Air Fryer Stuffed Chicken Breast

Say hello to this incredible Air Fryer Stuffed Chicken Breast! Loaded with a creamy filling of parmesan, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and perfectly cooked in your air fryer, it’s the most flavorful & tender chicken breast recipe around!

What are the ingredients in this Air Fryer Stuffed Chicken Breast?

As long as you’ve got a couple key ingredients handy, you’re easily on your way to homemade stuffed chicken breasts. Here’s a list of everything you’ll need for this recipe, plus info on swaps or substitutions when it works.

• olive oil – Cooking the onions in olive oil lends a nice flavor to the filling; avocado oil would work as well.
• yellow onion – For the best flavor, this recipe requires you to saute the onions and garlic first, before adding the spinach to cook it down as well. This method helps release the aromatics in the onion and garlic which then transfers to the chicken breast during cooking.
• kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper – For maximum flavor and juiciness, I like to season the entire inside and outside of the chicken breasts before stuffing!
• garlic – Of course, always measure garlic with your heart. I found that two large cloves is a good starting place for this recipe.
• baby spinach leaves – You’ll notice the recipe says to roughly chop the spinach leaves. This is because I personally don’t enjoy getting entire leaves of cooked spinach in my mouth. Giving it a quick rough chop helps it blend into the filling much better!
• cream cheese – Using cream cheese as a base for the filling is what makes it nice and creamy. Plus, it incorporates all the flavors and helps moisten the chicken breast from the inside.
• parmesan cheese – For extra flavor and cheesiness, add some shredded parmesan cheese! You could also swap this for mozzarella, gouda, or any cheese you like!
• sun-dried tomatoes – Sliced or chopped sun-dried tomatoes add a flavor boost and a touch of sweetness to the filling. If you don’t like sun-dried tomatoes, you could omit them and this stuffed chicken breast would still be delicious!
• boneless skinless chicken breasts – For best results, look for chicken breasts on the larger end. Two large chicken breasts take up the perfect amount of space in the air fryer basket while still allowing good airflow during cooking.
• oil cooking spray – I always keep avocado spray oil on hand, so that’s what I used to spritz the top of the chicken breasts before cooking. This helps with browning and locking in moisture!

How do you make this Air Fryer Stuffed Chicken Breast?

This stuffed chicken breast may look a little tricky, but I promise it’s not difficult at all. It’s totally okay if you don’t get the filling perfectly stuffed on the first try – some chicken breasts can be more difficult to cut than others. Here’s a more detailed version of the instructions you’ll find in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Start by prepping all the veggies to be used in the filling: onion, garlic and spinach. Heat the olive oil or avocado oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once it’s hot, add the onions and a generous pinch of salt. Cook for about 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.

The onions should be translucent, softened, and beginning to brown. At this point, add the garlic and stir it into the onions. It should be fragrant in about 60 seconds. Next, add the chopped spinach and stir that in. It should take about 2 minutes to wilt and cook down. Once this happens, remove the whole pan from the heat and set it aside.

Time to make the filling! In a medium bowl, use a large spoon beat together the cream cheese, parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes and a few grinds of black pepper. Once that part is mixed, you can easily stir in the spinach and onion mixture to finish the filling.

Store the bowl of filling in the refrigerator or freezer to chill for a few minutes while you prep the chicken. This helps it firm up a bit so it’s easier to handle when you stuff the chicken breasts.

Here’s my recommended method for stuffing the chicken: Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board and pat them dry with a paper towel. This makes them slightly easier to handle, and the seasoning will stick better.

Using a very sharp knife, carefully cut a slit into the side of each chicken breast to create a pocket for filling. Be careful not to cut all the way through, or the filling may leak out. Sprinkle a mix of salt and pepper on the inside and outside of the chicken breasts.

To stuff, divide the filling between the two chicken breasts with a spoon. It’s okay if there’s a little extra – it may spill out a bit, but it’s still delicious! Use toothpicks to secure it closed around the filling. You’ll need 2 or 3 toothpicks per chicken breast.

If needed, pre-heat your air fryer to 350F. Carefully place the chicken breasts into the basket, stuffed side facing up or slightly up and to the side. Spritz the top of the chicken with a bit of oil spray to help it brown, and season with a little more salt and pepper.

Cook the stuffed chicken breasts at 350F for about 20 minutes until golden brown and all parts of the chicken read at least 165F. Let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting. This helps it retain moisture and lets the filling cool down from lava form just a bit. Don’t forget to remove the toothpicks before serving!

What temperature do you cook Air Fryer Stuffed Chicken Breast?

I recommend cooking this stuffed chicken breast in your air fryer at 350F. This is high enough to get a nice golden exterior, but low enough to cook through and make the filling nice and gooey!

How long do you cook Air Fryer Stuffed Chicken Breast?

I recommend cooking this stuffed chicken breast in your air fryer for at least 20-23 minutes, or until it’s golden brown and cooked to 165F internally. The cook time will vary depending on the size of the chicken breasts used.

Best tips for making stuffed chicken breast:

Here are my best tips for making this Air Fryer Stuffed Chicken successfully in your kitchen:

• When cutting the chicken, be firm but careful. Place one hand on top of the chicken breast to hold it steady while you cut with the other hand. Start with the thickest part of the chicken and cut a slit about 3 inches long.
• When cutting the chicken, start cutting at the thickest part first. Then slowly make your way to the thinner part. It’s okay to leave the thinnest part of the chicken alone and only stuff the thick part.
• Just like any meat you cook, let it rest for 5-10 minutes after cooking to seal in all the moisture. You won’t regret it! You can even just let it sit in the air fryer to stay warm.

Why cook stuffed chicken breasts in the air fryer vs. the oven?

Both the oven and air fryer can cook up delicious stuffed chicken breasts. But there might be cases where you need to use the air fryer – your oven is broken; your oven is full of something else; or maybe you don’t have an oven!

Baking stuffed chicken breast in the oven can take anywhere from 30-45 minutes depending on the size of the chicken breasts. Air fryer chicken breast takes around 20-23 minutes to cook.

What should you serve with these stuffed chicken breasts?

When I photographed this recipe, I also made some oven-roasted zucchini and garlic rice pilaf from a box. All of these meal components together were unbelievably delicious. But the possibilities for what to serve with this main dish are endless. Here are some other ideas to try:

• serve with any roasted vegetables
• serve over your favorite rice or pasta
• serve with a side salad and fresh cut veggies

Ways to customize this chicken breast:

The best part about this chicken breast recipe: if you aren’t a fan of an ingredient in the filling, you can easily change it up, and the final dish will still be delicious! Here are some examples:

• Swap the sun-dried tomatoes for another chopped vegetable, or just leave them out completely!
• Use a different cheese: I made this with a mozzarella provolone mix, and it was incredible that way too!
• Add a savory touch with bacon bits! This would also be great if you swapped the tomatoes for chopped broccoli.

Which air fryer model do you recommend?

The air fryer I have currently, and the one that is pictured in this post is the Cosori XL 5.8 qt Air Fryer (affiliate link!). It’s reliable, easy to clean, and almost always quicker than using the oven.

If you’re going to invest in an air fryer to cook things for two or more people, you should opt for a larger size like this one, in my opinion!

How do you meal prep this recipe?

This recipe is most excellent prepared as a main dish right before you enjoy. But it also makes delicious leftovers! Here are a few ways to save time by preparing this recipe ahead:

1. Filling prep: The cream cheese filling mixture can be made 24 hours ahead to save on time during cooking day.
2. Prep for the week: Cook this recipe completely and store in the fridge for reheating later in the week.

How to store Air Fryer Stuffed Chicken Breast:

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

How to freeze Air Fryer Stuffed Chicken Breast:

Freeze leftovers in an airtight container or freezer safe storage bag (the less air, the better) for up to 3 months. For best quality, thaw in the fridge overnight before enjoying.

How to reheat Air Fryer Stuffed Chicken Breast:

Reheat in the air fryer at 325F for 15 minutes, or until the filling is steaming hot and melty.

Recipe developed by Rachel Phipps.