, thaw the chicken overnight in the fridge and then heat it in a preheated air fryer at 180C/360F. Only use the microwave if time is of the essence.
Tips
- You do not need to preheat the air fryer.
- Remember to flip halfway through the cooking.
- If using frozen chicken breast, there’s no need to thaw or defrost the chicken. Just cook directly in the air fryer from frozen.
Recipe
Air Fryer Pesto Chicken Breast
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 350 g chicken breast less than 1 lb
- 2 Tablespoons pesto sauce
- 1 teaspoon chilli flakes
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer for 3 minutes at 200C/400F. Prep the chicken by removing any unwanted fat, pat dry with a kitchen paper towel, and butterfly the chicken breast. Use a spoon or a brush to apply the chicken pesto sauce on both sides of the chicken breast and coat generously.
- Place the chicken into the air fryer basket and cook at 180C/360F for 12 minutes. Turn over halfway through the cooking.
- Once done, carefully remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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