Ingredients
Chicken and Brine
- 16 ounces boneless chicken breast
- ¾ cups dill pickle juice (optional, recommended Bubbies brand)
Coating Mixture
- ¾ cup super-fine almond flour
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese (preferably aged block Parmesan for best flavor)
- ½ teaspoon smoked sea salt or sea salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Egg Wash and Oil
- 2 eggs, beaten
- Avocado oil spray
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken: Wash the chicken breasts and place them in a zip-top bag. Using a meat mallet, pound the chicken to an even thickness of about ½ inch to ensure even cooking.
- Brine the Chicken (Optional): Place the chicken in a bowl and pour dill pickle juice over it. Refrigerate and let it brine for up to two hours. This step can be skipped if preferred.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 390°F (200°C) and allow it to preheat while you prepare the coating.
- Prepare the Coating: In a shallow dish, combine the almond flour, grated Parmesan cheese, smoked sea salt, and pepper. In a separate shallow dish, beat the eggs thoroughly.
- Coat the Chicken: Drain the brined chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Dip each piece first into the beaten eggs, then dredge in the almond flour and Parmesan mixture. Press gently with your fingers to make sure the coating sticks well. Spray both sides of the coated chicken lightly with avocado oil spray.
- Prepare the Air Fryer Basket: Spray the air fryer basket with avocado oil to prevent sticking.
- Air Fry the Chicken: Place the coated chicken breasts in the basket in a single layer. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes at 390°F. Carefully flip the chicken using a spatula, re-spray with oil, and cook for another 6 to 7 minutes until golden brown, crispy, and the internal temperature reaches at least 160°F (71°C).
- Rest and Serve: Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute.
Notes
- If you don’t have an air fryer, you can make oven-fried chicken: preheat oven to 400°F (204°C), place chicken on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cook for 20 minutes, flip carefully, then cook an additional 20 minutes until crispy and cooked through.
- You can make the chicken ahead of time: coat and keep refrigerated covered for up to one day or freeze the coated chicken on a parchment-lined baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag once frozen solid. Thaw in refrigerator before cooking.
- Quality Parmesan cheese significantly affects flavor; use a block of aged Parmesan if possible.
- Almond flour tends to stick more than traditional flour. Be sure to spray your air fryer thoroughly with oil to avoid sticking. If coating sticks while flipping, gently press it back on with a spatula.
- Variations include soaking chicken in buttermilk instead of pickle juice, adding hot sauce to egg wash for spice, or using any flour if not concerned about carbs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
