Air Fryer Pesto Chicken Bites
Enjoy making Air Fryer Pesto Chicken Bites, a tender, flavorful way to enjoy chicken breast or chicken thighs using the bold flavors of basil, garlic, and parmesan cheese in just 15 minutes or less!
I take pride in cooking most of our family meals at home. One of the things that makes it easy is using the air fryer to cook all types of chicken like Greek Chicken Bites, Chicken Meatballs, Chicken Burgers, and Chicken Meatloaf!
Making small pieces of seasoned chicken all in one cook (air fry) makes meal prepping so much more manageable. The chicken can be seasoned in so many different ways and then repurposed in lots of meals!
This recipe uses store-bought pesto sauce to create a savory, herb, garlicky flavor that infuses pieces of chicken breast or chicken thighs before cooking them in the air fryer. The result is chicken that is tender on the inside an lightly golden brown on the outside with a classic pesto flavor!
⏲️Quick Instructions
After cutting your chicken breast or chicken thighs into bite sized one inch pieces, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then toss with Pesto sauce. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight, then cook in a preheated air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes or until cooked through and tender. For even more pesto flavor, toss the cooked chicken bites with a bit more pesto while they’re still warm!
🍗Trader Joe’s Pesto Chicken Breast
Here’s a shortcut! Buy the already seasoned pesto chicken from Trader Joes if you have one near you. Cut the chicken breast into pieces or cook the whole piece at once in an air fryer preheated to 375°F (190°C). The pieces will take 15-20 minutes while the whole chicken breast will take 22-25 minutes.
🍝Pesto Chicken For Meal Prep or Family Dinners
- Pepperoni and Pesto Chicken Melt: Layer pieces of pesto chicken and pepperoni between two pieces of bread, add mozzarella cheese, and grill until the cheese is melted.
- Pesto Chicken with Mozzarella: Top with melted mozzarella cheese for a simple main course to serve with pasta or vegetables.
- Pesto Chicken Pizza: Use pesto as the sauce on your pizza crust, then add chicken, mozzarella cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings before baking.
- Pesto Chicken Sandwich: Make a pesto chicken sandwich with your choice of bread, lettuce, tomato, and any other toppings.
- Pesto Chicken Salad: Cube or shred pesto chicken and toss it with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and a balsamic vinaigrette that’s high in protein.
- Pesto Chicken Pasta: Stir cooked pesto chicken into your favorite pasta dish for added protein and flavor.
- Pesto Chicken Wraps: Wrap pesto chicken, Italian cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes in a tortilla for a portable lunch option.
Air Fryer Pesto Chicken
Equipment
- Air Fryer or Ninja Foodi
Ingredients
- 1 pound Chicken Breast or chicken thighs
- 4 tablespoons Pesto Sauce homemade or store bought
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken breast: Cut your chicken breast into 1 inch cubes or bite sized pieces.
- Season the chicken: Toss the chicken with pesto sauce and marinate for 30 minutes in the fridge up to overnight.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Allow it to preheat for 3-5 minutes.
- Air Fry Pesto Chicken: Place the pesto seasoned chicken breasts in the air fryer basket. Cook the chicken at 375°F (190°C) for about 15-20 minutes. Or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F .
- Serve and Enjoy: Once cooked, carefully remove the chicken from the air fryer and serve with your favorite dishes.
