Air Fryer Caprese Chicken [Video]

Air Fryer Caprese Chicken is a healthy and fancy family dinner that requires minimum prep work and is ready in less than 30 minutes. 

This famous Italian dish is made faster and easier by using an air fryer. Additionally, this ingenious machine can make your chicken crunchy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside without any oil. With just a few ingredients, you can have a savory meal with melted mozzarella and fresh tomatoes on top with barely any prep. The intense balsamic vinegar reduction on top takes the whole dish over the top with another level of incredible taste.

Making this classic Caprese Chicken dish in the Air Fryer has a great advantages. Firstly, it is cooked to perfection, with a crispy outside and tender inside, in less than 20 minutes. Also, it has fresh and bold flavors yet, it is very easy to make. The melted cheese is so delicious, especially when topped with a juicy tomato and fresh basil. The aromas and flavors are simply outstanding. 

Now that you have my easy recipe, you do not have to go to any fancy Italian restaurant to get this delicious meal. You only need a few common ingredients to serve the whole family a healthy meal bursting with flavors. If you have a group coming over, it would not be difficult to triple or quadruple the recipe either. Just get four tomatoes and a whole block of cheese, and you can make 16 chicken breasts.

This is an easy meal to cook and take on the go, too. If you are heading to a picnic or BBQ in the park, pack it up and take it with you. You will not have any dishes to wash either because you only need the air fryer to make it. You can serve it with something healthy like baked asparagus or steamed broccoli, or on top of a salad. I like to drizzle some balsamic vinegar reduction on top, its the perfect touch.

Why you will love this recipe

• No need to go out: Make it at home with my recipe. 
• Make a little or a lot: It is easy to make extras.
• No dishes: All you need is the air fryer.
• Take it to go: You can take it to the park or on a picnic.

What you’ll need to make air fryer caprese chicken

Special items:

• Air fryer – Any kind of air fryer will work.
• Cooking utensils

What is an Air Fryer and how does it work?

An air fryer is a great way to cook meats, veggies, fish, and pretty much anything else. It is essentially a countertop oven where hot air circulates and cooks the ingredients.

Cooking this way has many advantages. Firstly, it is healthier than frying because you using very little oil. That way you are cutting the calories by about 80%. Secondly, it cooks meats and veggies perfectly. For example, when chicken or beef meat is cooked, it will end up with a crispy exterior and a juicy and moist interior. 

In addition, it is super easy to utilize and the cooking time is greatly reduces compared to frying or baking. All in all, this is a great kitchen appliance, that should be on everyone’s lists. I love cooking in my Air Fryer because it is quick, healthy, and delicious. Some of my favorite dishes are air fried meatballs, hasselback potatoes, and juicy ribeye steak. 

Ingredients:

• Chicken breasts – Organic fresh skinless boneless chicken breasts.
• Mozzarella cheese – I used fresh deli mozzarella cheese slices.
• Tomato – One large beefy organic tomato cut into thick slices.
• Italian seasoning – I use my homemade Italian seasoning.
• Garlic powder – I usually prefer freshly minced, but powdered is okay here.
• Basil – Dried basil works best for the concentrated flavor as long as you use fresh basil for garnish.
• Salt
• Pepper
• Basil – Get fresh basil and chop it just before using it.
• Balsamic vinegar – Choose the best you can find.
• Balsamic reduction – Make it yourself from your balsamic vinegar right before serving.

How to make air fryer caprese chicken?

1. Cut and season the meat: Cut the breasts into cutlets if they are too big. Then, using a paper towel, pat them dry. Season with Italian seasoning to taste. 
2. Slice the veggies: Using a sharp knife, slice the fresh mozzarella cheese and tomatoes. Set aside. 
3. Cook: Next, place the cutlets in the air fryer basket and cook at 380 degrees F for about 10 minutes.  After, open the lid, top each chicken breast with a slice of mozzarella cheese and a tomato. Then, cook for additional 2-3 minutes. 
4. Serve: Garnish with some fresh basil and vinegar dressing, and serve warm. 

Expert tip

How to make balsamic reduction for caprese chicken

The best thing about making balsamic reduction is that there is only one ingredient. It does not get much easier than that! And it only takes 15 minutes. You will need only one cup of high-quality balsamic vinegar and a small saucepan. Then, you will boil it and reduce the heat to simmer it for about 10 to 15 minutes. The hardest thing is waiting for it to finish.

In this fast-paced world where everything is cooked super-fast in the air fryer, microwave, or instant pot, making an excellent balsamic reduction still takes time. You cannot rush it. I have heard of some people who wanted to get it done faster for an important meal, so they turned the heat up and ruined the entire thing. That sure did not work out well. Some things just must be completed on time.

Another important thing about this is that you have to stir it often. Walking off and forgetting about it would be a big mistake. Also, you can add things to your balsamic glaze like brown sugar, herbs, and spices. It depends on what you are using it for. In this case, I would not add anything except maybe some more basil. 

Recipe variations and add-ins:

• Hasselback style: First, cut the cheese and tomatoes into sticks instead of slices. Then, slice your chicken breasts diagonally so there are pockets to put the cheese and tomatoes. You cannot flip them, but they will also cook faster. Take them out after about eight to nine minutes.
• Ranch style: Instead of Italian seasoning, use my ranch seasoning for a ranch-style caprese chicken dish.
• Spicy chicken: With so many spicy food lovers out there, adding some cayenne pepper and jalapenos would probably make someone happy.
• Different cheese: You could also use feta, Swiss, provolone, or shredded parmesan instead of mozzarella.
• More veggies: Add some olives, bell peppers, red onions, and other veggies for more flavor.   

Serving suggestions:

Here are some of my favorite ways to serve this air fryer caprese chicken.

• Add sauce on the side for those who like to dip or coat their chicken. Try it with my homemade bang bang sauce. You only need five ingredients to make it.
• You can also pair it with Italian tomato bruschetta and a light tomato soup.
• A scrumptious meal would be if you serve it with some pasta in Alfredo sauce.
• Any kind of salad would be a nice beginning to this meal—it does not have to be Caprese salad. I enjoy it with tomato avocado salad.
• There are all sorts of side dishes that you can make to go with this. My roasted sweet potatoes are simple and easy to make.
• Some of the best wine choices for this dish are Chardonnay, Vermentino, Fiano, and Pinot Grigio.
• The absolute best Italian dessert to go with this Italian dish is strawberry tiramisu.

Frequently asked questions

What is Caprese chicken?

The name Caprese comes from an Italian style of preparing food with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, herbs (basil), and vinegar. In fact, it goes perfectly with my Caprese salad, which is made from these same ingredients. The salad is named after the island of Capri where it was first made. It features the colors of the Italian flag (red, white, and green), as does this chicken dish. In my chicken dish, I like to make sure the colors really stand out by using fresh basil.

Should you flip raw chicken in the air fryer?

Yes, you should always flip your chicken halfway through cooking so it cooks evenly. If you are making nuggets or other small cuts of chicken, the recipe may call for you to shake the basket a few times, which is fine as long as they get moved around. When I cook a recipe that uses whole chicken pieces like this one, I set it for half the time the recipe calls for (five minutes in this case) and then flip it before continuing.

Why is my air fryer chicken dry and chewy?

One of the worst mistakes people make with air fryers is overcooking, especially with boneless chicken breasts. First, pound your chicken into an even thickness if it is uneven. Then, check after five minutes when you flip them. If the temperature is already over 140 degrees by that time, you will only need to cook it for another two minutes before adding the cheese and tomato. When you take them out, the final temperature should be 155 degrees Celsius since they will finish cooking at 165 degrees Celsius when they rest.

Do I need to spray my air fryer basket with cooking oil?

There is no reason to do this on an air fryer in good condition. They are made with non-stick baskets, so you do not have to worry about the food sticking. That is why they are so healthy: You do not have to use oil. If your air fryer basket is getting old and food is sticking, you must order a new one. If you do feel the need to add oil, you can add it to your food, not the basket.

How to store leftovers:

• Refrigerate: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to four days.   
• Freezing: For several months, you can also freeze your leftover chicken in a freezer bag or another freezer-safe container.   
• Defrost: For the best results, thaw the meat the night before you want to serve it.
• Reheating: Reheat in the air fryer at 380 degrees F for two minutes.   

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Recipe tips:

• Do not crowd the chicken in the air fryer. It needs room for air circulation to cook.
• Also, pound your chicken breasts if they are uneven so they cook evenly.
• Take your meat out when it reaches 155 degrees F. It will continue to cook as it rests.
• Always flip your chicken halfway through the cooking process so it gets cooked all the way through.
• You do not need to spray the air fryer basket with oil. In fact, many companies tell you not to.
• Don’t skip the balsamic reduction. It really does make a big difference.