It’s air fryer magic time again. For the longest time, I’ve only been using pesto for pasta dishes. But pesto can also be a versatile ingredient to play around with! In collaboration with a leading electronics brand, I created a pesto salmon recipe using a convection microwave. This then inspired me and gave me the idea of this Breaded Pesto Air Fryer Chicken recipe. The results were great and this is definitely my favourite air fryer breaded chicken recipe to date!
To be completely honest, I had not been the biggest fan of air fryer chicken before. The turnout is generally decent, but just nothing particularly striking or impressive in my opinion. It was just missing a little edge. While I’ve got people telling me that’s just normal to expect from an air fryer, I felt like there’s definitely room to push for more. rather dubious about making chicken in an air fryer. I have had some decent turnouts but nothing that particularly strikes and satisfies me completely.
I first marinated the chicken with buttermilk and seasonings including salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Then you get a layer of pesto coating over the chicken before the crunchy breaded exterior.
Don’t have an air fryer and thinking of getting one? Check these out:
- Ninja Dual Zone Air Fryer
- COSORI Smart Wifi Air Fryer
- Philips Essential Air Fryer with Rapid Air Technology
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How to make Breaded Pesto Air Fryer Chicken
Ingredients
- Mini Chicken Fillets
- Buttermilk
- Paprika, Garlic Powder, Salt, Black Pepper
- Pesto
- Golden Breadcrumbs
- Olive Oil
Recipe notes
- Using buttermilk as marinade is where the magic happens with the chicken. Its acidity helps to break down the protein structures of the chicken, bringing you a softer and more tender texture.
- The key to achieving a beautiful golden colour and crispy touch with an air fryer is oil. Brush the air fryer basket with a bit of oil or use a cooking spray – once before cooking the chicken and once after flipping the chicken to the other side.
*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Need more recipe inspo? Check these out too:
Breaded Pesto Air Fryer Chicken
Ingredients
- 700 g Mini Chicken Fillets
- ½ cup Buttermilk
- 2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1½ tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Black Pepper
- 2½ tbsp Pesto
- 1 cup Golden Breadcrumbs
- Olive Oil
Instructions
- Season the chicken fillets with salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
- Marinate the seasoned chicken fillets in buttermilk for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Spread pesto all over each chicken fillet and then dip into a golden breadcrumbs until fully coated.
- Preheat air fryer to 200°C. Brush the air fryer basket with oil and place the chicken fillets into it. Do not overcrowd the basket and cook in batches if needed.
- Cook for 10mins, then flip the chicken fillets and cook for another 6-8 minutes until golden and cooked through. Serve hot.
Notes
- Prep time does not include time for marinating the chicken.
- Using buttermilk as marinade is where the magic happens with the chicken. Its acidity helps to break down the protein structures of the chicken, bringing you a softer and more tender texture.
- Brushing/spraying the air fryer basket with oil before cooking the chicken helps to achieve a golden colour and crispy touch on the chicken. Repeat when flipping the chicken to the other side.
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