Learn to make air fryer Caprese chicken with chicken breast, fresh mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and pesto! This air fryer pesto chicken breast recipe uses only 5 main ingredients and cooks in under 20 minutes. Feeling bored of lunch? You’ll love this easy keto Caprese chicken that’s low in net carbs but not low on flavor.
What is chicken Caprese? Chicken Caprese is a delicious Italian-inspired dish that typically combines grilled or sautéed chicken breast with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil, and balsamic glaze.
It takes its name from the traditional Caprese salad, which consists of tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. These foods feature the green, white, and red of an Italian flag. The result is a simple yet beautiful and delicious meal!
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➕ What is Caprese chicken made of?
Here is the ingredients list for Caprese chicken in the air fryer:
- 18 ounces boneless skinless chicken breast (510 grams, 2 chicken breasts)
- Salt and pepper (optional, to taste)
- Cooking spray
- ¼ cup pesto
- ⅓ lb fresh mozzarella cheese (151 grams)
- 1-2 ripe tomatoes (sliced thin)
- Balsamic glaze and fresh basil leaves (optional garnish)
Get a printable recipe card at the end of the article!
It's important to get the freshest ingredients possible for Caprese chicken. Using high-quality ingredients is the key to great taste in this recipe.
You can make air fried Caprese chicken with your Ninja Foodi, Cosori, Philips, Pampered Chef Air Fryer, Actifry, Nuwave, Instant Vortex, Cuisinart, Power Air Fryer, or other air fryer. I tested this recipe in all 3 of my air fryers and the timing was the same in each. However, air frying times may vary, so it's a good idea to check the food early when trying a new air fryer recipe.
You will also need a mallet and good knife to pound and trim the chicken breasts to a uniform thickness and size. This is important for even cooking. You should also have a meat thermometer on hand to ensure the chicken is properly cooked.
🍗 Air Fryer Caprese Chicken Recipe
Here are the step-by-step instructions for how to make air fryer Caprese chicken:
- Begin by pounding the chicken pieces with a mallet so they are ½-inch thick (1.27 cm). Aside from helping the chicken cook more evenly, this makes a flat surface for topping the chicken. (If your chicken pieces have very thin bits along the edges, tuck them under.)
- Preheat the air fryer to 350F (177C) for 5 minutes. Spray your air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Place the chicken in a single layer in the hot air fryer basket (you may have to cook them one at a time if they don’t fit). Spray the chicken with cooking oil spray, and season with salt and black pepper.
- Air fry the chicken for 5 minutes. (Use the top rack position if you have an air fryer oven.)
- Next, flip chicken and spread the pesto on it, entirely covering the chicken on top. Air fry an additional 8 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177C).
- Check the chicken with a meat thermometer and make sure it’s at least 155-165F (68-74C). Add time if needed to get the chicken to this range.
- Thinly slice the fresh mozzarella and tomatoes to about ¼-inch (0.6 cm) thick. Place a couple slices of mozzarella on top of the chicken, and two slices of tomato on top of the cheese.
- Air fry the chicken for an additional 3 minutes at 350F (177C). The cheese will get melty and the tomatoes will soften (but not cook down). Check to make sure the chicken reached the minimum safe internal temp for poultry of 165F (74C).
- After air frying, let the Caprese chicken rest for 5-10 minutes. If desired, garnish with balsamic glaze and freshly chopped basil before serving.
🌡️ At what temperature is chicken done in the air fryer?
According to the USDA, the minimum safe internal temperature for chicken and other poultry is 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74C). Using a meat thermometer is the safest way to check the doneness of chicken. Color is not a good indicator of doneness for meat, poultry, and fish.
🍅 How to Store Air Fryer Chicken Caprese
Air fryer Caprese chicken will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can reheat it in the microwave on high for 2-3 minutes (uncovered, on a microwave-safe plate).
I do not recommend freezing this recipe because it will alter the texture of the tomatoes. You may be able to freeze this leftover chicken if you make it without the fresh tomato slices.
⭐ Air Fryer Chicken Caprese Variations
There are many substitutions and variations you can make to this recipe to change up the flavors. For example, experiment with using different varieties of fresh tomatoes, such as colorful heirloom tomatoes when they come into season. You could also try incorporating a little extra cheese, such as grated Parmesan cheese, after air frying.
You can add Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, or other seasonings to the chicken with the salt and pepper to pump up the flavor. After cooking, drizzle with balsamic vinegar or saba instead of balsamic glaze.
Another idea is to experiment with different types of pesto. Try a red pepper pesto, carrot greens pesto, or this keto pesto sauce.
Make an air fryer Caprese sandwich by putting this recipe between two hearty pieces of bread. For an even tastier spin, add some cooked bacon, pepperoni, or sliced avocado. Yum!
Air Fryer Caprese Chicken Thighs
You may also make this chicken Caprese recipe with boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts, if you’d like. Make sure the chicken thighs are pounded to an even thickness. You may need to decrease the cooking time if the chicken thigh pieces are smaller than the chicken breasts we’re using.
Air Fryer Pesto Chicken Breasts
For a pesto chicken air fryer recipe, simply skip the tomatoes and mozzarella. Make sure to air fry the chicken until it reaches a safe temp of 165F (74C) to help prevent salmonella and other foodborne illnesses.
Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Breast (Air Fryer)
Here’s an easy recipe for mozzarella stuffed chicken breast if you're all about the cheese.
Ingredients:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 4 ounces mozzarella cheese, sliced or shredded
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Cooking spray or extra virgin olive oil
Instructions:
- Preheat your air fryer to 375F (190C) for 5 minutes. Butterfly the chicken breasts by slicing them horizontally, but not all the way through. Open the chicken breasts like a book.
- Place the mozzarella cheese slices or shredded cheese in the center of one side of each butterflied chicken breast.
- Sprinkle the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper over the cheese.
- Fold the other side of the chicken breast over the cheese, creating a pocket. Press the edges together to seal the chicken breast.
- Lightly spray or brush the air fryer basket with cooking spray or olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Place the stuffed chicken breasts in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between them for the air to circulate. If needed, cook them in batches.
- Cook the chicken breasts in the preheated air fryer for about 20 to 25 minutes or until they are cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 165F (74C). Flip the chicken halfway through the cooking time for even cooking.
- Once cooked, remove the mozzarella stuffed chicken breasts from the air fryer and let them rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the cheese to set and prevents it from oozing out immediately.
- Slice the stuffed chicken breasts and serve them hot. You can garnish with fresh herbs, such as basil or parsley, if desired.
FAQs
Overcooking chicken is the top reason chicken gets tough. It's important to cook chicken until it reaches the appropriate internal temperature (165F or 74C) without going beyond that. Thicker pieces of chicken are more likely to overcook because the exterior may become tough before the inside is fully cooked.
To keep chicken from getting rubbery in the air fryer, don’t overcook it! To ensure even cooking, you can pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness or consider slicing thicker pieces into smaller, more manageable portions. Also, consider using a chicken marinade or brine to tenderize the meat, and don’t set the air fryer temperature too high.
This air fryer Caprese chicken is delicious with vegan spinach salad, air fryer garlic bread, rice, your favorite pasta, or Salad Supreme pasta salad. To keep your Caprese chicken keto, serve it with air fryer spaghetti squash.
👨🍳 More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Looking for more ways to cook chicken in the air fryer? Don’t miss these tasty air fryer recipes:
- Air Fryer BBQ Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters
- Marinated Chicken in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Chicken Schnitzel
- Air Fryer Bruschetta Chicken
- Frozen Chicken Wings in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders
You may also enjoy these Buffalo Mozzarella Recipes and the Skinnytaste Bruschetta Chicken.
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📖 Recipe
Watch How to Make It!
Air Fryer Caprese Chicken Recipe (Air Fryer Pesto Chicken Breast)
Ingredients
- 18 ounces chicken breasts, boneless and skinless (510 grams, 2 chicken breasts)
- salt and pepper, to taste
- cooking oil spray
- ¼ cup pesto
- ⅓ lb fresh mozzarella, sliced (151 grams)
- 1-2 tomatoes, sliced thin
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (or balsamic glaze, optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Pound the chicken pieces with a mallet so they are ½-inch thick (1.27 cm). Aside from helping the chicken cook more evenly, this makes a flat surface for topping the chicken. (If your chicken pieces have very thin bits along the edges, tuck them under.)
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (177°C) for 5 minutes. Spray your air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Place the chicken in a single layer in the hot air fryer basket (you may have to cook them one at a time if they don’t fit). Spray the chicken with cooking oil spray, and season with salt and black pepper.
- Air fry the chicken for 5 minutes. (Use the top rack position if you have an air fryer oven.)
- Next, flip chicken and spread the pesto on it, entirely covering the chicken on top. Air fry an additional 8 minutes at 350℉ (177°C).
- Check the chicken with a meat thermometer and make sure it’s at least 155-165°F (68-74°C). Add time if needed to get the chicken to this range.
- Thinly slice the fresh mozzarella and tomatoes to about ¼-inch (0.6 cm) thick. Place a couple slices of mozzarella on top of the chicken, and two slices of tomato on top of the cheese.
- Air fry the chicken for an additional 3 minutes at 350°F (177°C). The cheese will get melty and the tomatoes will soften (but not cook down). Check to make sure the chicken reached the minimum safe internal temp for poultry of 165°F (74°C).
- After air frying, let the Caprese chicken rest for 5-10 minutes. If desired, drizzle with balsamic vinegar and freshly chopped basil before serving.
- Air Fryer Pesto Chicken Breasts: For a pesto chicken air fryer recipe, simply skip the tomatoes and mozzarella. Make sure to air fry the chicken until it reaches a safe temp of 165°F (74°C).
- Oven directions: Pound the chicken breasts with a mallet so they are ¾-inch thick (1.9 cm). Place in a baking dish, spread pesto on top, and bake for 30 minutes in an oven preheated to 400°F (200°C). Check internal temp, if it reached 165°F (74°C), add cheese and tomato slices. Put the chicken back in the oven and bake an additional 5 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Let chicken rest before adding balsamic vinegar and basil.
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). Though chicken breast is a lean protein, this main course isn’t the best fit for a low calorie meal. Olive oil-heavy pesto and the generous amount of cheese adds a significant number of calories quickly. In addition, I made the serving size of the chicken very large (over 8 ounces/227 grams). The reason I did this is because I don’t want you to undereat! Sometimes folks combine a low-carb, high-protein diet with intermittent fasting. If you're eating less than 3 meals per day, you may need more calories with each meal. That said, if you want a lighter (level 1, lower calorie) meal, here are some tips:- Use less mozzarella (slice it thinner, so you still get good coverage of the chicken).
- Cut the portion of Caprese chicken in half (i.e., have this recipe serve 4 instead of 2).
- If you are making your own pesto for this recipe, consider experimenting with using less oil.
Terrified Amateur says
Most comments open immediately with thoughts culinary, but the initial compliment this time goes to the photography. Beautiful colors, including garden produce at peak. Your arrangement and plating capture the exuberance, Summer, and convey it to a salivating public.
Now, on to the food, which is itself perfectly chosen for mid-July. Aside from basic cooking the chicken requires, not much here to add more heat to a house and to diners already overwhelmed with it. Instead, your creation focuses wonderfully on the garden's cooling freshness, with just enough substance to evict hunger pangs.
Oh, and my compliments on growing yourself so much of the dinner Not only do you raise it and coax excellence from it, but you help it to reach its highest culinary aspirations. I mean, just look at that lettuce. Exquisite! .
Summer Yule says
Thank you, I've been working on the photography! IMVHO colorful, seasonal produce is often one of the easiest things to capture. Monochromatic dishes (oatmeal, smoothies) tend to be far more challenging for me.
In all honesty, my garden areas have been an interesting mix of successes and failures. I've noticed a lot of my blueberries have been mysteriously disappearing, though they are covered in bird nets. This morning, my son spotted a pretty little cardinal *inside* the bird net with my berries. Apparently he has figured out how to let himself in and out (because you can shimmy underneath the net where it meets the ground). Sigh. Hahaha
Dennis Yannakos says
I'm craving for this dish! Love it!
Summer Yule says
Thank you! Let me know if you get a chance to make it!