Air Fryer Hunter’s Chicken Recipe

Air Fryer Hunter’s Chicken Recipe

Hunter’s chicken is one of those dishes I genuinely can’t resist when I see it on a pub menu. That combination of juicy chicken, sticky barbecue sauce, crispy bacon and melted cheese is just irresistible – and I’m so pleased to have nailed the air fryer version of this recipe in my Air Fryer book. It comes together beautifully in the dual-drawer air fryer, with the chicken cooked in one batch and then finished with all the toppings in the final eight minutes.

At 477 calories per serving, this hunters chicken air fryer recipe feels every bit as indulgent as the pub version, but it fits easily into a healthy eating plan. I make my own barbecue sauce here – it genuinely takes no longer than ten minutes on the hob and tastes so much better than anything from a jar (though if you’re really pressed for time, shop-bought works perfectly well). The whole thing is on the table in under an hour, and I promise it will become a firm family favourite.

I serve this with my Southwestern Corn Salad from the book, but it goes just as happily with sweet potato fries, rice, or whatever vegetables you fancy.

In this post

• What is hunter’s chicken?
• Why you’ll love this recipe
• Variations and substitutions
• Serving suggestions
• Storing & reheating
• How does it work on Slimming World?
• If you’re taking Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro
• What other chicken recipes could I make?
• FAQs
• Recipe

What is hunter’s chicken?

Hunter’s chicken is a classic British pub dish consisting of a chicken breast stuffed with barbecue sauce, wrapped in bacon, and baked under a layer of grated cheese. It’s a proper crowd-pleaser – hearty, satisfying, and packed with flavour. Despite its indulgent appearance, a well-made low calorie hunter’s chicken comes in at a very reasonable calorie count, especially when you make the BBQ sauce yourself and keep the cheese portion sensible.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• All the pub flavours without the pub price tag. This tastes every bit as good as a restaurant version, made entirely from scratch in your own kitchen.
• Only 477 calories per serving. That’s a satisfying, protein-packed main course that fits comfortably into a healthy eating day.
• The homemade BBQ sauce is genuinely worth making. It takes about ten minutes and uses simple storecupboard ingredients – passata, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and a little honey. You can always make a double batch and keep it in the fridge.
• Air fryer hunters chicken cooks evenly and efficiently. The air fryer gets the bacon perfectly cooked and the cheese golden and bubbling.
• Perfect for feeding the whole family. The recipe serves four with no fuss, and even the fussiest eaters tend to love this one.

Variations and Substitutions

• Use shop-bought BBQ sauce. If you’re short on time, a good-quality shop-bought barbecue sauce works perfectly here. Just check the sugar content – some can be quite high.
• Swap the Cheddar. Mozzarella gives a lovely stretchy melt, or try a smoked cheese for a deeper flavour. A mix of the two is also delicious.
• Make it spicier. Add a pinch of chilli powder or a drizzle of hot sauce over the chicken before adding the cheese for a bit of a kick.
• Vegetarian version. Swap the chicken for a large flat mushroom or a thick slice of grilled aubergine, and use plant-based bacon. The BBQ sauce and cheese topping works brilliantly either way.
• Dairy-free. Use a plant-based grated cheese alternative – it melts well in the air fryer.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve with sweet potato fries or my Perfect Chips for a proper comforting dinner.
• A simple green salad or some steamed tenderstem broccoli cuts through the richness nicely.
• Rice or couscous both work well for soaking up any extra BBQ sauce.
• My Southwestern Corn Salad (from the book) is the serving suggestion in the original recipe and it’s a fantastic combination – sweet, fresh and colourful alongside the rich, cheesy chicken.

Storing and Reheating

• Fridge: Allow the cooked chicken to cool fully, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: This recipe freezes well. Wrap individual portions tightly in foil or place in freezer bags, and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost thoroughly in the fridge overnight before reheating.
• Reheat: Reheat in the air fryer at 180°C for 8–10 minutes until piping hot throughout, or in a 180°C oven covered with foil for 15–20 minutes.

How does hunter’s chicken work on Slimming World?

Hunters chicken Slimming World fans will be pleased to know that this recipe is very manageable on the plan. The chicken, bacon medallions, passata and most of the sauce ingredients are swip-free or very low swip. If you use the Cheddar cheese as your healthy extra A, then you do not need to swip this (each serving has 30g of cheddar which is 1 Healthy Extra A portion). You need to count swips for the honey in the BBQ sauce (approximately 1 swip per teaspoon). The Worcestershire sauce and balsamic vinegar are swip-free.

Always use your Slimming World app or materials to calculate your exact swip values, as these can vary by brand, and Slimming World guidelines change periodically.

If you’re taking Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro

If you’re taking a GLP-1 medication such as Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro, you may find your appetite is smaller than usual, which can make it tricky to know what to cook.

This hunter’s chicken is easy to portion, so it can be adapted depending on how hungry you feel – a smaller serving still delivers plenty of flavour, and the sauce and cheese topping mean it doesn’t feel sparse even in a more modest portion. The chicken provides a good source of protein, which is often included as part of balanced meals, particularly during weight loss.

This is general nutrition information rather than medical advice. If you have any questions about your diet while taking GLP-1 medications, it’s best to speak with your GP, pharmacist or a registered dietitian.

What other chicken recipes could I make?

Simple chicken casserole – a beautifully comforting one-pot dinner the whole family will love

Lemon & herb roasted chicken – an easy Nando’s-inspired whole roast chicken with a gorgeous marinade

One-pan lemony chicken rice – a fuss-free all-in-one dinner with bright, fresh flavours

Korean-style sticky chilli chicken – crispy baked chicken pieces in an irresistible sweet and spicy sauce

Oven-baked chicken cacciatore – a rich Italian-style dish with fall-apart tender chicken and a deeply savoury sauce