• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Homebody Eats
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
    • Main Dish
    • Side Dish
  • Entertaining
  • Kitchen Essentials
  • About
  • Start a Food Blog
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Shop Courses & Cookbooks
  • Italian Cooking Retreat
  • Contact
  • About
ร—
Homebody Eats ยป Recipes ยป Poultry

Air Fryer Pretzel Chicken Cordon Bleu

Published: Sep 3, 2019 ยท Modified: Mar 10, 2022 by Jessica Mode ยท This content may include affiliate links.

260 shares
  • Share
  • Email
  • Print
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

In under 45 minutes, you can whip up the best air fryer chicken dinner you will ever try. This pretzel chicken cordon bleu has it all - from a crunchy crust to juicy chicken, and melty cheese on the inside.

chicken cordon bleu on a bed of greens

Want To Save This Article?

Enter your email below and we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll receive new weekly recipe inspiration.

Save this Article

This mouth-watering air-fryer chicken recipe has got me rethinking weeknight dinners. This pretzel-crusted chicken air fryer recipe is not only delicious but can be whipped up in less than 45 minutes with only 5 ingredients.

This is one of the easiest dinners you can make and the whole family will love it. Plus, the crunchy pretzel crust really takes this dinner to the next level. No matter what air fryer you use, you can make this delicious cordon bleu recipe.ย 

If you love this tasty weeknight dish, check out my list of weeknight dinners for more inspiration.ย 

Jump to:
  • What You'll Learn In This Recipe
  • 5 Days to Instantly Becoming a Better Home Cook
  • Ingredients You Need
  • How To Make This Recipe
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Dinner Recipes
  • Air Fryer Pretzel Chicken Cordon Bleu

What You'll Learn In This Recipe

  • How to make juicy air-fryer chicken.
  • How to make an easy pretzel crumb crust.
  • The importance of trimming off excess fat from chicken. 

5 Days to Instantly Becoming a Better Home Cook

Have you wanted to learn how to cook, but didn't know where to start? This five day email series will help new (and well-skilled) home chefs improve their skills in the kitchen with 5 practical culinary secrets everyone needs to learn!

    โ€‹

    Ingredients You Need

    This pretzel chicken cordon bleu in an air fryer is super easy to make, requiring just a handful of key ingredients. 

    air fryer chicken cordon bleu ingredients with labels.
    • Chicken thighs: To ensure super juicy chicken, this recipe calls for thighs. Dark meat is much juicier than white meat and it's harder to overcook dark meat.ย Be sure to buy skinless, boneless chicken thighs, or remove the skin and bones yourself before cooking.ย 
    • Sliced ham: I like to use thinly sliced deli-style honey ham for my cordon bleu. Feel free to use a different style, brand, or flavor of ham in your dish.
    • Swiss cheese: Swiss cheese is another distinct characteristic of a cordon bleu. This cheese melts beautifully and the sharp and distinct flavor helps cut through the saltiness and meatiness of the rest of the dish. Just like the ham, be sure to get thinly sliced cheese.
    • Pretzels: This is the secret trick to getting the crunchiest exterior on your chicken. If necessary, feel free to substitute for gluten-free pretzels.ย 
    • Eggs: Eggs are the binding agent that will ensure the pretzels stick to the chicken. This will help you get a nice even coating of crunchiness surrounding the chicken.ย 
    • Non-stick cooking oil spray: Give your air fryer basket a coating of non-stick cooking oil spray and you wonโ€™t have to worry about the chicken cordon bleu sticking.ย 

    Check out the recipe card below for exact measurements.

    How To Make This Recipe

    You are going to be shocked by how easy this pretzel-crusted air fryer chicken is to make.ย 

    numbered photo showing how to trim fat off chicken thighs.

    1. To begin, set your air fryer to 375ยบF (190 C). Any air fryer works for this recipe, I love using my Cuisinart air fryer + convection toaster oven.ย 

    With the air fryer preheating, trim off the excess fat from the chicken thighs. Very rarely will the chicken thighs be perfectly cleaned, so be sure to clean off any excess fat to ensure all parts of the chicken thigh cook evenly.

    If you leave the fat on, the fat will not have rendered in the amount of time it takes the meat to cook. This will result in a chewy consistency that we do not want.

    When trimming meat, you want to use a sharp knife like a chef's knife or a boning knife.ย 

    two numbered photos showing breading station for chicken cordon bleu.

    2. With the chicken cleaned, add the pretzels to the container of a high-powered blender or a food processor. Cover the container with the lid and blend for about 20 seconds.

    You want the pretzels to have become a crumb-like powder. If you blend for too long the pretzels will become too powdery and your chicken will not be as crunchy. Dump this mixture onto a shallow plate.

    3. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the eggs. Whisk the eggs until scrambled. 

    four numbered photos showing how to roll chicken cordon bleu.

    4. Now itโ€™s time to assemble the chicken cordon bleu. Before starting, gather all of your ingredients in one place. To assemble, lay a chicken thigh flat on a plastic cutting board or a plate. Add two slices of ham and one slice of Swiss cheese to the chicken thigh.

    5 and 6. Roll the thigh up so the chicken is on the outside and the cheese and ham are encompassed.

    7. Use one or two toothpicks to secure the chicken roll-up. Then, repeat this process with the rest of the chicken thighs.ย 

    two numbered photos showing breading chicken cordon bleu in eggs and pretzels.

    8. With all the chicken rolled up, coat the thighs in the egg mixture. Make sure the outside is completely covered in egg before transferring the chicken to the plate with the pretzel powder.

    9. Roll the chicken in the powder until there is an even and thin layer of pretzels all around the chicken.ย 

    When breading anything using egg wash, the wet hand/dry hand method is the way to go. One hand is used for handling the wet ingredients (the egg), while the other is used for handling the dry ingredients (the pretzel crumbs). This method helps avoid clumps of eggy breadcrumbs on your hands and keeps the whole process much cleaner.ย 

    numbered photo with raw chicken cordon bleu in air fryer basket.

    10. Before placing the chicken in the air fryer, spray a thin layer of non-stick cooking oil in the fryer basket. With the basket coated, add the chicken thighs in a single layer. Be sure to leave some space in between each piece of chicken to ensure that all sides get crispy.ย 

    numbered photo with baked chicken cordon bleu in air fryer basket.

    11. Let the chicken cook for 24-28 minutes until the chicken is golden brown on the outside and the internal temperature reads 165ยบ F (74ยบ C) on an instant-read thermometer.ย 

    If you know that the air fryer you use does not cook evenly, turn the chicken halfway through the cooking process to ensure that each thigh cooks in the same amount of time. 

    With the chicken cooked, remove the toothpicks and serve immediately. This chicken is at its best when itโ€™s right out of the air fryer since the coating will be at its crispiest and the cheese will be nice and melted.

    Expert Tips

    • If you are choosing to use frozen chicken for this recipe, there are a few safe ways to defrost raw meat:
      • 1. Place the chicken in a refrigerator for at least 8 hours before you plan on using it. Be sure the temperature in the fridge is at 41ยบ F (5ยบ C) or lower.
      • 2. Let the meat sit under running water. This will significantly speed up the defrosting process. Do not let the temperature of the water exceed 70ยบ F (21ยบ C).  
      • 3. Using the defrost setting on the microwave. Be sure to use the meat immediately after defrosting if you use this method.
    • Storage: Store leftover cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.ย 
    • You can switch up this recipe to use any other type of breading: panko crumbs, bread crumbs, crushed crackers, crushed potato chips, or crushed cornflakes. 

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I put raw chicken in an air fryer?

    It is perfectly safe to put raw chicken in the air fryer. Just be sure to fully cook the chicken, then wash your equipment afterward.

    How can I prevent this chicken from becoming dry?ย 

    Using chicken thighs instead of breasts helps with this. Another thing to be aware of is the internal temperature of the chicken. Once the temperature reaches 165ยบF (74ยบC), the chicken is fully cooked.ย 

    Should I preheat the air fryer?ย 

    Yes. This will ensure the temperature is hot and the chicken will be cooked more accurately and evenly. It is much easier to judge the cooking time (24-28 minutes) if the air fryer is preheated.ย 

    Can I use bone-in chicken thighs for this recipe?

    No. This recipe needs boneless chicken thighs to allow for the chicken to wrap around the ham and cheese.

    chicken cordon bleu on top of bed of greens on a white plate.

    More Dinner Recipes

    • chorizo street tacos with avocado slices.
      Simple Chorizo Street Tacos
    • burger topped with tomato, cucumber, and onion.
      Greek Stuffed Feta Burgers With Tzatziki
    • herb and cheese crusted salmon with lemon slices.
      Herb Crusted Baked Salmon With Mayonnaise
    • vegetable lasagna topped with mushrooms and basil.
      Vegetable Lasagna With Bรฉchamel

    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star โญโญโญโญโญ rating in the recipe card below. Don't forget to follow along on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest for more recipes.

    air fryer chicken on bed of greens.

    Air Fryer Pretzel Chicken Cordon Bleu

    In under 45 minutes, you can whip up the best air fryer chicken dinner you will ever try. This pretzel chicken cordon bleu has it all - from a crunchy crust to juicy chicken, and melty cheese on the inside.
    Author: Jessica Mode
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Active Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 24 minutes mins
    Total Time 44 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 5
    Calories 543 kcal

    Equipment

    • air fryer
    • chef's knife
    • cutting board
    • high powered blender
    • whisk or fork
    • toothpicks

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 5 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (approximately 1.8 lbs)
    • 3 cups pretzels
    • 2 large eggs
    • 10 slices deli style honey ham
    • 5 slices Swiss cheese
    • non-stick cooking oil spray as needed

    Instructions
     

    • Heat air fryer to 375ยฐF (190ยฐC).
    • Trim excess fat from chicken thighs.
    • Place pretzels in the container of a high-powered blender or food processor. Cover and blend about 20 seconds, or until it has a powder, crumb-like texture. Pour mixture onto a shallow plate.
    • Whisk eggs in a medium sized mixing bowl until scrambled.
    • Lay chicken out flat on a plastic cutting board or plate. Add 2 slices of ham (30 grams) and 1 slice of Swiss cheese (18 grams) to the chicken thigh. Roll the chicken so the ham and cheese are surrounded. Secure using toothpicks. Repeat this process with 4 remaining chicken thighs.
    • Dredge the chicken thighs in the egg mixture until the outside is completely coated. Immediately roll the chicken in the pretzel crumbs until a thin layer coats the outside.
    • Spray air fryer basket with non-stick cooking oil spray. Place chicken in a single layer on the air fryer basket. Bake for 24- 28 minutes, until chicken is golden brown on the outside and the internal temperature reads 165ยฐF (74ยฐC) on an instant read thermometer.
    • Remove toothpicks from chicken. Serve immediately.

    Notes

    Storage:ย Store leftover cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.ย 
    If your air fryer doesn't cook evenly, turn the chicken halfway through the cooking process.
    To stay clean while breading the chicken, use one hand for the wet station (the eggs) and the other hand for the dry station (the pretzels).ย 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servingCalories: 543kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 46gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 223mgSodium: 1431mgPotassium: 540mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 263IUCalcium: 167mgIron: 4mg
    Have you tried this recipe?Tag @homebody.eats on Instagram so we can see your creations!

    More Poultry Recipes

    • gravy with pepper in a gravy boat.
      Homemade Gravy With Turkey Drippings
    • two jars of turkey stock in mason jars.
      Homemade Turkey Stock
    • oranges, garlic, and spices in water for wet brine.
      Wet Brine For Turkey
    • dry brine for turkey in a bowl with a spoon.
      Dry Brine For Turkey

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Shirley Kalck

      August 10, 2021 at 4:52 pm

      I have a favorite frozen chicken cordon bleu. Can I cook it in my air fryer? The chicken is raw and does need complete cooking.

      Reply
      • Jessica Mode

        August 10, 2021 at 7:33 pm

        Hi Shirley! I have not personally tried this out, but I'd say it's worth a shot! Just make sure to check in the internal temperature of the chicken to ensure it's completely cooked. The thermometer should read 165F for cooked chicken. Let me know how it goes - good luck!!

        Reply
    2. Jeremey

      December 23, 2021 at 9:19 pm

      5 stars
      I've been meaning to leave a review for a while now because I've made this dish every week for the last month. My kids love it and it's been a really great dish for the whole family!

      Reply
    3. Kelli Brezovic

      May 08, 2022 at 3:36 pm

      Hi, Iโ€™m going to make that today. Do you need to flip the chicken halfway through?

      Reply
      • Jessica Mode

        May 08, 2022 at 3:38 pm

        Hey Kelli! I did not have to flip with my air fryer. However, if you noticed the top getting more browned than the bottom, you can definitely flip halfway throughout the cooking process!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Jessica! Here, you'll find delicious & fresh recipes that will help you learn to master a new skill in the kitchen!

    More about me โ†’

    Breakfast Recipe Ideas

    • overnight oats in a mason jar topped with strawberry.
      Chocolate Covered Strawberry Overnight Oats
    • cheesy open faced tuna with avocado.
      California Open Faced Tuna Melt
    • three chorizo tacos topped with an avocado slice laying on wooden cutting board.
      Mexican Breakfast Tacos
    • cherry smoothie topped with chocolate granola.
      Cherry Granola Smoothie

    Veggie Side Dishes

    • crispy rosemary baby potatoes in a bowl.
      Crispy Rosemary Baby Potatoes
    • roasted brussel sprouts topped with balsamic glaze and parmesan cheese.
      Brussel Sprouts With Balsamic Glaze (4 Ingredients)
    • blue cheese and almond green beans.
      Almond and Blue Cheese Green Beans
    • garlic cauliflower mash garnished with panko and chives.
      Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Mash

    Footer

    โ†‘ back to top

    About Us

    Learn About Us
    Privacy Policy
    Accessibility Statement
    Disclaimer
    Terms of Use

    Newsletter

    Sign Up for weekly emails and updates

    Contact

    Contact Us
    Shop Courses & Products
    Work With Us

    As an LTK & Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright ยฉ 2025 Homebody Eatsยฎ

    air fryer chicken cordon bleu with text overlay.

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.