A little trick to spice up a classic chicken dish.
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Does it ever get boring making the same chicken dish over and over again? Of course, but there’s an easy fix for that. Chicken dishes are usually simple to make and reasonably healthy. But just in case you want to do something different, this air fryer stuffed chicken breast is the perfect solution. Instead of always trying to figure out what to put on top of your chicken, you can put those extra ingredients inside the chicken. It’s a simple change, but it makes all the difference.
With an air fryer, you can trust that the outside of your chicken will be cooked to a crispy golden brown. Meanwhile, there’s a surprise waiting inside the chicken, a creamy mixture of spinach, cheese, and cream cheese. At the same time, there are herbs and spices rubbed onto the outside of the chicken to expand the flavor profile even more. Think of it as a fresh take on a classic recipe that could soon become a regular part of mealtimes.
If it turns out you like cooking chicken in the air fryer – and why wouldn’t you – there are plenty more recipes to explore. You can make classic air fryer chicken breast or prepare crispy breaded chicken in your air fryer. Believe it or not, you can also make air fryer chicken parmesan. Finally, if you want a guaranteed crowd pleaser, you can cook air fryer chicken tenders with your favorite dipping sauce on the side or possibly healthy air fryer chicken nuggets.
Are Air Fryer Stuffed Chicken Breasts Healthy?
There are some not-so-healthy elements in this recipe. With cream cheese stuffed inside the chicken breast, this recipe can be high in fat and calories, so it may not be appropriate for everyone’s diet. However, boneless and skinless chicken breasts are a good source of protein. The fresh spinach stuffed inside the chicken is also rich in nutrients, while the onion and garlic also have health benefits. Also, since this chicken is prepared in an air fryer, it reduces the amount of grease and oil required to cook it, which is positive from a health perspective.
Customizable Chicken
Obviously, it’s usually best to follow the recipe exactly. But with chicken recipes, you always have the choice of customizing some of the other ingredients to fit your personal tastes. For instance, in addition to the cream cheese and spinach filling, some people add bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, or fried mushrooms. Feel free to experiment if your taste buds like any of those options. You can also play around with the spices on the outside of the chicken. If you want a little more spice, try cayenne. You can also play it safe with traditional Italian herbs. It’s all about what you prefer, just keep in mind the nutritional profile changes if you add or substitute ingredients.
INGREDIENTS
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 1/2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
INSTRUCTIONS
Prep
Cut pockets in chicken, and season with spice mix.
Stuff
Combine filling ingredients and stuff into the chicken.
Cook
Air fry until chicken reaches a safe internal temperature.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
The cream cheese-based filling for this recipe can be prepared up to 24 hours ahead of time and stored overnight in the fridge for convenience. If there are leftovers of the chicken, they can be kept in an airtight container and stored in the fridge for up to four days.
Make sure the different pieces of chicken aren’t touching each other or overlapping in the air fryer to make sure each piece cooks evenly.
Yes, as long as the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees, it’s safe to eat air fryer chicken that wasn’t pre-cooked in any way.
Serving Suggestions
What goes well with stuffed chicken breast? Well, just about anything you want. For a simple side dish, we might recommend instant pot coconut rice or coconut cilantro lime rice. Of course, vegetables are also a natural side dish, including air fryer asparagus and roasted leeks. Many people also enjoy a potato-based side dish with their chicken. This can be a simple baked potato or perhaps mustard potato salad.
Air Fryer Stuffed Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt divided
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1½ cups fresh spinach chopped
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
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Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Meanwhile, prepare the chicken by cutting a pocket into the side of each breast to hold the filling.
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Combine olive oil, paprika, half the salt, garlic powder, and onion powder in a bowl. Rub this mixture all over the chicken breasts.
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Mix together the softened cream cheese, grated Parmesan, mayonnaise, chopped spinach, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and the remaining salt in a separate bowl.
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Stuff the cream cheese mixture into the pockets of the chicken breasts.
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Place the stuffed chicken breasts in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overlapping. Cook in batches if necessary.
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Air fry the chicken at 375°F for 15–20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Check doneness with a meat thermometer.
Nutrition
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