If you love crusted chicken breast then you'll love this easy Air Fryer Almond Crusted Chicken recipe! Made with a simple almond crust, it's a healthier option and packed with flavor. Serve it as is or with your favorite dipping sauce.
Jump to:
Why This Recipe Works
- Crispy Perfection: The air fryer ensures a golden, crunchy almond crust for the chicken, delivering an irresistible texture.
- No More Grease: Say goodbye to greasy stovetops and oil splatters—this recipe keeps your kitchen mess-free.
- Simple and Scrumptious: With few ingredients, this Crusted Chicken recipe delivers on flavor in a big way.
🥘 Ingredients
- Almonds: Provide a crunchy, nutty crust that not only adds texture but also imparts a rich, slightly sweet flavor to the chicken.
- Corn-Starch: Acts as a binding agent, helping the almond crust adhere to the chicken while also creating a crisp exterior when air-fried.
- Natures Seasoning: A blend of various spices, Natures Seasoning infuses the chicken with a burst of flavors, enhancing the taste and aroma of the dish.
- Eggs, Beaten: Work as an excellent adhesive for the almond crust, ensuring it sticks to the chicken during cooking.
- Chicken Breasts, (Butterfly Your Breasts to Make 4 Thinner Breasts): Cooks quickly and evenly in the air fryer, absorbing the flavors of the seasoning beautifully.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
- Herb Infusion- Mix dried herbs like thyme, rosemary, or oregano into the almond coating for an aromatic and flavorful twist.
- Spicy Kick- Add cayenne pepper, paprika, or your favorite chili powder to the almond mixture for a spicy kick.
- Cheesy Delight- Incorporate grated Parmesan, cheddar, or your preferred cheese into the coating mix for a cheesy and indulgent flavor.
- Nutty Crunch- Crushed nuts, such as almonds or pecans, can be added to the coating for extra crunch and a nutty undertone.
- Almond flour- Almond flour can be a suitable substitute for raw almonds in an almond-crusted chicken recipe, offering a finer texture and better adhesion.
🔪 How To Make Air Fryer Almond Crusted Chicken
Step One: Add your almonds to a food processor. Pulverize your almonds to the size of crumbs. Separate into three bowls your corn starch with natural seasoning, almonds, and eggs.
Step Two: Coat your boneless skinless chicken breasts in corn starch on both sides. Transfer them to your egg mixture, and fully coat. Finally, transfer your breast to your almonds, on both sides.
Step Three: Preheat your air fryer to 385 Degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. Transfer the chicken tenders to your air fryer.
Step Four: Spray with oil and cook your chicken for 12 minutes at 385 Or until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Serve your crispy almond chicken breast and enjoy warm!
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Preheat for Crispy Texture: Preheat your air fryer before adding the crusted chicken to achieve a golden brown crispy exterior.
- Lightly Oil for Browning: Lightly coat the almond-crusted chicken with oil before air frying to enhance browning and crispiness.
💭 FAQs
Finely chopped or crushed raw almonds are ideal for creating a crunchy coating. Using a food processor can help achieve a consistent texture.
Yes, almond flour can be used as a substitute for a smoother crust. It provides a similar nutty flavor with a finer texture.
Dredge the chicken in cornstarch and seasonings, then dip it into beaten eggs before pressing it into the crushed almonds. This method helps the crust stick effectively.
Preheat the air fryer to 385°F (195°C). Cook the almond-crusted chicken for approximately 12 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
If planning to consume within a few days, store the almond-crusted chicken in the refrigerator. Ensure it's sealed tightly to maintain its texture. For extended storage, freeze the almond-crusted chicken. Place it on a baking sheet to freeze individually, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. Label with the date of freezing.
🧂Serving Suggestions
Here are my favorite appetizers to serve with Air Fryer Almond Crusted Chicken:
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Maple: Toss Brussels sprouts in olive oil and Maple Syrup, over medium heat then roast until crispy perfection.
- Roasted Red Pepper Hummus: Its creamy texture and tangy flavor complement the flavor of the almond-crusted baked chicken.
- Quinoa Salad: Cook quinoa with lemon zest, fresh herbs, and a dash of olive oil, and make a salad for your almond-crusted baked chicken.
- Roasted Sweet Potato Fries: Season sweet potato wedges with paprika, cumin, and olive oil, then roast until golden and tender to serve with your air fryer fried chicken.
- Mango Pineapple Salsa: Combine diced mango, pineapple, red onion, cilantro, and lime juice for a refreshing tropical salsa.
- Crispy Parmesan Asparagus: Coat asparagus spears in Parmesan and breadcrumbs, then air fry until they're irresistibly crispy.
- Wild Rice Pilaf: Cook wild rice with sautéed onions, garlic, and a mix of your favorite herbs for a hearty and flavorful side for your almond-crusted chicken cutlets.
🍽 Related Recipes
Did you make this recipe? Leave a review and a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below, or tag us in our Facebook Group! Alternatively, bookmark it in your browser or save to Pinterest.
Air Fryer Almond Crusted Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Almonds
- ½ Cup Cornstarch
- Natures Seasoning
- 2 Eggs Beaten
- 2 Chicken Breasts Fat Trimmed (Butterfly Your Breasts to Make 4 Thinner Breasts)
Instructions
- Add your almonds to a food processor. Pulverize your almonds to the size of crumbs.
- Separate into three bowls your corn-starch with natural seasoning, almonds, and eggs.
- Fully coat your boneless skinless chicken breasts in corn-starch on both sides.
- Transfer then to your egg mixture, fully coat.
- Finally, transfer your breast to your almonds, on both sides.
- Preheat your air fryer to 385 Degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes.
- Transfer your almond crusted chicken tenders to your air fryer. Spray with oil and cook your chicken for 12 minutes at 385 Or until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Serve your crispy almond chicken breast and enjoy warm!
