• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Lesswithlaur
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Health Journey
  • Lifestyle
  • Services
  • Shop My Discounts
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Health Journey
  • Lifestyle
  • Services
  • Shop My Discounts
  • About
  • Contact
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Health Journey
    • Lifestyle
    • Services
    • Shop My Discounts
    • About
    • Contact
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • ×
    Home » Dinner

    Air Fryer Pesto Chicken

    • DF
    • EF
    • GF
    • LF
    • LH
    November 10, 2023 by Lauren Leave a Comment

    If you need a quick and easy dinner that’s also delicious and family-friendly, look no further than air fryer pesto chicken! This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, as it can be made in under 30 minutes with just a few simple ingredients. All you need is chicken breasts or thighs, pesto sauce (store bought or homemade) and a little bit of oil. That’s it! Pesto air fryer chicken is a great way to get a healthy and flavorful meal on the table quickly and easily. It’s also a great option for meal prep, as you can cook the chicken ahead of time and then reheat it when you’re ready to eat.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Why You’ll Love This Pesto Chicken

    It’s an easy meal that can be made in less than 30 minutes!

    This pesto chicken is perfect for busy weeknights.

    It’s kid-friendly!

    This meal can easily be made gluten free and dairy free.

    It is a high-protein option!

    This meal is a great option for meal prep.

    You only need 2 ingredients for this recipe!

    Equipment Needed

    All you need for this recipe is an air fryer and a bowl.

    Ingredients Needed

    Pesto: Pesto is a quick and easy way to add flavor to chicken dishes, making it a great option for busy weeknights. Feel free to use store bought pesto or make homemade pesto. I love this creamy macadamia nut pesto recipe. If you are dairy free, be sure to use dairy free pesto and if you are nut free, opt for a nut free option!

    Chicken Thighs: I like to use high-quality and organic meat whenever I can. My favorite place to get my meat is ButcherBox because they have organic and high-quality options and it gets delivered right to your door! Feel free to use bone-in or boneless chicken thighs. You can also use chicken breast here, if you prefer!

    Step-By-Step Instructions

    Step 1: Gather your ingredients.

    Step 2: Place pesto in a bowl and fully coat chicken with it.

    Step 3: Air fry chicken for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. Make sure chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F.

    Step 4: Add extra pesto on top and enjoy!

    Storage

    If you’re storing the chicken for longer than 3-4 days, you can freeze it. Place the chicken in a freezer-safe bag or Tupperware. Freeze the chicken for up to 3 months.

    When you’re ready to reheat the chicken, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator or in the microwave on the defrost setting. Once the chicken is thawed, reheat it in the air fryer or in the oven until it is heated through.

    How To Serve

    Here are some ideas on how to serve air fryer pesto chicken:

    • As a main course: Serve pesto chicken with a side of pasta, rice, or potatoes. You can also serve it with a side of vegetables, such as roasted broccoli, asparagus, or sweet potatoes.
    • As an appetizer: Serve pesto chicken on skewers or in small cups. You can also serve it on bread or crackers.
    • As a side dish: Serve pesto chicken alongside grilled or roasted vegetables, such as zucchini, eggplant or tomatoes. You can also serve it with a side of salad or bread.

    Here are some specific ideas for what to serve with air fryer pesto chicken:

    • Pasta: Pesto chicken pairs well with a variety of different pastas, such as spaghetti, penne or linguine. You can also serve it with a gluten free pasta, such as quinoa pasta, brown rice pasta or chickpea pasta.
    • Rice: Pesto chicken is delicious served over white rice, brown rice or wild rice. 
    • Potatoes: Pesto chicken can be served with mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes or baked potatoes.
    • Vegetables: Pesto chicken pairs well with a variety of different vegetables, such as roasted broccoli, asparagus, sweet potatoes or zucchini. You can also serve it with a side salad or a vegetable stir-fry

    Oven Instructions

    Preheat oven to 375°F. Place chicken breasts in a baking dish. Spread pesto over chicken breasts. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.

    Recipe FAQ

    Is pesto healthier than tomato sauce?

    Whether pesto is healthier than tomato sauce depends on your individual dietary needs and preferences. Both pesto and tomato sauce can be part of a healthy diet, but they have different nutritional profiles.

    Should you use pine nuts in pesto sauce?

    Pine nuts are delicious in pesto sauce and can be a great option!

    Can you make this recipe nut free?

    Yes! You can make this recipe nut free by using a nut free pesto.

    How can you make this chicken if you don’t have an air fryer?

    Preheat oven to 375°F. Place chicken breasts in a baking dish. Spread pesto over chicken breasts. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.

    Can I put raw chicken in the air fryer?

    Yes! You can put raw chicken in the air fryer.

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

    Using pesto can help keep the chicken from drying out in the air fryer!

    Does chicken cook faster in an air fryer?

    Yes, chicken cooks faster in the air fryer than in the oven. This is because the air fryer circulates hot air around the food, which cooks it evenly and quickly.

    Is this pesto chicken low histamine?

    This pesto chicken is low histamine if you use a low histamine pesto. I like to use my creamy macadamia nut pesto.

    Can I make this recipe low fodmap? 

    Yes, this recipe can be made low fodmap if you use a pesto that is low fodmap! Try this low fodmap pesto.

    Related Recipes

    Be sure to try these delicious dinner ideas next:

    Hummus Chicken Salad

    Tuna Caesar Salad

    Air Fryer Gnocchi

    Creamy Salmon Pasta

    Paleo Shepherd’s Pie

    If you make this air fryer pesto chicken and love it, I would really appreciate a 5 star review! I also love seeing your creations so please tag me on Instagram or TikTok.

    Print Recipe
    5 from 4 votes

    Air Fryer Pesto Chicken

    If you need a quick and easy dinner that's also delicious and family-friendly, look no further than air fryer pesto chicken!
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Keyword: air fryer, chicken salad, dinner, easy, pesto
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 317kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 air fryer

    Ingredients

    • 1 container pesto
    • 6 chicken thighs (bone-in)
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions

    • Gather your ingredients.
    • Place pesto in a bowl and fully coat chicken with it.
    • Air fry chicken for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. Make sure chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F.
    • Add extra pesto on top and enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 317kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.4g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 113mg | Potassium: 296mg | Fiber: 0.003g | Sugar: 0.01g | Vitamin A: 116IU | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg

    Reader Interactions

    5 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I’m Lauren! I lived most of my life eating anything my heart desired until I was suddenly diagnosed with several food allergies around age 25. I currently manage wheat, dairy, egg, sesame, maple, soy, buckwheat and peanut allergies.

    More about me →

    Trending Recipes

    • Beef Breakfast Sausage (Sheet Pan)
    • street corn chicken salad
      Street Corn Chicken Salad

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Services

    • Work With Me
    • One-on-One Coaching
    • Recipes

    Shop

    • GF/DF Starter Pack
    • Holiday E-book
    • Shop My Discounts
    • Shop My Amazon
    • Shop My LTK

    Contact Me

    • Contact
    • About
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok

    DISCLAIMER: THIS IS A PERSONAL BLOG. ANY VIEWS OR OPINIONS REPRESENTED ARE PERSONAL AND BELONG SOLELY TO THE OWNER. I AM NOT A MEDICAL DOCTOR AND NOTHING WRITTEN ON MY BLOG IS MEANT TO DIAGNOSE. ALL CONTENT PROVIDED IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. EVERYONE'S FOOD ALLERGIES AND CHRONIC ILLNESSES ARE DIFFERENT AND PRODUCTS ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CHECK FOOD LABELS ON YOUR OWN TO DETERMINE WHAT IS SAFE FOR YOU. I CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ACTIONS TAKEN DUE TO INFORMATION PROVIDED.

    DISCLOSURE: I ONLY RECOMMEND PRODUCTS I WOULD USE MYSELF AND ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE OUR OWN. THIS BLOG CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS THAT ARE AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU, I MAY EARN A SMALL COMMISSION.

    © LESSWITHLAUR, LLC 2024. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.