Air-Fryer Chicken Kiev: How Long Does It Take?

Chicken Kiev is a traditional Russian and Ukrainian dish consisting of chicken breasts stuffed with garlic butter and coated in breadcrumbs. The dish can be made in an air fryer, resulting in a moist and tasty chicken with a crispy breaded coating. The cooking time for chicken Kiev in an air fryer varies depending on the recipe and whether the chicken is frozen or fresh, but it typically ranges from 12 to 25 minutes.

How to make garlic butter

Garlic butter is a delicious addition to chicken kiev and many other dishes. Here is a simple recipe to make your own garlic butter at home.

Ingredients:

• Butter (softened)
• Garlic (fresh cloves, crushed or minced)
• Parsley (fresh, chopped)
• Salt (regular or garlic salt, to taste)
• Black pepper (ground)
• Other herbs and spices (optional, e.g. paprika, Italian seasoning, chives)
• Parmesan cheese (optional)

Method:

• Prepare the garlic butter by mixing the softened butter with the garlic and parsley in a bowl. You can also add other herbs and spices, such as paprika or Italian seasoning, to taste. If you want to add some cheese, grate or mince some Parmesan and mix it in.
• Continue mixing until all the ingredients are fully incorporated and well-blended. You can use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or an electric hand mixer for this step.
• Taste the mixture and adjust the seasonings as needed.
• Shape the garlic butter into a block or log and wrap it in cling film. Place it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to harden.
• The garlic butter can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or frozen for up to three months.

This garlic butter can be used as a spread on bread, bagels, toast, or corn on the cob. It is also delicious melted over mashed potatoes, tossed with pasta, or dotted onto baked potatoes or sweet potatoes.

Preparing the chicken breasts

Butterflying the Chicken Breasts:

Start by placing the chicken breasts on a clean work surface. Using a sharp knife, carefully butterfly the chicken breasts by slicing them at their thickest part and opening them up to lay flat. This technique helps create a pocket for the garlic butter filling and ensures even cooking.

Flattening and Seasoning:

Lay the butterflied chicken breasts between sheets of cling film or baking paper. Using a rolling pin, gently flatten them to achieve a uniform thickness. This step ensures that the chicken cooks evenly and allows for a consistent shape. Once flattened, season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper to enhance their flavour.

Stuffing with Garlic Butter:

Prepare the garlic butter by mixing softened butter with crushed or minced garlic cloves and fresh parsley. You can adjust the amount of garlic and parsley to your taste preferences. Mix until well combined and shape the garlic butter into small logs or discs. Place the garlic butter in the refrigerator or freezer to harden. Place one portion of the chilled garlic butter onto one side of each flattened chicken breast.

Rolling and Sealing:

Roll up the chicken breasts gently, enclosing the garlic butter within. Press the edges of the chicken together to seal the garlic butter inside. If needed, you can use a little flour and beaten egg along the edges to help seal the chicken breasts securely. Ensure that the garlic butter is completely enclosed to avoid leakage during cooking.

Breading the Chicken:

Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls. Place flour in the first bowl, beaten eggs in the second, and breadcrumbs in the third. Carefully dredge each stuffed chicken breast in the flour, shaking off any excess. Then, dip the floured chicken into the beaten egg, ensuring it is fully coated. Finally, roll the chicken in the breadcrumbs, pressing gently to ensure they adhere to the chicken. Repeat this process for all the chicken breasts.

Final Preparation:

Transfer the prepared chicken breasts to the air fryer basket. Optionally, you can place them on a piece of foil or a paper liner to catch any potential butter leakage during cooking. Lightly spray the tops of the chicken breasts with non-stick cooking spray or olive oil spray for extra crispiness. Your chicken breasts are now ready for air frying!

Breading the chicken

To make chicken Kiev, you'll need to coat the stuffed chicken breast with flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. This is known as the breading process. Here's a step-by-step guide to breading your chicken:

Step 1: Prepare your breading station

Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls. Place flour in the first bowl, beaten eggs in the second, and a mixture of breadcrumbs and paprika or cayenne pepper in the third. You can season the flour with salt and pepper if desired.

Step 2: Dredge the chicken in flour

Take your stuffed chicken breast and dredge it in the flour. Make sure to coat all sides evenly and shake off any excess flour.

Step 3: Dip the chicken in the egg

After flouring the chicken, dip it into the bowl of beaten eggs. Ensure that the chicken is fully coated with egg. This step will help the breadcrumbs adhere to the chicken.

Step 4: Coat the chicken with breadcrumbs

Finally, roll the chicken breast in the breadcrumbs. Gently press the breadcrumbs into the chicken to ensure they stick. You can use your hands or a spoon to pat the breadcrumbs onto the chicken. Make sure the chicken is evenly coated.

Step 5: Chill the breaded chicken (optional)

Some recipes suggest chilling the breaded chicken in the freezer for about 15 minutes to help the coating set. This step is optional but may help the chicken hold its shape better during frying.

Once you've completed these steps, your chicken Kiev is ready to be cooked in the air fryer! Remember to preheat your air fryer to the recommended temperature before placing the chicken inside. Enjoy your delicious, crispy chicken Kiev!

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for chicken kievs in an air fryer vary depending on the recipe and the number of kievs being cooked. Most recipes suggest preheating the air fryer to a temperature between 180°C and 400°C. The cooking time can range from 12 to 25 minutes, depending on the number of kievs being cooked and the desired level of doneness.

For example, one recipe recommends preheating the air fryer to 400°C and cooking the kievs for 15 minutes, flipping them halfway through to ensure even browning. Another recipe suggests preheating the air fryer to 350°C and cooking the kievs for 20-25 minutes, or until they are golden brown and cooked through.

It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the model of the air fryer being used. Additionally, when cooking multiple kievs, it may be necessary to increase the cooking time slightly to ensure even cooking.

To check if the chicken kievs are cooked through, it is recommended to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meat. The chicken is considered safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 74°C to 75°C.

Some recipes also suggest spraying the kievs with cooking spray before and/or during the cooking process to ensure a crispy, golden-brown exterior.

What to serve with chicken Kiev

Chicken Kiev is a flavourful dish that is perfect for a special occasion or a fancy dinner. It is made of chicken breasts stuffed with garlic butter and coated with breadcrumbs. The best side dishes to serve with Chicken Kiev are:

• Mashed potatoes
• Roasted vegetables (especially Greek roasted vegetables)
• Salads (Caesar salad, three bean salad, Greek salad, etc.)
• Green beans
• Rice pilaf
• Ratatouille
• Creamed spinach
• Buttered noodles
• Roasted potatoes
• Grilled asparagus
• Mushroom risotto
• Tomato salad
• Garlic bread

You can also serve Chicken Kiev with:

• Cucumber salad
• Baked zucchini fries
• Air-fryer hasselback potatoes
• Moroccan couscous salad
• Corn on the cob
• Cheese sauce
• Spaghetti aglio e olio
• Baked ziti
• Carrot apple slaw with radishes
• Zucchini radish salad
• Air fryer baked potatoes
• Rainbow vegetables
• Polenta
• White rice
• Black rice
• Dijon cream sauce
• Buttermilk mashed potatoes
• Oven-roasted carrots with thyme
• Potato au gratin with pancetta and leeks
• Garlic parmesan orzo with caramelized shallots
• Air fryer baked sweet potatoes
• Jalapeño cheddar cornbread

Frequently asked questions