Air fryer crispy oat-crusted chicken breasts
This oat-crusted chicken recipe is a fantastic alternative to traditional breadcrumb coatings. It's got a big crunch, tender inside, and is so flexible. It makes great chicken tenders, cold salads, or chicken sandwiches .
Equipment
- 1 Blender or food processor
- 1 Large bowl
- 3 Shallow bowls
- 1 Air fryer
Ingredients
- 4 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups Buttermilk
- 2 cups Whole grain oats
- 1 cup Einkorn flour (or any other whole grain flour)
- 2 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 1 tsp Dried thyme or oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 whole Eggs
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
Prep the chicken
- Trim any extra fat off the chicken. Cut in half, lengthwise, to create chicken cutlets. This makes them easier to cook in the air fryer.
- Place the chicken in a bowl and pour the buttermilk over, covering completely. Set chicken at room temperature at least 20 minutes or refrigerated up to 4 hours.
Prep your coatings
- Put your oats into a blender or food processor.
- Process the oats until they are coarse, processing them more or less based on your personal preference. Put oats in a shallow dish.
- In another shallow dish, combine your flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Mix until all the spices are evenly distributed.
- In another shallow dish, crack all four eggs and mix gently until scrambled.
- Set up your dreading station in the following order: chicken, flour mixture, beaten eggs, and oats.
Preheat your air fryer
- Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F.
Coat the chicken
- Using a fork, pick up a chicken breast cutlet and let the excess buttermilk drip off.
- Then dredge it into the flour, then beaten eggs, ensuring it's fully coated.
- Finally, press the chicken into the oat mixture, making sure it adheres well and covers the entire surface.
- Lay in your air fryer basket making sure they don't touch. Spray olive oil on the top of each cutlet and flip over, spraying the other side.This will help in achieving a golden brown crust.
Cook the chicken
- Cook for about 20 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F and the oat crust is crispy and golden brown.
- Serve and enjoy! Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving. This ensures the juices redistribute, making for a juicier chicken breast. Serve with your favorite sides or dipping sauce.