As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
These ultra-flavorful pesto chicken bites are a delicious way to get your kids to eat more protein! With a crispy crust and the flavors of fresh basil pesto in every bite, they’re the perfect recipe for a main course for dinner, as the main protein in school lunches, or even as a healthy snack!
Homemade Pesto Chicken – Air Fryer or Oven Baked
If your kids love chicken nuggets, switch it up by making these homemade pesto chicken nuggets instead! Since they’re made from scratch, you can control the quality of the ingredients.
Plus, making homemade air fryer pesto chicken bites is easier than you’d think. It takes an extra step to bread each bite, but it’s so worth the effort. If you don’t have an air fryer, you can easily bake them in the oven too!
Pesto chicken bites
Like it? Save this recipe for later!
Why We Love These Chicken Pesto Bites
- Easy: With a little shake and bake magic, these pesto air fryer chicken nuggets are so much easier to make than you’d expect! You’ll basically need to cut the chicken, coat it with pesto, then toss the pieces in a bag with breadcrumbs before tossing them in the oven. This would be a good one to invite the kids to make with you!
- Tasty: Pesto sauce has so much flavor, and it infuses into each piece of chicken. This dish is anything but bland and will quickly become your kids’ favorite way to get in some protein!
- Kid-Friendly: My kids absolutely love the flavor of pesto, and of course, chicken nuggets are a standby on any kids’ menu. These two flavors together are sure to be a hit!
Ingredient Notes
- Panko bread crumbs: These special bread crumbs add the perfect crispy shell to the outside of your chicken bites. You can even buy panko bread crumbs made from whole wheat flour for extra fibre.
- Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated parmesan cheese is added directly to the breading mixture for a salty, savory burst of flavor in the crispy coating!
- Garlic powder: Although many kids can be sensitive to onions and garlic, garlic powder has a more mild flavor and an appetizing, savory aroma.
- Salt: You’ll need just a bit of salt to season the breading and enhance all those lovely flavors. For older kids, you can add some black pepper, too.
- Chicken breasts: Cut two boneless skinless chicken breasts in even bites approximately the size of a large marble.
- Pesto: Use either homemade or store-bought pesto for these pesto chicken bites.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Mix breadcrumbs, parmesan, garlic powder, and salt in a large freezer bag. Toss to combine.
- Cut the chicken breasts into small chunks, each about the size of a large marble (you should get roughly 15 pieces per breast).
- Place chicken pieces in a large bowl. Add the pesto and toss together with the chicken until each piece is coated all over.
- Add the chicken pieces in batches to the bag with the breadcrumb mixture and give it a good shake to coat. If there are any excess breadcrumbs left at the bottom of the bag, you can use your fingers to sprinkle them on top of the nuggets once on the baking sheet and press down gently to help them adhere.
To cook in oven:
- Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Pour a little oil on a baking tray, just enough to cover it. Put the tray in the oven and let it heat up for 5 mins. Spread the chicken nuggets evenly across the sheet and return to the oven for 10-15 minutes until crisp and cooked through.
To cook in air fryer:
- Preheat air fryer to 390 degrees F. Spray with olive oil spray or brush with olive oil. Cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through or until the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
RECIPE TIPS
- If you want a more golden brown and crispy coating: Before preparing the breadcrumb mixture, preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Spread breadcrumbs on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes. Once mostly cooled, transfer crumbs to bag along with the parmesan, garlic powder and salt. Proceed with the rest of the steps.
- You can use homemade or store-bought pesto for coating the chicken. Sometimes I’ll use a nut-free pesto so that my son can take them to school for lunch or packed in a sandwich.
- For meal prep: You can also freeze these chicken nuggets raw and then pop them in the oven or air fryer and cook them from frozen. It’s a great option for meal prep!
- Serve with your favorite dip: We like to serve these nuggets with a dip like garlic aioli, ranch or ketchup.
Recipe FAQs
Although kids can be picky about bold flavors, many kids love pesto! The mixture of fresh basil with parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and olive oil is smooth, creamy, and incredibly flavorful. I’ve found that my own kids love pesto, and so do many other kids, so it can be a great way to get something green on your kids’ plates.
I love to use it as a pizza sauce (especially on these air fryer pizza rolls), but it’s also great on pasta, in wraps, as a dip, and more.
Especially for picky eaters, it can be hard to get them to eat common sources of protein like meat or even eggs! There are a few things to remember here. First, kids don’t need quite as much protein as you’d expect. Kids typically need 0.5g of protein per pound of body weight, so a 50 lb child will only need 25 g of protein per day. Since a single egg has 6 g, you can see how that would be rather easy to achieve in bits and pieces throughout the day.
Secondly, I recommend incorporating high protein dairy products, like Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, into recipes whenever possible (think smoothies, sauces, etc). You can also use plant-based forms of protein or really flavorful meats; nuts, cheese sticks, and mini pepperoni can be really appealing finger foods for kids.
Finally, transform the flavor of meat or eggs with flavorful sauces and seasonings. These pesto chicken bites have tons of flavor from the pesto, which can disguise the chicken flavor a bit. Plus, kids love to dip foods, so this can be a really satisfying way for them to eat.
Absolutely! Although most of us think of basil pesto when we think of “pesto,” there are many different types out there. The important thing is to focus on flavors your kids like. If they’re not a big fan of parsley, I wouldn’t recommend using a pesto made from parsley. Try using kale pesto, cilantro pesto, red pesto or any other type of pesto in this simple recipe!
Storage Guidelines
- Refrigerator: Store leftover chicken bites in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Freezer: You can also freeze the bites for 1-3 months in the freezer.
- To reheat: Preheat your oven or air fryer to 400 degrees and bake the bites for approximately 5-6 minutes to re-crisp up the coating and warm the chicken through.
What to Serve with Pesto Chicken Bites
There are many ways to serve these pesto chicken bites, and you can have fun incorporating these into a variety of dishes! They can either be used as the main course in your meal or serve them as a side dish or appetizer!
- Serve extra sauce on the side for dipping
- Pair with raw veggies
- Make skewers with cherry tomatoes and mozzarella cheese balls
- Serve with a side of this vegetable noodle soup recipe or no cream pumpkin soup
- Serve on top of your favorite kid-friendly side dish (like this 5-ingredient mac and cheese or this 4 ingredient pasta salad)
- Serve on a wrap or pita with some veggies and tzatziki
- Cheesy zucchini fritters
- Add to a salad with your kids’ favorite veggies & mozzarella cheese balls
- Make pesto chicken and veggie pasta dishes with this roasted carrot pasta sauce
Recipe Variations
- Pesto chicken tenders: Cut larger strips of chicken and bread them in the pesto mixture. Bake for approximately 12-15 minutes in a 425 degree oven or until they reach 165 degrees F.
- Pesto chicken patties: For the most delicious sandwiches and wraps, cut the chicken into thin medallions before baking. They’ll fit perfectly on a bun!
- Sun-dried tomato pesto: Instead of pesto, use blended sun-dried tomatoes for a wonderfully summery flavor.
More Similar Recipes
- Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
- Mexican Fiestada Pizza
- Homemade Veggie Tots in Air Fryer
- How To Make Zucchini Fries In Air Fryer
- Mashed Sweet Potato Fritters
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Pesto Chicken Bites {Air Fryer or Oven}
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups panko bread crumbs
- 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/3-1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound)
- 3-4 tablespoons pesto (homemade or store-bought)
- olive oil for brushing
Instructions
- Add the breadcrumbs, parmesan, garlic powder, and salt into a large freezer bag and toss to combine.
- Cut the chicken breasts into small chunks, each about the size of a large marble (you should get roughly 15 pieces per breast).
- Place the cut up chicken in a large bowl. Add the pesto and toss together with the chicken until each piece is coated all over.
- Add the chicken pieces in batches to the bag with the breadcrumb mixture and give it a good shake to coat. If there are any excess breadcrumbs left at the bottom of the bag, you can use your fingers to sprinkle them on top of the nuggets once on the baking sheet and press down gently to help them adhere.
To cook in oven:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Pour a little oil on a baking tray, just enough to cover it. Put the tray in the oven and let it heat up for 5 mins. Spread the chicken nuggets evenly across the sheet and return to the oven for 10-15 minutes until crisp and cooked through.
To cook in air fryer:
- Preheat air fryer to 390 degrees F. Spray with olive oil spray or brush with olive oil. Cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
