Pepperoni Pizza Cheese-Stuffed Chicken Bites

Ingredients

• 1 lb 92/8 ground chicken
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• salt (to taste; the author uses adobo all-purpose seasoning instead)
• black pepper (to taste)
• 1 tsp fresh basil (heaping; chopped)
• 2 oz lite shredded mozzarella
• 0.25 cup grated Parmesan (for the chicken mixture)
• 24 turkey pepperoni (slices, chopped)
• 5 reduced-fat mozzarella string cheese (cut each into 4 pieces; use 2 pieces per bite)
• 2 bag Quest Pizza Protein Chips (crushed)
• 1 tbsp grated Parmesan (for the chip coating)
• cooking spray (for the parchment-lined air-fryer tray and tops)
• Parmesan (optional garnish)
• fresh basil (optional garnish)
• pizza sauce or marinara (for dipping)
• pickled jalapeño (optional condiment variation)
• hot honey (optional condiment variation)
• ranch (optional condiment variation)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).

2. 2

   In a bowl, combine the ground chicken, egg, onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt or adobo seasoning, black pepper, chopped basil, shredded mozzarella, ¼ cup grated Parmesan, and chopped turkey pepperoni. Mix until just combined, taking care not to overwork the chicken, then divide the mixture into 10 portions.

3. 3

   Cut each mozzarella string cheese into 4 pieces and set the pieces aside.

4. 4

   Flatten one chicken portion in your palm, place 2 pieces of string cheese (½ stick) in the center, and shape the chicken around the cheese into a ball, sealing it completely inside. Repeat with the remaining portions.

5. 5

   Combine the crushed protein chips with 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan in a shallow dish.

6. 6

   Roll each chicken ball in the chip mixture, gently pressing the crumbs onto the surface so it is coated.

7. 7

   Line the air-fryer tray with parchment and lightly coat it with cooking spray. Arrange the coated chicken bites on the tray, then lightly spray their tops.

8. 8

   Air-fry at 400°F (200°C) for 12 minutes. Flip the bites, then cook for another 12 minutes, or until the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) internally.

9. 9

   Transfer the bites to a serving plate. Garnish with Parmesan and additional basil if desired, and serve with pizza sauce or marinara for dipping.

10. 10

    For an optional condiment variation, try a bite with pickled jalapeño, hot honey, and ranch.

Notes

Makes 10 bites; serving size is 2 bites. The creator reports approximately 335 calories, 41 g protein, 5 g carbs, and 17 g fat per 2 bites; dipping sauce and optional toppings are not included. The audio transcript says the bites came out of the oven, while the written directions specify an air fryer; the written directions provide the cooking method and time.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• snack
• high-protein
• game-day
• air-fried
• gluten-free