Air Fryer Cheesy Pesto Chicken
For sure one of my new favorite air fryer recipes! This Cheesy Pesto Chicken is packed with flavor and so simple to make, you'll love it!
Equipment
- Air Fryer (or the oven at 425°)
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breast
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp parsley
- ¼ tsp pepper
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 small tomato cut in half and then into slices
- 1½ cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 zuccuni sliced in half and then into ⅛ inch slices
- ¼ cup store bought pesto
- mozzarella cheese (8 slices) I like using the fresh mozzarella in the large block
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- your favorite noodles I used the brown rice ones from trader joes- about 1/2 cup per serving
Let's Make It
- Preheat the air fryer to 400° or 425° for a larger air fryer like the one I use.*** 425° if using an oven
- Using a sharp knife, make 4 slices in each chicken breast (like in the picture above), but don't cut all the way through the chicken breast. This is pretty much creating a little nest for the pesto, cheese and tomato.
- Mix together the garlic, paprika, salt, pepper + parsley.
- Lay the chicken breast on the air fryer tray (flat tray/no holes)- surround the chicken with the tomatoes + zucchini.***If you have a basket style air fryer, I would line the basket with parchement paper and skip adding the veggies, cook them seperately.
- Spread the cherry tomatoes + zucchini all around the chicken- season both the chicken + the veggies with the seasonings.
- Stuff each slot in the chicken with pesto (about 1 tsp each slot), cheese + tomato.
- Drizzle the chicken + the veggies with about 1 tbsp of olive oil and place the tray into the air fryer to cook for about 10-15 minutes.*** if using a larger air fryer or the oven- it may take a bit longer
- While the chicken is cooking boil the noodles.
- Once the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165° and the cheese has started to brown, remove it from the air fryer and let it cool for 5 minutes before serving over noodles.