Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu - Recipe Diaries (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep chicken from drying out in an air fryer? ›

The #1 tip for the best chicken breasts in an air fryer is: Don't overcook them! Chicken breasts should be cooked to 160°F, but if you cook them all the way to that temperature in the air fryer, carryover cooking will take them beyond that temp and cause them to dry out.

Yes, you put raw frozen chicken in the air fryer! You won't be able to brine it first or pound it to an even thickness (so the results are not *as* juicy) but if you forget to thaw your chicken, it's a great option to have on hand.

In general, yes, you can wrap chicken in foil and cook it in an air fryer. Using foil will keep the chicken moist, prevent it from drying out, and lead to a moist and tender dish, as the foil helps to retain the meat's natural juices.

The most likely reason for tough chicken in the air fryer is overcooking. Be sure to cook it to only 160-degrees and then allow it to rest for 5-minutes tented with foil. Do you have to flip chicken in the air fryer? For best results, you should flip your chicken in the air fryer halfway through.

Dry the outside of the food properly before you add oil. Do not use too much oil, as this will make the food less crispy and more fattening. Meat or poultry can be lightly brushed with oil or marinated to get the crispiest results.

Add the chicken breasts to the air fryer and cook smooth side down for 7 minutes at 375°F (190°C). Flip the chicken over and cook an additional 3 minutes (or more for larger chicken breasts) before pulling it out of the air fryer.

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

You can use the air fryer's basket or one of its trays to cook it. However, if you do not have or use the rotisserie function, then it is better to flip the chicken halfway through to be able to evenly cook it.

During the air frying process, if you pull out the chicken and notice any dry flour spots on the chicken, spray those spots lightly with oil. The breading will never crisp up if it doesn't have a tiny bit of oil to hydrate it. It will just burn.

Parchment paper is good for food that might stick to the basket, like chicken wings, making clean up a bit easier. If you're tempted to use parchment every day or are simply waste-conscious, consider instead a silicone liner for air fryers.

What does wrapping chicken in foil do? ›

It delivers mouth-watering results: By using foil to bake chicken, you seal in its juices as it steams. This keeps your chicken moist and wonderfully flavorful. It gives you a complete meal in a packet: While you can bake your chicken alone, using foil allows you to build a delicious, all-in-one meal.

To avoid all of these problems, tuck light items under an air fryer accessory like a heat-safe metal rack, use toothpicks to secure portions that may fly open, and use a parchment liner to secure any small bites—and make clean-up easier.

Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts

Given the size of a whole bird, there's no way air will be able to circulate properly and thoroughly cook the chicken, likely leaving you with an unevenly cooked final product that won't have a crispy skin and juicy interior.

Solution #1: Pat Food Dry

A dry surface browns more quickly than a wet one. Moisture on the surface will steam, leaving a soft and sometimes gummy exterior, so we patted meats and some vegetables with paper towels before cooking.

Using oil in an air fryer is perfectly fine and helps the meat to remain moist and come out looking golden brown. However, a little oil in an air fryer does go a long way. With most cuts of pork, simply rubbing some oil into the meat will be all you need. You can use either regular olive oil or a spray oil.

Preheat the Air Fryer to 360 degrees, or the closest temperature setting to 360 degrees on your model. Brush then season both sides of the chicken breasts with extra virgin olive oil and desired seasonings.

As someone who uses their air fryer on a regular basis, I've found that adding a little bit of water to the bottom of my air fryer can be a great way to prevent my food from becoming too dry while also making cleanup a breeze - but be cautious not to add too much water.

A marinade adds both moisture and intense flavor to chicken breast. The longer you marinate, the better. Seal the chicken in your marinade for two to three hours minimum. However, overnight is ideal.