Air Fryer Pesto Chicken Breast
This air fryer Pesto chicken breast recipe is simple, quick, and ready in under 20 minutes. Pesto chicken breast in air fryer is packed full of flavor, juicy, and tender and every bite is delicious. Let me show you how to make it.
Air Fryer Pesto Chicken Breast Recipe
This air fryer pesto chicken breast recipe is not only simple, but it’s easy and quick with minimal prep and ready in a jiffy!
It is packed full of flavor, the rich herbs and spices of the pesto make the chicken aromatic, flavorful, tender, and delicious.
Minimal ingredients are used to make this air fryer pesto chicken recipe. Boneless chicken breast and Pesto! You can add extra salt and pepper to your taste. No arranging and measuring out loads of ingredients. It’s really a simple and straightforward recipe.
Pesto is a combination of nuts, herbs, and olive oil and you can use any type of Pesto for this Pesto chicken be it nut-free Pesto, or dairy free.
You can get this tender chicken with Pesto ready in under 20 minutes! Chicken breasts are quick to cook and with an air fryer, an even shorter time is required.
This dish is budget friendly and can be served with any side dish of your choice. It’s versatile and whether it is baby potatoes, boiled asparagus, or a side of rice, it goes well with it. It’s also great for meal prep. Have this in the fridge to pull out and make quick chicken wraps, pesto chicken salad, or sandwiches. The possibilities are endless.
This air fryer chicken pesto recipe is high in protein, low carb, aromatic, nutritious, flavorful, healthy, and delicious. You will love it!
Related: Air fryer lemon chicken breast, Air fryer boneless chicken breast
Ingredients
The full ingredient quantities and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Chicken breast– I used skinless boneless chicken breast. You can also use Bone in chicken breasts or boneless chicken thighs. Other parts of the chicken can also be used but be aware that the cooking time will vary.
Pesto– Use homemade or store-bought Pesto. You don’t need much of it for this recipe as a little of it goes a long way. I used store-bought in this post.
Salt and Pepper– You can add more of this to taste. If the Pesto is salted, make sure you taste it first to establish if it requires additional salt or not as you don’t want your chicken salty.
How To Make Pesto Chicken Breast In Air Fryer
Follow this recipe to make air fried chicken Pesto in simple steps:
Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and add to a plate or bowl.
Add in the black pepper, salt, and Pesto. Rub the Pesto and seasoning all over the chicken covering every side.
Arrange the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Ensure you leave space between the chicken and they are not touching.
Air fry chicken pesto at 400F/200C for 9 minutes, then use tongs to flip the chicken and continue to air fry for another 8-9 minutes or until they are cooked and the internal temperature reaches at least 165F when checked with an instant thermometer.
Bring out the chicken from the air fryer. Let the chicken rest for a few minutes then serve.
Enjoy.
How Long To Air Fry Chicken Breast At 400
The length of time this will take depends on the thickness of the chicken breasts and the size, and temperature of the air fryer. Cooking at a lower temperature will take longer than cooking at a higher temperature.
Typically, how long to cook chicken breast in air fryer at 400F/200C is 15-22 minutes.
Chicken is cooked when the internal temperature when checked with a meat thermometer is at least 165F. The inside of the chicken will no longer be pink and the juice will run clear.
What To Serve With
This tasty air fried pesto chicken breasts pairs well with many side dishes. Below are some recommendations:
Potato side dishes such as Potato wedges, straw potatoes, Roast potatoes, boiled potatoes.
Salad- Green salad, Coleslaw, pasta salad, and Cucumber tomato salad are some that pair with it.
Boiled pasta
Spicy pasta
Boiled rice, jollof rice, curry rice
How To Store
To store, Let the chicken cool completely, then throw them in a sealable container or Ziploc, label it, and put it in the fridge where it will store well for up to 3 days or put it in the freezer at the start if you intend to store it longer than 3 days. It will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheat in the air fryer or oven.
To reheat in the air fryer– Arrange the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer, baste the chicken with some more Pesto (if you prefer), and air fry at 190C/ 380F for 4 minutes or until heated to your desired hotness. Don’t air fry for too long so it doesn’t dry up.
In the microwave- Arrange on a microwaveable plate, and microwave on high settings till heated through. You can baste with some more Pesto if you desire.
Leftovers can be used in pasta, Salads, wraps, sandwiches, or sauce.
Tips For Making Chicken Pesto In Air Fryer
- Use a mallet to pound the chicken if you prefer or cut it into cutlets.
- Use more Pesto than recommended in this recipe if you prefer. The amount recommended above coats the chicken nicely however you can make it yours by adjusting it to suit your taste.
- Add smoked paprika for a smokey flavor.
- No extra oil is needed for this recipe as Pesto sauce is made with olive oil.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before cutting into it.
FAQS
The secret is to not overcook. Cook just till the inside is no longer pink and the internal temperature at the thickest part is at least 165F. Overcooking will dry it out and make it chewy. Cooking time for chicken breasts depends on the size and thickness so adjust time accordingly.
Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino Sardo are typically the cheese used in pesto.
Pesto is typically made with pine nuts however this can be substituted for other types of nuts like walnuts or you can make it nut free.
TOOLS
Air fryer– I used Cosori 5.5l air fryer which fits up to 3-4 chicken breasts conveniently. Probreeze, Instant Pot, and Gourmia are also brands that do the same capacity.
Tongs– You will need this to flip the chicken halfway through cooking.
Meat thermometer– This is to check the internal temperature of the chicken to ensure it’s cooked to a temperature for it to be safe to eat.
Bowl– To season the chicken with pesto.
Plate– For serving.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Check out these other air fryer chicken breast recipes you’ll love:
Air fryer bbq chicken breast
Air fryer lemon chicken breast
Marinated chicken in air fryer
Air fryer boneless chicken breast
Chicken leg quarters in air fryer
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Air Fryer Pesto Chicken Breast
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 2 Chicken Breast Boneless
- 2-3 tablespoon Pesto
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and add to a plate or bowl.
- Add in the black pepper, salt, and Pesto. Rub the Pesto and seasoning all over the chicken covering every side.
- Arrange the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Ensure you leave space between the chicken and they are not touching.
- Air fry chicken pesto at 400F/200C for 9 minutes, then use tongs to flip the chicken and continue to air fry for another 8-9 minutes or until they are cooked and the internal temperature reaches at least 165F when checked with an instant thermometer.
- Bring out the chicken from the air fryer. Let the chicken rest for a few minutes then serve. Enjoy.
Notes
- Use a mallet to pound the chicken if you prefer or cut it into cutlets.
- Use more Pesto if you like. The amount recommended above coats the chicken nicely however you can make it yours by adjusting it to suit your taste.
- Add smoked paprika for a smokey flavor.
- No extra oil is needed for this recipe as Pesto sauce is made with olive oil.
Nutrition
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