These wonderfully crispy, yet moist, air fryer chicken patties are cooked perfectly without the use of a deep fryer or greasy frying oil. Made in just 30 minutes, they're a homemade, healthy version of the frozen or store bought varieties. With only 10 simple ingredients, it's a quick dinner idea for the whole family!
Jump to:
📋 About the Recipe
- These air fryer chicken patties are deliciously crispy with a light golden brown breading. Made without frying or pools of greasy oil, the air fryer cooks them up perfectly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.
- These homemade patties are much healthier than frozen or store-bought kinds that are typically filled with processed meats and preservatives. This recipe utilizes fresh ingredients for better flavor and nutrition.
- Using canned chicken makes this a quick and easy meal that can be thrown together in less than 30 minutes!
- Serve these healthy patties as an appetizer or main dish. Great with dipping sauces, like aioli, bbq sauce, ketchup, mustard, ranch, or marinara sauce!
🛒 Ingredients
A few notes about the ingredients:
- Premium chunk white canned chicken - using canned chicken makes this a simple dish. It still offers great chicken flavor, as well as lean protein, while keeping this a quick and easy recipe.
- Eggs, breadcrumbs - eggs and breadcrumbs work together to keep the patties from falling apart. The moisture from the egg binds with the breadcrumbs to hold the patties together.
- Parmesan cheese - parmesan cheese adds flavor, while also keeping the patties together. As the cheese melts, it works with the eggs and breadcrumbs to keep the patties in form.
- Dijon mustard - dijon mustard is a simple pantry ingredient that offers great flavor.
- Lemon zest - lemon helps to brighten up the patties to prevent them from tasting heavy and dense.
- Fresh herbs - fresh herbs also help in brightening up the flavor of the chicken patties. I like to use scallions and dill for a fresh bite, but you can also use parsley, cilantro, chives, or basil for added freshness too.
- Salt and pepper - salt and pepper help round out all the other flavors. It also helps prevent the patties from tasting bland.
📓 Instructions
1. Combine all of the chicken patty ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Gently mix to combine, being careful not to break up the chunks of chicken too much.
2. Pour additional breadcrumbs into a small bowl. Form the chicken mixture into 8 uniform patties and coat both sides of the patties with the breadcrumbs.
3. Spray the bottom of your air fryer basket with nonstick spray. Add the patties to the basket, leaving room in between each one. (You might need to cook them in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.)
4. Lightly spray the tops of the chicken patties with the nonstick spray before air frying them at 380 degrees F for 7 minutes. Remove the basket from the air fryer, flip the patties, and air fry another 7 minutes, or until they become golden brown and crispy.
5. Meanwhile, prepare the parmesan garlic aioli to dip them in. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, garlic, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, and salt.
6. Serve air fryer chicken patties warm with a side of the parmesan garlic aioli (or any of your favorite dipping sauces!)
⁉️ Substitutions and Alterations
Instead of canned chicken: you can use canned tuna, freshly cooked chicken breast cut into small chunks or shredded with 2 forks, or store-bought rotisserie chicken ripped into pieces. However, if using rotisserie chicken, make sure to adjust the salt accordingly since they tend to be much saltier.
Instead of breadcrumbs: if you don't have breadcrumbs, you can finely crush unseasoned crackers or plain cereal to use as a binder and coating for the patties.
Add chicken patties on top of these loaded burger bowls in place of the ground beef!
❄️ How to Store
To store: Allow chicken patties to cool completely before placing them in an air tight container in the refrigerator. Store up to 4 days.
To freeze: Freeze uncooked patties in an air tight container in the freezer. Store them up to 4 months.
To reheat: Allow frozen uncooked patties to defrost in the refrigerator overnight. Then, place them in the basket of your air fryer and air fry at 380 degrees F for 14 minutes, flipping halfway through.
🔍 FAQs
Serve these healthy patties as a bite sized appetizer or a main dish.
As an appetizer, make them smaller (maybe about 16 patties instead of 8) and serve them with toothpicks and your favorite side of dipping sauce, such as the homemade garlic aioli, barbecue sauce, ranch, hot sauce, mustard, or ketchup.
You can also serve them as a main dish on their own or on top of a hamburger bun as a quick and easy chicken sandwich.
As well, you can serve them on top of your favorite salad, like my bruschetta salad with grilled peaches, to add protein to keep you full longer.
Chicken patties are great as an appetizer or main dish. Make it a complete meal by serving them alongside garlic mashed cauliflower potatoes, roasted vegetables, carrot fries, Spanish rice, or homemade yellow rice.
Most store-bought and frozen chicken patties are filled with preservatives, artificial ingredients, and deep fried. This version is healthier, made with only fresh ingredients, and air fried with way less oil.
💭 One More Tip
Because these air fryer chicken patties are made very simply, you're going to want a delicious dipping sauce to go with them. They are made this way on purpose, so that they pair well with nearly any sauce you like best.
Included in this recipe are instructions for a parmesan garlic aioli. However, you may also like to dip them in my homemade pomegranate bbq sauce, the pesto aioli included in these air fryer carrot fries, or the lemon dill yogurt sauce included with these chicken kofta kebabs.
Or, to make your own aioli, simply mix your favorite spices, herbs, seasonings, or sauces with some mayo (you can also use plain yogurt for a healthier version). For example, sriracha aioli combines sriracha and mayonnaise, truffle aioli combines truffle oil and mayonnaise, and so on.
With this simple tip, you'll have a quick and easy dipping sauce made in just minutes!
🍴 Related Recipes
Share your cooking with me! If you make this recipe, I'd love to know! Tag @yourhomemadehealthy on Instagram or leave a comment with a rating and some feedback at the bottom of this page!
📖 Recipe
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Patties with Canned Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Chicken Patties
- 2 cans premium chunk canned white chicken (12.5 oz each) drained
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 scallion sliced thin
- 2 teaspoon fresh dill chopped
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt (or just a pinch)
For the Garlic Aioli
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 1 small garlic clove grated or finely minced
- ½ lemon juiced
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Combine all of the chicken patty ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Gently mix to combine, being careful not to break up the chunks of chicken too much.
- Pour additional breadcrumbs into a small bowl. Form the chicken mixture into 8 uniform patties and coat both sides of the patties with the breadcrumbs.
- Spray the bottom of your air fryer basket with nonstick spray. Add the patties to the basket, leaving room in between each one. (You might need to cook them in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.)
- Lightly spray the tops of the chicken patties with the nonstick spray before air frying them at 380 degrees F for 7 minutes. Remove the basket from the air fryer, flip the patties, and air fry another 7 minutes, or until they become golden brown and crispy.
- Meanwhile, prepare the parmesan garlic aioli to dip them in. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, garlic, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, and salt.
- Serve air fryer chicken patties warm with a side of the parmesan garlic aioli (or any of your favorite dipping sauces!)
Storage
- To store: Allow chicken patties to cool completely before placing them in an air tight container in the refrigerator. Store up to 4 days.To freeze: Freeze uncooked patties in an air tight container in the freezer. Store them up to 4 months. To reheat: Allow frozen uncooked patties to defrost in the refrigerator overnight. Then, place them in the basket of your air fryer and air fry at 380 degrees F for 14 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Notes
- Instead of canned chicken: you can use canned tuna, freshly cooked chicken breast cut into small chunks or shredded with 2 forks, or store-bought rotisserie chicken ripped into pieces. However, if using rotisserie chicken, make sure to adjust the salt accordingly since they tend to be much saltier.
- Instead of breadcrumbs: if you don't have breadcrumbs, you can finely crush crackers or plain cereal to use as a binder and coating for the patties.
Nutrition
Want more recipes like this delivered right to your inbox? Be sure to subscribe above and never miss a thing!
Cornelia
Made these substituting tarragon for dill along with fresh parsley; panko & corn flakes for ground breadcrumbs! They were a hit and tasty! Will use this recipe again!!!👍🏾
Alana Lieberman
Those sound like delicious additions. So happy you enjoyed it!
Isabel Lin
It tastes so good!!!! I am keeping this recipe, thank you!
Alana Lieberman
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the recipe 🙂
Marni
Loved these as it provided an option outside of the normal burger and chicken breast. We grilled ours and they were delicious too! Thanks for helping us plan our weekly meals.
Alana Lieberman
Grilling sounds like a great way to add extra flavor to the patties. Thanks for giving it a try!
Stacy
Loved the texture of these! Perfectly crisp and juicy. Thank you!
Alana Lieberman
That's great to hear! Thanks for giving them a try 🙂