Looking for a fast, flavorful, and healthy meal? These keto chicken patties cooked in an air fryer are the perfect solution for a weeknight dinner, meal prep lunch, or even a tasty appetizer. This recipe utilizes simple ingredients and takes only minutes to prepare, making it ideal for busy individuals following a low-carb or keto lifestyle.
Why Air Fryer Chicken Patties?
Air frying offers a healthier alternative to traditional frying methods, using hot air circulation to cook food with minimal oil. This results in crispy exteriors and juicy interiors, all while reducing the overall fat content. These chicken patties are not like other recipes you may see that use frozen, pre-bought chicken patties.
Key Benefits
- Quick and Easy: Ready in under 15-30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights.
- Healthy and Keto-Friendly: Low in carbs, high in protein, and packed with flavor.
- Versatile: Enjoy them as a burger, snack, appetizer, or part of a complete meal.
- Customizable: Easily adapt the recipe to your taste preferences with different seasonings and toppings.
- Meal Prep Friendly: Prepare a batch in advance for convenient and healthy meals throughout the week.
- Gluten-Free: This recipe contains no breadcrumbs.
Ingredients
The ingredients for these air fryer chicken patties are simple and readily available. Here are some options for the main components:
- Chicken:
- Canned chunk chicken breast (drained) for convenience.
- Leftover cooked chicken breast or rotisserie chicken (chopped).
- Ground chicken.
- Binders:
- Mozzarella cheese and egg are necessary to keep the patties together.
- Almond flour (a great substitute for breadcrumbs).
- Cottage cheese (adds moisture and protein, swap with ricotta cheese if desired).
- Flavor Enhancers:
- Parmesan cheese (for flavor).
- Fresh parsley (for color and freshness; other herbs like basil, thyme, or chives can be used).
- Onion (shredded or minced yellow onion for flavor and sharpness).
- Garlic (freshly minced garlic adds the best flavor).
- Dijon mustard.
- Worcestershire sauce.
- Hot sauce (such as Frank's Red Hot for a Buffalo-style flavor).
- Seasonings: Salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Knorr or Cajun seasoning, red chili flakes (optional, for spice).
- Optional Add-ins:
- Baby spinach (for extra Vitamin A and iron).
- Cheddar cheese (shredded or in chunks for a cheesy surprise).
- Bell peppers, habanero, onions, spring onions (sautéed for added flavor).
- For Serving:
- Buns (brioche, lettuce, or cloud rolls).
- Toppings (lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles).
- Dipping sauces (sriracha aioli, homemade ranch dressing, spicy ranch).
- Vegetables (fresh salad, steamed vegetables, buttered green beans with almond slivers).
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here are several methods for making chicken patties in the air fryer.
Method 1: Using Canned Chicken
This method is ideal for a quick and easy pantry dinner.
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- Prepare the Chicken: Drain all the water from the canned chicken and place the meat into a large mixing bowl. Shred the chicken with a fork to break up any clumps.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the remaining ingredients (parsley, salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, parmesan cheese, eggs, and mozzarella) to the bowl and mix well until everything is thoroughly combined.
- Form Patties: Portion the chicken mixture into patties (about ¼ cup each).
- Prepare Air Fryer: Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray.
- Air Fry: Place the uncooked patties in the prepared air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they are evenly spaced. You may need to cook them in batches.
- Cook: Air fry at 350°F for 13-15 minutes, or until golden brown, flipping halfway through. Cooking time may vary depending on the size of the patties and your air fryer. Check around 13 minutes and if not golden brown keep baking for a few more minutes.
- Rest and Serve: Let the patties rest for a few minutes before serving.
Method 2: Using Ground Chicken
This method creates juicy and flavorful chicken burgers.
- Preheat Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 360°F and lightly grease the basket with non-stick spray. Some recipes recommend preheating the air fryer to 375°F. If your air fryer has no "preheat" setting, simply turn it on and let it run for a few minutes.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, gently combine the ground chicken, onion, spinach, dijon mustard, minced garlic, parsley, paprika, salt, and pepper. You can add red chili flakes for spice if desired. Don’t overwork the chicken patties. Mix the ground chicken until the other ingredients are loosely incorporated. The chicken burgers will be tough and dry if you overmix and work the patties.
- Form Patties: Divide the mixture and make 4 burger patties, about ½-inch thick. Keep the patties a consistent size for even cooking.
- Air Fry: Gently place each burger into the preheated air fryer basket, making sure they are evenly spaced out. Do not let the burgers overlap. If your air fryer is small, do two batches.
- Cook: Air fry for a total of 10 - 13 minutes, flipping the burgers halfway through. The internal temperature of each burger should be 165°F. Over-cooked chicken burgers will be dry.
- Add Cheese (Optional): If you are adding cheese, place one slice of cheese on top of the chicken patty in the last 1 minute of air frying.
- Serve: If serving with buns, you can toast them in the air fryer after the burgers are done, in a toaster oven, or on the stovetop. Lightly butter them and air fry at 300°F, cut side up for 3 - 4 minutes until golden. You can also serve these burgers in lettuce buns or on a salad if you want to make it low-carb.
Method 3: Using Food Processor
This method uses cottage cheese and pork rinds for a unique texture and flavor.
- Preheat: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F or air fry to 400 degrees F.
- Combine Ingredients: Place all ingredients into a food processor, except the pork rind panko, and blend until combined.
- Form Patties: Use a heaping 1/4 cup measuring cup and drop mixture into pork rinds to coat. Make 5 patties.
- Bake (Oven): Line a small baking sheet pan with parchment paper. Bake for 15 minutes. Broil for 5 minutes.
- Air Fry (Air Fryer): Air fry for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
Tips and Variations
- Don't Overcrowd: Ensure the patties are in a single layer in the air fryer basket for even cooking and maximum crispiness.
- Internal Temperature: Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken patties reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Add Cheese: During the last minute of cooking, add a slice of cheddar, mozzarella, or your favorite cheese for a melty topping.
- Spice it Up: Add a dash of hot sauce or red pepper flakes to the chicken mixture for a spicy kick.
- Buffalo Chicken Patties: Mix in Frank's Red Hot sauce, beaten egg, mayo, and almond flour for a Buffalo-style flavor.
- Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Burgers: Add a chunk of mozzarella inside the chicken burger patty before air frying.
- Vary the Seasonings: Experiment with different seasoning blends like Cajun, Italian, or Mexican for unique flavor profiles.
Serving Suggestions
These air fryer chicken patties are incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed in various ways:
- As a Burger: Serve on toasted brioche buns, lettuce wraps, or cloud rolls with your favorite toppings like lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, and cheese.
- As an Appetizer or Snack: Cut the patties into smaller pieces and serve with dipping sauces like sriracha aioli, homemade ranch dressing, or spicy ranch.
- As Part of a Meal: Serve alongside a fresh salad, steamed vegetables, or buttered green beans with almond slivers.
- In Bowls: Place the chicken patties on a bed of rice or quinoa with your favorite toppings and sauces.
- Breakfast Sandwich: Use them in a breakfast sandwich with English muffins.
Storage and Reheating
- Leftovers: Store leftover chicken patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: Let the cooked air-fried burgers come to room temperature, then place them in a freezer-safe bag. You can freeze them for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: Reheat leftovers in the microwave, air fryer, or skillet until heated through.
Nutritional Information
The nutritional information will vary depending on the ingredients used. However, these air fryer chicken patties are generally low in carbs, high in protein, and a good source of essential nutrients.
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