These Air Fryer Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts are perfect for a quick and healthy weeknight family dinner. Minimal ingredients required and ready in only 30 minutes!
Air Fryer Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts make the perfect weeknight family dinner. The chicken is stuffed with three types of cheese and coated in a variety of spices for the perfect flavor combination. This stuffed chicken recipe is simple to make and ready in only 30 minutes.
This chicken is made in the Ninja Foodi for the perfect juicy chicken. Enjoy this chicken on its own or with a sauce of choice to really spice it up. Pair with a salad, baked potato or roasted vegetable to complete the meal.
Ingredient Notes
Chicken Options: I find that two large chicken breasts work the best for this recipe. Three smaller chicken breasts will also work and fit in most air fryers. You can also make this cheesy chicken with chicken thighs. Instead of slicing, you will want to pound the chicken thin and flat then spread the cheese mixture on and fold.
Cheese Options: I use a combination of cream cheese, mozzarella cheese and Colby Jack cheese for my stuffed chicken. I find the flavor to be perfect and the texture is creamy. Other cheese options include: cheddar cheese, Pepper Jack Cheese, Asiago cheese, Parmesan cheese, Muenster Cheese or anything your heart desirers. I do recommend keeping some cream cheese in the mix as it holds together well and help the cheese not all ooze out.
Seasoning Options: I use a combination of salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, 21 Seasoning Salute from Trader Joe's. If you do not have a Trader Joe's near you, you can buy the seasoning online, make one yourself or use an alternative like a all purpose vegetable seasoning.
Why You'll LOVE It!
Super Fast: Ready in only 30 Minutes
Easy Prep & Simple Ingredients
Perfect for Family Dinner: Great for Weeknights and Perfect for Kids
Recipe Instructions
- Slice each chicken breast horizontally in the middle butterflying them. Be careful not to slice them all the way through.
- Combine all the spices in a small bowl and stir to combine. Next, sprinkle the inside and out of each chicken breast with an even amount of seasonings.
- Combine softened cream cheese, and shredded cheese in a small bowl and mash/stir to combine. Divide the cheese between the two chicken breasts and spread in an even layer. Try to keep the cheese in the middle leaving a little of the edges bare.
- Fold the top of the chicken over the cheese and use tooth picks to secure the chicken in place. This will help the cheese not escape out the sides while cooking.
- Add the prepared stuffed chicken breasts to the basket of a preheated air fryer and close the lid. Air fry at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and internal temperature reads 165 degrees F.
- Once finished remove the chicken carefully with tongs and serve warm with side and sauce of choice. Enjoy!
Leftover Storage Instructions
Store leftover stuffed chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I like to reheat mine in the oven or air fryer for best results.
Pro Tips
Seal it
I highly recommend using toothpicks to seal the edges of your chicken breasts. This will help the cheese not escape while cooking. Another option for sealing is wetting the edges of the chicken with water and sprinkling with flour. This will act like a sort of "glue" and help the chicken stay closed. For best results do both of these.
Season
Don't forget to season inside of the chicken before adding the cheese in. This will add a lot more flavor to the chicken while cooking.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
My Ninja Foodi is my go-to air fryer for all of my recipes. I have the 6.5 quart, which can comfortably fit two large chicken breasts. This recipe can be made in any air fryer, but the cook time may vary so please check the internal temperature of the chicken.
FAQS
I love adding mozzarella, cream cheese and Colby Jack cheese to this cheese stuffed chicken breasts recipe and a variety of other chicken dishes. Other great cheese options to pair with chicken include cheddar cheese, ricotta cheese, Pepper Jack cheese, or Monterey Jack cheese.
I find the best way to stuff chicken is to slice the chicken in half horizontally to form a pocket. Be careful not to slice all the way through. If you cut all the way through the cheese will bust out of both sides.
After slicing, stuff the chicken and seal it with toothpicks. You can then bake, air fry or pan fry the chicken breasts.
Some great side options include a tasty salad like a Kale Caesar or Spinach Apple Salad, a starch like an Air Fryer Baked Potato or Red Pesto Pasta. Alternatively, a great veggie side option would be Roasted Asparagus.
Sauce it Up
I prefer this chicken on its own, but you can add a sauce to really enhance the flavor. You can add a white sauce like Alfredo Sauce, a lighter olive oil based sauce with a hint of garlic or even some basil pesto.
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Happy Eating!
Air Fryer Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 2 Large Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Paprika
- 1 teaspoon 21 Seasoning Salute
- 2 Oz Cream Cheese Softened
- ½ Cup Mozzarella Cheese Shredded
- 2 tablespoon Colby Jack Cheese Shredded
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees for 5 minutes, or use the preheat button if your air fryer has one.
- Slice each chicken breast horizontally in the middle butterflying them and forming a pocket. Be careful not to slice them all the way through.
- Combine all the spices in a small bowl and stir to combine. Next, sprinkle the inside and out of each chicken breast with an even amount of seasonings.
- Combine softened cream cheese, and shredded cheeses in a small bowl and mash/stir to combine. Divide the cheese mixture between the two chicken breasts and spread in an even layer. Try to keep the cheese in the middle leaving a little of the edges bare.
- Fold the top of the chicken over the cheese and use tooth picks to secure the chicken in place. This will help the cheese not escape out the sides while cooking. There should be no cheese showing and it should all be covered.
- Add the prepared stuffed chicken breasts to the basket of the preheated air fryer and close the lid. Air fry at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and internal temperature reads 165 degrees F. Once finished remove with tongs and serve warm with side of choice. Enjoy!
Joan
Was looking for an easy fix for finner. This hot the spot! Thanks...so much. Joan in NC.
Caitlyn Erhardt
Glad you enjoyed the chicken!
Dixie Shellenback
Loved your recipe tryed it for the first time very delicious i have recommended it to all my kids and family members 😋
Caitlyn Erhardt
Glad this was a hit!
Michelle
You had me at cheese! And so quick and easy in the air fryer!
Caitlyn Erhardt
Me and cheese are real tight lol
Allyssa
This cheese stuffed chicken breast are the best! It taste really amazing and easy to make! Loved it! Thank you so much for sharing your genius recipe!
Caitlyn Erhardt
Yay! Glad you enjoyed!
Ali - We Made This Vegan
How fabulous that these are so easy to make. I didn't realise that the Ninja had an air fry function, I think I need one in my life!
Caitlyn Erhardt
It is the besttttt! Get on it lol
Kate
So many gorgeous flavours in here - what a brilliant way to use an air fryer, yum!
Caitlyn Erhardt
Thanks, I love using my air fryer for everything at this point lol
Chenée
This cheesy chicken was so delicious 😋 and so easy to make in the air fryer!!
Caitlyn Erhardt
So happy you liked it!