Make Ninja Foodi breaded chicken breast! These air fryer chicken cutlets are an easy and delicious weeknight dinner idea. Ninja Foodi fried chicken breast is a healthy and low calorie version of deep fried chicken breast. You’ll love how the Ninja air fryer creates a golden, crispy breading and tender, juicy chicken, all without much oil! Get the cooking time and temp, nutrition info, and much more!
Let’s talk about how to air crisp chicken in a Ninja Foodi! Cooking breaded uncooked chicken in an air fryer is easier than you might think. We’re using a cornmeal and flour breading here, but I have tips on using other types of breading in the air fryer below.
Since we’re using thin Ninja Foodi chicken cutlets, this recipe doesn’t take much longer to air fry than fish. You can use this as a homemade breaded chicken patties recipe for chicken burgers, use it for chicken parm, and so much more. Find lots of serving ideas below.
I know this Ninja Foodi chicken breast is going to become a family dinner favorite. It’s fast, tasty, and healthier than fried. Why not make this breaded chicken breast Ninja Foodi recipe this week?
Jump to:
- ➕ How to Make Ninja Foodi Chicken Breast
- ⭐ How Long to Cook Breaded Chicken Breast in Air Fryer
- 🥘 Ninja Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Breast Ingredients
- 😋 What to Make with Breaded Chicken Breasts
- 🌡️ Reheating Leftovers
- 📋 Breaded Chicken Breast in Air Fryer Calories
- 💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian
- FAQs
- 👨🏾🍳 Other Healthy Air Fryer Recipes
- 👩🏻🍳 More Ninja Foodi Chicken Recipes
- The Disclaimer…
- 📖 Recipe
➕ How to Make Ninja Foodi Chicken Breast
How do you air fry breaded chicken cutlets in Ninja Foodi? Here are the step-by-step directions for Ninja air fryer breaded chicken breast:
- If you’re using Perdue Perfect Portions boneless skinless chicken breasts, your chicken is ready to go. Otherwise, use a knife and mallet to create thin chicken pieces that are ½-inch (1.27 cm) thick and 5-6 ounces (142-170 g) each.
- Set the chicken aside. Whisk an egg in a small bowl. In a second bowl, stir together the cornmeal, flour, Parmesan cheese, oregano, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
- Mist your air fryer basket or tray with cooking oil spray.
- To bread the chicken breasts, first dip each one in the whisked egg. After coating it with the egg, put the chicken in the bowl with the cornmeal mixture. Make sure your chicken patties are coated on all sides with the breading.
- Place the breaded raw chicken breast in Ninja Foodi basket. I was able to fit all of the chicken patties in a single layer. If you can’t fit all the chicken in one layer, you will have to air fry it in batches.
- Drizzle the Ninja air fryer chicken cutlets with melted butter.
- Air fry the chicken patties in the Ninja Foodi at 375F (190C) for 10 minutes. Then flip the patties, return them to the Foodi, and air fry for an additional 3-7 minutes at 375F (190C).
- Check the Ninja Foodi chicken cutlets with a meat thermometer. Your chicken should reach the safe minimum internal temperature for poultry of 165F (74C). If they have not, add more cooking time.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes, then serve and enjoy!
⭐ How Long to Cook Breaded Chicken Breast in Air Fryer
How long does breaded chicken take in the air fryer? What temp for this Ninja Foodi fried chicken recipe? Air fry chicken patties for 13-17 minutes at 375F (190C) in the Ninja Foodi.
Do not preheat the Foodi, and flip the chicken halfway through cooking time. Keep in mind that I am using thin chicken breast cutlets and that air fryer cooking times may vary. If you’re unsure whether your chicken is done, checking to make sure it reached the safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit is a great idea.
🥘 Ninja Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Breast Ingredients
The ingredients for Ninja Foodi breaded chicken breast can be found in any major grocery store. Here's your shopping list:
- Small chicken breasts, skinless and boneless (about ⅓ pound each and ½-inch thick)
- Large egg
- Cornmeal
- Flour (spelt flour, whole wheat flour, or white flour)
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Dried oregano
- Dried basil
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Black pepper
- Cooking oil spray (non-aerosol, as some report that aerosol sprays damage their air fryer)
- Melted butter
Specific quantities of ingredients are in the recipe card at the end of the post!
The chicken breasts I used for this recipe may more rightly be thought of as boneless chicken breast fillets. They are lighter and much thinner than most chicken breasts. The brand that I used is Perdue Perfect Portions, and I highly recommend them!
Starting with chicken breasts that are too thick will alter the air frying time for this recipe. You risk ending up with undercooked chicken if you don't start with thin chicken breasts.
Feel free to swap out the seasonings I’m using for your favorites. Experiment with rosemary, thyme, parsley, sage, garlic salt, Italian seasoning, or try Cajun seasoning!
Ninja Foodi Fried Chicken Breast Equipment
Here’s the kitchen equipment you need for this recipe:
- Ninja Foodi with tendercrisp lid
- Meat thermometer (I love my instant read thermometer)
- Knife and mallet (if starting with large chicken breasts)
I use a Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL 8-quart to make this recipe. You can also air fry breaded chicken in a Kalorik, Pampered Chef, Cuisinart, Actifry, Nuwave, Instant Vortex, Philips, Cosori, or Power Air Fryer. However, you may need to adjust cooking times based on the air fryer model you use.
For example, this air fryer chicken breast recipe takes 13 minutes in my Ninja Foodi and 17 minutes in my 10-Quart Kalorik Digital Air Fryer Oven. (If you use an air fryer oven, put the chicken in the top rack position.)
Do you need oil to air fry chicken?
Yes, IMHO you do need butter or oil to air fry breaded chicken. A bit of fat or oil encourages your air fried foods to brown. The breading of store bought breaded chicken often contains fat, so you may not need more in that case.
The butter in this recipe helps the breading to stick to the chicken and encourages browning and crisping. Air fryer cooking is a fantastic way to cook food with less fat and oil than deep frying. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you should use no fat when you air fry, especially if you want optimal results.
😋 What to Make with Breaded Chicken Breasts
This breaded chicken breast in air fryer recipe is great as an entrée with salad and bread. You can also use them as air fryer chicken breast burgers. Another idea is to put them on a bed of pasta (or spiralized zucchini noodles) with marinara sauce.
Here are some side dishes for breaded chicken breasts:
- Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash
- Air Fryer Garlic Bread
- Salad Supreme Pasta Salad
- Instant Pot Fries
- Frozen Green Beans in Air Fryer
🌡️ Reheating Leftovers
Leftover breaded chicken breast can be kept in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat chicken breast in the Ninja Foodi at 400F (200C) for 3-5 minutes. Add more time as needed until warmed to your liking.
You can also use a microwave to reheat leftover chicken breast. Microwave for one minute on high, then microwave in 30 second increments, checking each time until heated through. Don’t freeze leftovers; the chicken breading tends to get soggy when thawed.
(By the way, this Popcorn Chicken Salad Recipe would be a good use for any leftover chicken.)
📋 Breaded Chicken Breast in Air Fryer Calories
One serving of Ninja Foodi air fryer chicken breast has 293 calories, 12.7 grams net carbs, and 29.7 grams protein.
💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian
This is a level 2 recipe (transition or weight maintenance). Skinless chicken breast is a lean protein. Here, we’ve added baked breading and added fat to make it a moderate calorie entrée.
I normally give all recipes with flour the bump to level three. However, I think it is easy to create a satiating and low-calorie meal with these high-protein cutlets, particularly if you add some non-starchy vegetables.
For a high calorie meal, serve this Ninja Foodi chicken as a delicious chicken parm over pasta. You could also add some garlic bread on the side for some carbs-on-carbs goodness. So much flavor!
Regardless of your health goals, this recipe has a lot of good things going for it. It’s made with all whole grains, with no sugar added in the breading. Plus, it’s super versatile and likely to be enjoyed by the whole family, even picky eaters.
Plain chicken breast can be pretty boring. Having tasty recipes like this one to keep dinner interesting can make healthy eating easier. (Psst... don’t miss the FAQs if "healthy eating” for you means gluten free or low carb!)
FAQs
You can make keto chicken cutlets in Ninja Foodi with pork panko bread crumbs instead of traditional breading. Check out my low carb air fryer chicken schnitzel recipe for specific directions.
You can make Ninja Foodi frozen breaded chicken breast using my Frozen Chicken Patties in Air Fryer recipe. Modify the cooking time as needed, depending on the size of the chicken breasts you’re using. Remember that the minimum safe temp for chicken is 165F (74C).
To make gluten free breaded chicken in Ninja Foodi, substitute the spelt flour in the breading for your favorite gluten free flour. I like Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour for crispy chicken.
Yes, you can cook a variety of breaded foods in your air fryer. The air fryer does an excellent job making foods with breading crispy and brown.
Though air fryer baskets and trays are usually non-stick, it’s a good idea to use cooking spray when cooking breaded food. An exception to this is when you cook foods with a high fat breading, such as pork panko breadcrumbs.
I do not recommend stacking chicken breasts in the Ninja Foodi. For even air frying and browning, you need air to be able to circulate around all sides of the food.
👨🏾🍳 Other Healthy Air Fryer Recipes
These healthy recipes work well in the Ninja air fryer and other air fryers:
- Air Fryer Tilapia
- Air Fryer Frozen Vegetables
- Butternut Squash in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
- Air Fryer Salmon Patties
- Crispy Tofu in Air Fryer
👩🏻🍳 More Ninja Foodi Chicken Recipes
Want to try another Ninja Foodi air fryer chicken recipe? These air fryer chicken recipes also work with other air fryer types:
- Ninja Foodi Whole Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma
- Air Fryer Chicken Legs
- Frozen Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast
- Frozen Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer
You might also enjoy checking out the entire collection of Ninja Foodi Recipes.
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The Disclaimer…
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be wildly inaccurate, so please don't sweat the numbers too much.
For more information on how the three recipe levels may help with a weight management goal, refer to my overnight oats no sugar post. Let's get cooking!
📖 Recipe
Ninja Foodi Breaded Chicken Breast Recipe (Ninja Foodi Fried Chicken Breast)
Ingredients
- 1 lb small chicken breasts, skinless and boneless (454 grams; I used three Perdue Perfect Portions chicken breasts)
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup cornmeal
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon dried basil
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon onion powder
- black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- cooking oil spray (non-aerosol)
Instructions
- If you’re using very small and thin boneless skinless chicken breasts, your chicken is ready to go. Otherwise, use a knife and mallet to create thin chicken pieces that are ½-inch (1.27 cm) thick and 5-6 ounces (142-170 g) each.
- Set the chicken aside. Whisk an egg in a small bowl. In a second bowl, stir together the cornmeal, flour, Parmesan cheese, oregano, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
- Mist your air fryer basket or tray with cooking oil spray.
- To bread the chicken breasts, first dip each one in the whisked egg. After coating it with the egg, put the chicken in the bowl with the cornmeal mixture. Make sure your chicken patties are coated on all sides with the breading.
- Place the breaded raw chicken breast in Ninja Foodi basket. I was able to fit all of the chicken patties in a single layer. If you can’t fit all the chicken in one layer, you will have to air fry it in batches.
- Drizzle the Ninja air fryer chicken cutlets with melted butter.
- Air fry the chicken patties in the Ninja Foodi at 375°F (190°C) for 10 minutes. Then flip the patties, return them to the Foodi, and air fry for an additional 3-7 minutes at 375°F (190°C).
- Check the Ninja Foodi chicken cutlets with a meat thermometer. Your chicken should reach the safe minimum internal temperature for poultry of 165°F (74°C). If they have not, add more cooking time.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes, then serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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