Ingredients
Method
Bread the Chicken
- Set up three bowls with flour, beaten egg, and crushed cornflakes.
- Coat the chicken thigh in flour, dip into the egg, then press firmly into the crushed cornflakes until fully coated.
- Lightly spray the chicken with oil.
Air Fry the Chicken
- Preheat the air fryer to 385°F.
- Place the breaded chicken into the air fryer and cook for 16 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
Make the Jalapeño Popper Cream Cheese
- In a bowl, mix softened cream cheese with finely diced jalapeños, salt, and black pepper until smooth and evenly combined.
Fry the Egg
- Melt butter in a small pan over medium heat.
- Crack the egg into the pan and cook until the whites are set and the edges are slightly crispy.
- Season with a pinch of black pepper.
Assemble the Sandwich
- Spread the jalapeño popper cream cheese on the bottom half of the toasted bagel.
- Place the crispy fried chicken on top.
- Add fresh jalapeño slices and heirloom tomato slices.
- Top with the fried egg.
- Spread more jalapeño cream cheese on the top half of the bagel and close the sandwich.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Tips for Perfect Crispy Air Fryer Breaded Chicken: Getting crispy breaded chicken in the air fryer is easy when you follow a few simple steps.
Tips for Perfect Crispy Air Fryer Breaded Chicken: Always coat the chicken in flour first, then egg, and finally crushed cornflakes. The flour helps the egg stick to the chicken while the egg acts like glue that holds the cornflake coating in place.
Tips for Perfect Crispy Air Fryer Breaded Chicken: Press the crushed cornflakes firmly into the chicken using your hands. Gently squeezing the coating into the chicken helps prevent the breading from falling off while cooking.
Tips for Perfect Crispy Air Fryer Breaded Chicken: Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket so hot air can circulate evenly around the chicken. This allows the coating to crisp properly.
Tips for Perfect Crispy Air Fryer Breaded Chicken: Finally, lightly spraying the coated chicken with oil before cooking helps the crust brown and crisp up just like fried chicken without needing to deep fry.
Ingredient Substitution Ideas: Cooking should always be flexible and there are a few easy swaps if needed.
Ingredient Substitution Ideas: Cornflake coating substitute - panko breadcrumbs or crushed crackers
Ingredient Substitution Ideas: Chicken thigh substitute - chicken breast
Ingredient Substitution Ideas: Heirloom tomatoes substitute - Roma tomatoes or sliced cherry tomatoes
Ingredient Substitution Ideas: Jalapeño cheddar bagel substitute - plain bagel or brioche bun
Ingredient Substitution Ideas: Fresh jalapeño substitute - pickled jalapeños
Recipe Variations: There are several easy ways to adjust this sandwich depending on your taste.
Recipe Variations: Extra spicy version - add cayenne pepper to the flour seasoning.
Recipe Variations: Bacon jalapeño popper sandwich - add crispy bacon on top of the chicken.
Recipe Variations: Low carb version - skip the bagel and serve everything over lettuce.
Recipe Variations: Extra cheesy version - add a slice of melted cheddar or pepper jack cheese.
Weight Loss and Lower Carb Tips: If you want to reduce carbs, you can skip the bagel and serve the chicken over a salad with the jalapeño cream cheese and fried egg.
Weight Loss and Lower Carb Tips: You can also reduce the amount of breading or experiment with lower carb coatings such as crushed pork rinds.
Weight Loss and Lower Carb Tips: Using less cream cheese or egg yolk will also help reduce calories while still keeping the sandwich flavorful.
Make Ahead and Storage: This sandwich is best enjoyed fresh while the chicken is crispy.
Make Ahead and Storage: However, the jalapeño popper cream cheese can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Make Ahead and Storage: If you need to reheat the chicken, place it back into the air fryer at 375°F for about 3 minutes to restore crispiness.
Make Ahead and Storage: Avoid reheating breaded chicken in the microwave because the coating can become soft.
Tips for Perfect Crispy Air Fryer Breaded Chicken: Always coat the chicken in flour first, then egg, and finally crushed cornflakes. The flour helps the egg stick to the chicken while the egg acts like glue that holds the cornflake coating in place.
Tips for Perfect Crispy Air Fryer Breaded Chicken: Press the crushed cornflakes firmly into the chicken using your hands. Gently squeezing the coating into the chicken helps prevent the breading from falling off while cooking.
Tips for Perfect Crispy Air Fryer Breaded Chicken: Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket so hot air can circulate evenly around the chicken. This allows the coating to crisp properly.
Tips for Perfect Crispy Air Fryer Breaded Chicken: Finally, lightly spraying the coated chicken with oil before cooking helps the crust brown and crisp up just like fried chicken without needing to deep fry.
Ingredient Substitution Ideas: Cooking should always be flexible and there are a few easy swaps if needed.
Ingredient Substitution Ideas: Cornflake coating substitute - panko breadcrumbs or crushed crackers
Ingredient Substitution Ideas: Chicken thigh substitute - chicken breast
Ingredient Substitution Ideas: Heirloom tomatoes substitute - Roma tomatoes or sliced cherry tomatoes
Ingredient Substitution Ideas: Jalapeño cheddar bagel substitute - plain bagel or brioche bun
Ingredient Substitution Ideas: Fresh jalapeño substitute - pickled jalapeños
Recipe Variations: There are several easy ways to adjust this sandwich depending on your taste.
Recipe Variations: Extra spicy version - add cayenne pepper to the flour seasoning.
Recipe Variations: Bacon jalapeño popper sandwich - add crispy bacon on top of the chicken.
Recipe Variations: Low carb version - skip the bagel and serve everything over lettuce.
Recipe Variations: Extra cheesy version - add a slice of melted cheddar or pepper jack cheese.
Weight Loss and Lower Carb Tips: If you want to reduce carbs, you can skip the bagel and serve the chicken over a salad with the jalapeño cream cheese and fried egg.
Weight Loss and Lower Carb Tips: You can also reduce the amount of breading or experiment with lower carb coatings such as crushed pork rinds.
Weight Loss and Lower Carb Tips: Using less cream cheese or egg yolk will also help reduce calories while still keeping the sandwich flavorful.
Make Ahead and Storage: This sandwich is best enjoyed fresh while the chicken is crispy.
Make Ahead and Storage: However, the jalapeño popper cream cheese can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Make Ahead and Storage: If you need to reheat the chicken, place it back into the air fryer at 375°F for about 3 minutes to restore crispiness.
Make Ahead and Storage: Avoid reheating breaded chicken in the microwave because the coating can become soft.