Pizza Stuffed Chicken has all the best parts of a pepperoni pizza stuffed inside seasoned crispy air fried chicken. This delicious family dinner with gooey mozzarella cheese may look fancy, but it's actually quite easy to make. Simply slice, stuff, and coat with seasonings, then pop these savory pizza chicken breasts into the air fryer with no turning or flipping!
Jump to:
- ✅Easy weeknight dinner win!
- 🍕Customize with your family's favorite pizza toppings
- 🤔Why use an air fryer for this pizza stuffed chicken recipe?
- 🥘Basic ingredients
- 🔪How to make pizza stuffed chicken
- 🥣Easy ingredient substitutions
- 📖Creative pizza stuffed chicken recipe variations
- 🍽Essential equipment
- 🍶How to store and reheat pizza stuffed chicken
- 💭Top tips for how to prep chicken for stuffing
- 🗨️Air fried pizza stuffed chicken FAQ
- 🥄Related chicken breast recipes
- 🍴Pairing suggestions for a complete family dinner
- 📋Recipe with step-by-step instructions
- 💬 Comments
✅Easy weeknight dinner win!
When the family wants pizza, but you have chicken, what better way to win them over than to fuse those two meals together?
Pizza Stuffed Chicken will have the kids forget all about a delivery person showing up at the door--guaranteed. Because what's not to like about oozing cheese, pepperoni, and pizza sauce stuffed inside crispy air fried chicken?
When you follow the steps, you'll be amazed at how easy it is to stuff chicken breasts. Plus the added convenience of using an air fryer or Ninja Foodi makes this meal a breeze.
🍕Customize with your family's favorite pizza toppings
Just like with Mini Pepper Pizzas and Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Sliders, you can totally make this stuffed chicken recipe your own by adding everyone's favorite pizza toppings to the filling. From mushrooms to peppers and more, this delicious dish will make everyone forget all about the crust.
🤔Why use an air fryer for this pizza stuffed chicken recipe?
Honestly, the air fryer is a total game-changer for stuffed chicken. Here is why it beats the traditional oven every time:
- That Perfect Crunch: You get that "deep-fried" golden exterior without the actual deep-frying. The circulating air crisps up the seasoning and parmesan beautifully while keeping the inside incredibly juicy.
- No Blowouts: Because you don’t have to flip the chicken halfway through, your mozzarella and pepperoni stay tucked safely inside the pocket rather than leaking out all over a baking sheet.
- Fast & Cool: It preheats in seconds and won't turn your kitchen into a sauna. You’re looking at a 20-30 minute cook time, making it a perfect weeknight win!
🥘Basic ingredients
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts- try to use breasts close in size for best results
- olive oil- the outside of the chicken is coated with this to help the seasonings stick and to get the chicken crispy in the air fryer
- garlic powder, salt, pepper, pizza seasoning- savory seasonings for added flavor
- pizza sauce- choose your favorite sauce
- sliced pepperoni- I like using turkey pepperoni because it has less fat
- fresh mozzarella- buy this in a pre-sliced log for convenience; it's much easier to stuff the chicken with fresh slices (as opposed to shredded), plus you get more of a cheesy, gooey effect
- freshly grated parmesan cheese- sprinkled on top for an extra salty bite and crunch
See recipe card for quantities.
🔪How to make pizza stuffed chicken
- Step 1: Slowly slit the chicken breasts from the side with a serrated knife (more tips on this below); coat outside with oil and seasonings; sprinkle additional seasonings on the inside, then spread pizza sauce on the inner cavity.
- Step 2: Place pepperoni and mozzarella slices on top of the sauce.
- Step 3: Seal up the openings with toothpicks.
- Step 4: Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and air fry for about 20-30 minutes, depending on size, seams facing up (internal temp needs to reach 165°F).
For step-by-step instructions, see the recipe card.
Hint: If you don't have a stand alone air fryer or Ninja Foodi, you can bake these in an oven or toaster oven at 350°F; just know that the chicken will take longer to cook this way.
🥣Easy ingredient substitutions
- Cheese - instead of fresh mozzarella, you can use fresh burrata cheese (simply slice before adding); you can also use string cheese (place 1-2 in each chicken)
- Pizza Sauce - use marinara or spaghetti sauce instead
- Pizza Seasoning - you can use Italian seasoning instead
📖Creative pizza stuffed chicken recipe variations
- Spicy - use spicy pizza sauce and add sliced jalapeños to the filling; optional to use pepper jack string cheese instead of mozzarella
- Mexican - use salsa instead of pizza sauce; add black beans, corn and cotija cheese; hold the pepperoni and pizza seasoning
- White Pizza Stuffed Chicken - Skip the red sauce and spread a thin layer of garlic alfredo sauce inside the pocket. Stuff with fresh mozzarella and a few leaves of baby spinach. It’s a sophisticated twist that tastes like a high-end Italian dinner!
For a delicious pizza stuffed snack, see Pepperoni Pizza Rolls.
🍽Essential equipment
- paper towels
- cutting board & serrated knife
- measuring cups & spoons
- small bowl
- silicone brush
- toothpicks
- large capacity air fryer (6 quart or larger); you can use a Ninja Foodi or stand alone air fryer for this recipe
- digital meat thermometer
🍶How to store and reheat pizza stuffed chicken
To keep your chicken juicy and that cheese perfectly gooey for round two, follow these simple storage tips:
Freezer Option - You can freeze these for up to 2 months! Just wrap them tightly in foil and store them in a freezer-safe bag. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
To Store - Place leftover chicken in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator. It’s best when enjoyed within 3 days.
To Reheat - For the best results, pop the pizza stuffed chicken back into the air fryer at 350°F for 5-7 minutes. This crisps the exterior back up without drying out the meat.
💭Top tips for how to prep chicken for stuffing
The secret to a perfect stuffed chicken breast is all in the prep! Follow these steps to create the perfect pocket:
Dry it Off: Use paper towels to blot the chicken breasts. Removing excess moisture is the only way to get that seasoning to stick and the skin to crisp up.
The "Butterfly" Alternative: Instead of cutting all the way through, place your hand flat on top of the breast. Use a serrated knife to slice horizontally into the thickest part.
Leave a Border: Stop about a half-inch from the edges and the back. You want a deep pocket, not a flat flap, to keep the pizza sauce and mozzarella contained.
Season the "Room": Before adding your fillings, sprinkle some pizza seasoning inside the pocket. It ensures every bite—inside and out—is packed with flavor.
The Toothpick Seal: Once stuffed, "sew" the edge shut with 3-4 toothpicks. Angle them in and out like a safety pin for the tightest seal.
🗨️Air fried pizza stuffed chicken FAQ
Generally it takes between 20-30 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breast. It's essential to have a digital meat thermometer to check for doneness. Once the internal temperature reaches 165°F, the chicken is done.
That's really a personal preference, but I like the air fryer because the chicken gets crisp on the outside (but juicy in the middle) and doesn't take as long to cook.
No. If using an oven for an air fryer recipe, always reduce the temperature by 25°F. For this recipe, the oven temp would be 350°F.
The "cheese explosion" is the biggest worry! To prevent it, don't overstuff the pocket. Use toothpicks to "sew" the edge shut, and always place the pizza stuffed chicken in the air fryer basket seam-side up. This lets the cheese melt down into the meat rather than out onto the tray.
It is best to use completely thawed chicken. For the stuffing technique to work, the meat needs to be pliable enough to cut a deep pocket. If you’re in a pinch, safely thaw your chicken in cold water before prepping to ensure it cooks evenly to 165°F.
While shredded cheese works, fresh mozzarella slices or even string cheese are the real winners. They hold their shape better during the high-heat air frying process, giving you that iconic "cheese pull" without completely disappearing into the chicken.
Nope! That’s the beauty of the Air Fryer. The rapid air circulation cooks the chicken from all sides. Keeping the seam side up the entire time ensures your pizza sauce and pepperoni stay perfectly tucked inside.
🥄Related chicken breast recipes
Looking for other chicken family dinner recipes? Try these:
🍴Pairing suggestions for a complete family dinner
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Pizza Stuffed Chicken:
📋Recipe with step-by-step instructions
Easy Air Fried Pizza Stuffed Chicken
Equipment
- paper towels
- cutting board
- serrated knife
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- small bowl
- silicone brush
- toothpicks
- large capacity air fryer (6 quart or larger)
- digital meat thermometer
Ingredients
- boneless skinless chicken breasts of similar size 3 large or 4 medium
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tsp ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon pizza seasoning
- pizza sauce 3-4 tablespoon depending on number of chicken breasts used
- sliced turkey pepperoni 9-12 slices depending on number of chicken breasts used
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella sliced; aim for 2-3 slices in each breast, some overlapping is fine
- freshly grated parmesan cheese 3-4 tablespoon depending on number of chicken breasts used
Instructions
- Blot chicken breasts with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Using a serrated knife, create a "pocket" in each chicken breast by slowly slicing in from the largest side, but do not slice all the way through. (See Top tip in above post for more guidance.)
- Mix the seasonings (garlic, salt, pepper, pizza seasoning) together in a small bowl.
- For each breast, brush outside with 1 tablespoon oil and ½ teaspoon of combined seasonings; sprinkle remaining ½ teaspoon combined seasonings on the inside.
- Spread 1 tablespoon pizza sauce on each inner cavity, followed by 3 pepperoni and 3 cheese slices.
- Seal the openings with toothpicks (3-4 in each breast). Then sprinkle each breast with 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese.
- Place chicken breasts, seam side up, in a preheated air fryer at 375℉ for 20-30 minutes (depending on size) or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165℉ (use a digital thermometer to check).
- Let rest 5-10 minutes before removing toothpicks and serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Please note that nutritional information is provided by a third party service and is intended for guidance purposes only. KitchenReadyBetty.com makes no claims to its accuracy.
Heidi | The Frugal Girls says
Amazing recipe! This is the perfect way to change up pizza night... all of the savory flavors without the crust!
Kitchen Ready Betty says
You are so right! It's a low carb option that tastes great!