Do you have an air fryer? I was a hold out for so long – I just didn’t think it would be as amazing as everyone was saying. And then I got one.

Reader, I’m eating my words. I love it.

The ability to make food that tastes fried without actually having to bust out the oil is a game changer for me!

This pretzel-crusted chicken is a dream topped off with a cheddar-mustard sauce and chopped pickles.

• Ingredients
• Directions
• What is an air fryer?
• What if I don’t have an air fryer?
• What should I serve on the side?
• Recipe

Ingredients

• 6 small, boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 12 oz. bag of salted pretzels
• 1/2 Tbsp. fresh thyme, chopped
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 eggs
• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 1 Tbsp. flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp yellow cheddar cheese
• 1 Tbsp. spicy brown mustard
• 1/3 cup chopped dill pickles

This is such a fun way to dress up chicken in a way both kids and adults will appreciate! My kids love prepping the pretzels for coating and then dipping and coating the chicken.

Directions

• Pound the chicken breasts to 1/2″ thick.
• Using a food processor or blender, grind the pretzels until coarse crumbs. Transfer to a shallow dish, mix in thyme, and season with salt and pepper.
• In another shallow dish, beat together the eggs with a splash of water.
• Dip chicken breasts into eggs and then into the pretzels, pressing to coat evenly.
• Place the coated chicken in an air fryer basket. Spray evenly with cooking spray.
• Cook at 360 degrees for 18 minutes, flipping halfway and spraying again with cooking spray.
• While the chicken cooks, melt the butter in a small saucepan. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute.
• Slowly whisk in the milk until well combined. Bring to a simmer and when it starts to thicken, stir in the cheese. When melted, stir in mustard.
• Serve chicken breasts topped with cheese sauce and chopped pickles.

Making this chicken is so easy! If you’ve ever made chicken fingers, this is really similar – the key difference is that you want to pound out your chicken to an even thickness so it cooks evenly.

After that, you’re dipping it in an egg wash and coating with seasoned pretzel pieces.

While the chicken cooks, you whip up a quick cheese sauce: start by melting butter and then whisking in flour to make a roux. Slowly whisk in the milk and bring to a simmer to thicken. Then, melt in the cheese and stir in the mustard. This sauce is so awesome over the chicken, but also great over vegetables (especially if you have reluctant veggie eaters!)

What is an air fryer?

An air fryer is like a small convection oven. This counter top appliance circulates the air in a way to make food cook faster and crisps up food in a way that can mimic deep frying with little or no oil.

What if I don’t have an air fryer?

Never fear! If you don’t have an air fryer, you can pan-fry this chicken too. Heat 1/4″ vegetable oil in a large skillet. Fry 6-8 minutes, turning once halfway through.

What should I serve on the side?

My favorite thing to serve with this chicken is broccoli. The recipe makes more than enough cheese sauce so there’s plenty to share with the broccoli.

Cauliflower and green beans are also great veggie options here!

Recipe

Pretzel-Crusted Chicken in the Air Fryer

Yield: 6 Servings

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Ingredients

For the chicken:

• 6 small, boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 12 oz. bag of salted pretzels
• 1/2 Tbsp. fresh thyme, chopped
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 eggs

For the cheddar-mustard sauce:

• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 1 Tbsp. flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp yellow cheddar cheese
• 1 Tbsp. spicy brown mustard

For serving:

• 1/3 cup chopped dill pickles

Instructions

1. Pound the chicken breasts to 1/2" thick.
2. Using a food processor or blender, grind the pretzels until coarse crumbs. Transfer to a shallow dish, mix in thyme, and season with salt and pepper.
3. In another shallow dish, beat together the eggs with a splash of water.
4. Dip chicken breasts into eggs and then into the pretzels, pressing to coat evenly.
5. Place the coated chicken in an air fryer basket. Spray evenly with cooking spray.
6. Cook at 360 degrees for 18 minutes, flipping halfway and spraying again with cooking spray.
7. While the chicken cooks, melt the butter in a small saucepan. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute.
8. Slowly whisk in the milk until well combined. Bring to a simmer and when it starts to thicken, stir in the cheese. When melted, stir in mustard.
9. Serve chicken breasts topped with cheese sauce and chopped pickles.

Notes

Don't have an air fryer? You can pan-fry this chicken. Heat 1/4" vegetable oil in a large skillet. Fry 6-8 minutes, turning once halfway through.