Air Fryer Stuffed Chicken is a flavorful dinner featuring juicy chicken breasts filled with a creamy mixture of cream cheese, queso blanco, and green chilis. The combination of creamy filling and perfectly seasoned chicken creates a restaurant-quality meal that's surprisingly easy to make at home.
This recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners when you want something special, or for entertaining guests without spending hours in the kitchen. With only 10 minutes of prep time and about 30 minutes in the air fryer, you can serve an elegant main dish that looks and tastes impressive. The air fryer method ensures the chicken stays moist and juicy while developing a beautiful golden-brown exterior.
The creamy, slightly spicy filling adds incredible flavor and keeps the chicken incredibly moist throughout cooking. This dish pairs beautifully with roasted vegetables (like roasted carrots or roasted zucchini), rice (like orzo rice pilaf), or a fresh salad for a complete meal that everyone will love.
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- Chicken breasts
- Olive oil
- Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Garlic powder
- Chili powder
- Pepper
For the filling:
- Cream cheese
- Queso blanco
- Green chilis
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Create this impressive stuffed chicken dish with these straightforward steps.
Preparation: Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees.
Step one: In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth.
Step two: Add in the queso blanco and green chilis. Mix until combined. Set aside.
Step three: In a small bowl, combine the oil, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder, chili powder and pepper. Mix to combine. Set aside.
Step four: Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board and slice each chicken breast horizontally approximately ¾ of the way through (butterfly).
Step seven: Spread the insides of each chicken breast with the filling. Fold and close up the chicken.
Step eight: Use a pastry brush to coat each chicken breast with the oil mix.
Step nine: Spray the basket of the air fryer with non-stick spray. Place the filled chicken breasts in the basket, leaving at least half of an inch between each. Work in batches if needed.
Step ten: Cook in the preheated air fryer for 15 minutes. Remove the basket and carefully flip the breasts. Cook for another 15 minutes.
Step eleven: Check the chicken - if needed, cook for an additional 10-15 minutes or until internal temp reads 165 degrees. Repeat with remaining stuffed chicken breasts.
Hint: Use toothpicks to secure the edges of the stuffed chicken breasts if the filling starts to leak out during preparation. Just remember to remove the toothpicks before serving. This extra step helps keep all that delicious creamy filling inside where it belongs.
Recipe Tips for Success
- Don't overfill the chicken breasts with the cream cheese mixture - use about 2-3 tablespoons per breast. Too much filling will squeeze out during cooking and make a mess in your air fryer. Leave a small border around the edges when spreading the filling, and press the edges together firmly after folding to create a good seal that keeps the filling contained.
Storage
Chicken should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat prior to serving.
Air Fryer Stuffed Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 lb chicken breasts
- 2 t olive oil
- ½ t Italian seasoning
- ½ t salt
- ½ t garlic powder
- ½ t chili powder
- ½ t pepper
For the filling
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- ½ c queso blanco
- ⅓ c green chilis
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth.
- Add in the queso blanco and green chilis. Mix until combined. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the oil, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder, chili powder and pepper. Mix to combine. Set aside.
- Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board and slice each chicken breast horizontally approximately ¾ of the way through (butterfly).
- Spread the insides of each chicken breast with the filling.
- Fold and close up the chicken.
- Use a pastry brush to coat each chicken breast with the oil mix.
- Spray the basket of the air fryer with non-stick spray. Place the filled chicken breasts in the basket, leaving at least half of an inch between each. Work in batches if needed.
- Cook in the preheated air fryer for 15 minutes.
- Remove the basket and carefully flip the breasts. Cook for another 15 minutes.
- Check the chicken - if needed, cook for an additional 10-15 minutes or until internal temp reads 165 degrees.
- Repeat with remaining stuffed chicken breasts.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is just an estimate and may vary based on specific ingredients used.
