This Air Fryer Caprese Chicken recipe is chicken breast sliced in the Hasselback style and stuffed with Pesto, fresh tomato, and cheese. Each bite has a burst of savory flavor that’ll have you forgetting all about boring old chicken dinners. Made in the air fryer in under 15 minutes, I love how it turns tender juicy inside with a beautifully caramelized exterior.
This Caprese stuffed chicken is inspired by my Air Fryer Caprese Melt Sandwich. It combines the flavors of Caprese salad with the juicy protein of chicken, all while utilizing the magic of the air fryer to create the perfect blackened exterior.
How to make Hasselback Caprese Stuffed Chicken in the Air Fryer
Prep the Chicken Breast: You’ll need boneless and skinless chicken breasts. Approximately 1 inch thick. To make a pocket in the chicken, use a sharp knife and carefully cut through the thickest part of the chicken breast. Make about 5 slits in each piece of chicken. Do not cut all the way through.
Season. In a small bowl combine oil, Pesto, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste, and garlic powder. Using your hands or food-basting brush, rub the seasoning mix all over the chicken, including the inside of the slits.
Add the Tomato and Cheese: Now it’s time to make the stuffing. Cut some fresh tomatoes into thin slices (approx 3 mm thick) and cheese sliced into ¼ inch slices. Fill the chicken pockets with tomato slices, and cheese.
Hint: The cheesy tomato filling may ooze out of the chicken pocket during cooking. You may close the pockets with toothpicks to ensure that the stuffing stays inside the chicken.
Cook: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Place the chicken in the basket and cook for 12-15 minutes (depending on the size of your chicken breasts). You don’t need to flip halfway through. If you have a meat thermometer, use it to check the chicken’s internal temperature. Once it reaches 165°F, it’s ready to be taken out of the air fryer.
Serve: Using a large spatula, carefully remove the stuffed chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 3-5 minutes. Enjoy the delicious combination of flavors.
You can serve it with some Air-fried Peppers & Onions, Blooming Baked Potatoes, or a salad.
Tips and Variations
Cheese: Fresh mozzarella cheese is the perfect match for Caprese chicken. Its gooey texture will add just the right amount of richness to every bite. However, Provolone works just as well.
Spread: Instead of Pesto, you can spread mayo inside the pockets or any spread of your choice. Roasted red pepper sauce or a tangy sun-dried tomato pesto works great as well. Or try it with Creamy Avocado Cilantro sauce.
Leftovers
Store the leftover stuffed caprese chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the air fryer for 2 minutes per side until heated.
My favorite: Top the sandwich with cut-up chicken breast and more cheese to enjoy the crispy chicken melt.
Top tip – Do I need to stuff the chicken before cooking?
Yes, stuffing the chicken before cooking adds extra flavor and moisture to your chicken. You can stuff it with your favorite herbs, fruits, or veggies. Just be sure to cook it thoroughly and use a food thermometer to ensure that the chicken reaches the right temperature of 165 F.
