British Sunday roast traditionally takes 4 hours—this air fryer hack delivers the same crispy-skin results in just 35 minutes.
Air Fryer Cheat’s Roast Dinner
Indulge in a mouthwatering twist on a classic roast dinner with our Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Chicken! In just 20 minutes, you’ll savor juicy chicken filled with your favorite goodies, all enveloped in crispy bacon. Pair it with velvety mashed potatoes and crunchy green beans for a delightful feast that feels like a Sunday dinner any day of the week!
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
2
people
Level
beginner
The Story
This brilliant cheat borrows from 1960s American convenience culture—when TV dinners taught housewives that Sunday roast didn't require Sunday commitment—but wraps it in proper British tradition, because only we'd stuff a chicken breast with sage and thyme then armor-plate it with streaky bacon like some medieval knight's dinner, proving that shortcuts don't have to sacrifice soul.
Regional Twist
In Yorkshire's Dales, they replace the dried sage with fresh sage leaves from their kitchen gardens and swap the streaky bacon for proper dry-cured back bacon, creating a more robust flavor.
📝 Ingredients
Shopping List
- 6 slices bacon
- 2 pieces chicken breasts
- 1 tsp (5 ml) dried sage
- to serve gravy
- 200 g green beans
Pantry Items
Amounts also listed in instructions below
- bread (to taste)
- butter (to taste)
- dried thyme (to taste)
- garlic (to taste)
- onion (to taste)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
For the stuffing, sauté the onions in a pot with the butter, mix in the breadcrumbs, garlic, herbs, and seasoning, add a little extra butter or splash of stock if too dry.
- 2
Butterfly each chicken breast to create a pocket, then add a layer of stuffing inside and fold it back over.
- 3
Wrap each breast tightly with streaky bacon (3 rashers each), tucking the ends underneath. Season lightly on top.
- 4
Place in the air fryer basket and cook at 200°C for 15 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the chicken is cooked through.
- 5
Prepare mashed potatoes as usual, then toss the green beans with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper, and air fry for 8–10 minutes, shaking halfway, until crispy and slightly blistered.
- 6
When the chicken is ready, slice it up and serve on a bed of mash, with the crispy green beans, and pour over hot gravy.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Pound chicken breasts to 1/2 inch thickness before butterflying to ensure even cooking and prevent the thick portion from staying raw while thin edges overcook.technique1/2 inch thickness
- ✓Chill the bacon-wrapped chicken for 15-20 minutes before air frying so the bacon fat firms up and won't unravel during cooking.timing15-20 minutes
- ✓Use panko breadcrumbs instead of regular bread for stuffing because their larger surface area creates 30% more crispy texture and better moisture absorption.ingredient30% more texture
- ✓Cook green beans at 400°F for 6-8 minutes instead of lower temps because the Maillard reaction needs 300°F+ to create the crispy, caramelized exterior.equipment400°F, 6-8 minutes
- ✓Check chicken internal temperature reaches exactly 165°F using an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part, as bacon wrapping insulates and can create false doneness cues.technique165°F internal temp
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
2
people
Level
beginner
Share this recipe
British Sunday roast traditionally takes 4 hours—this air fryer hack delivers the same crispy-skin results in just 35 minutes.
Air Fryer Cheat’s Roast Dinner
Indulge in a mouthwatering twist on a classic roast dinner with our Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Chicken! In just 20 minutes, you’ll savor juicy chicken filled with your favorite goodies, all enveloped in crispy bacon. Pair it with velvety mashed potatoes and crunchy green beans for a delightful feast that feels like a Sunday dinner any day of the week!
The Story
This brilliant cheat borrows from 1960s American convenience culture—when TV dinners taught housewives that Sunday roast didn't require Sunday commitment—but wraps it in proper British tradition, because only we'd stuff a chicken breast with sage and thyme then armor-plate it with streaky bacon like some medieval knight's dinner, proving that shortcuts don't have to sacrifice soul.
Regional Twist
In Yorkshire's Dales, they replace the dried sage with fresh sage leaves from their kitchen gardens and swap the streaky bacon for proper dry-cured back bacon, creating a more robust flavor.
📝 Ingredients
Shopping List
- 6 slices bacon
- 2 pieces chicken breasts
- 1 tsp (5 ml) dried sage
- to serve gravy
- 200 g green beans
Pantry Items
Amounts also listed in instructions below
- bread (to taste)
- butter (to taste)
- dried thyme (to taste)
- garlic (to taste)
- onion (to taste)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
For the stuffing, sauté the onions in a pot with the butter, mix in the breadcrumbs, garlic, herbs, and seasoning, add a little extra butter or splash of stock if too dry.
- 2
Butterfly each chicken breast to create a pocket, then add a layer of stuffing inside and fold it back over.
- 3
Wrap each breast tightly with streaky bacon (3 rashers each), tucking the ends underneath. Season lightly on top.
- 4
Place in the air fryer basket and cook at 200°C for 15 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the chicken is cooked through.
- 5
Prepare mashed potatoes as usual, then toss the green beans with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper, and air fry for 8–10 minutes, shaking halfway, until crispy and slightly blistered.
- 6
When the chicken is ready, slice it up and serve on a bed of mash, with the crispy green beans, and pour over hot gravy.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Pound chicken breasts to 1/2 inch thickness before butterflying to ensure even cooking and prevent the thick portion from staying raw while thin edges overcook.technique1/2 inch thickness
- ✓Chill the bacon-wrapped chicken for 15-20 minutes before air frying so the bacon fat firms up and won't unravel during cooking.timing15-20 minutes
- ✓Use panko breadcrumbs instead of regular bread for stuffing because their larger surface area creates 30% more crispy texture and better moisture absorption.ingredient30% more texture
- ✓Cook green beans at 400°F for 6-8 minutes instead of lower temps because the Maillard reaction needs 300°F+ to create the crispy, caramelized exterior.equipment400°F, 6-8 minutes
- ✓Check chicken internal temperature reaches exactly 165°F using an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part, as bacon wrapping insulates and can create false doneness cues.technique165°F internal temp