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Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Air Fryer Chicken Breast – tender and juicy chicken breasts that are seasoned to perfection and cook in just minutes! This will make you re-think the way you cook chicken.

I purchased an air fryer about a year ago, and I have been obsessed with it ever since. I have always had a convection oven, but the air fryer just does something magic to almost everything.

I was put in my place when I was a skeptic about Air Fryer Pork Chops, and they have quickly become my way to cook them. It just locks in the juice and makes everything delicious.

looking down on a plate of sliced chicken with salad and rice

 

Be sure to stock up when chicken breasts are on sale, then you can make this dinner in just minutes any night of the week. And you really can mix up the seasoning to fit your mood.

If you are a person who loves to meal prep, this is great to make a few pieces of chicken on the weekend and then use throughout the week. Or you can use it in lots of different recipes to help make the week easy.

air fryer chicken in the air fryer

Using The Air Fryer For Chicken

You really can use the air fryer to cook just about anything. An Air Fryer is basically a very small convection oven that sits in your countertop. Because it is so small, it is able to really circulate air around the food and get thigs crispy, lock in juices, and leave food deliciously tender.

Normally if I was cooking chicken in the oven I would cook it around 425º F, but because of the way an air fryer works, you can really reduce the heat. Chicken cooks at 370º F in the air fryer.

seasoned chicken in a bowl

What You’ll Need

Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.

The spice blend you use is entirely up to you. There are lots of options using herbs, taco seasoning, garlic or even dipping the chicken in breadcrumbs. This blend is just a basic spice blend that works well with just about anything you want to serve it with.

  • Chicken Breasts
  • Olive Oil
  • Garlic Powder
  • Garlic Onion
  • Paprika
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Salt & Pepper

And YES!! You can put raw chicken in the air fryer. This is a common question that people have when they are new to air fryer cooking. Raw chicken and really any raw meat is for air fryer recipes. You just have to know the right temperature to use.

seasoned chicken in the air fryer

How To Cook Chicken Breast In Air Fryer

There is a huge debate whether you need to brine your chicken or not to get it super tender and juicy. Here is the thing, I have done it both ways and I think you can tell a difference. But when you are just trying to get dinner on the table, skipping the brine still leads to a super juicy and tasty piece of chicken. And since I am all about giving you quick and easy recipes that make your life easier, we are going to skip the brine.

  1. To make sure the chicken cooks evenly, you want to make sure all the pieces are about the same thickness. You can place chicken between pieces of plastic wrap, and pound until it is even thickness.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil and the spices.. Add the chicken and toss to get the chicken evenly coated.
  3. Preheat air fryer to 370º F for 3 minutes.
  4. Place chicken in the air fryer in a single layer, making sure they are not overlapping.
  5. Cook chicken at 370º for 12 minutes, making sure to flip about half way through the cooking time.
chicken on a plate with salad and rice

How Long Does It Take To Cook Chicken Breast In Air Fryer

Cooking chicken at 370º F, it will take 12 minutes for the chicken to be fully cooked. The average chicken breast pieces are 6-7 ounces in size. If you are using smaller pieces, you will want to check them closer to 8 minutes. And if you are using massive chicken breasts, it could take up to 15 minutes.

The best way to know when the chicken is cooked and safe to eat is to check the internal temperature. After 12 minutes, insert a meat thermometer and it should read 165º F.

I use the Thermapen Mk4 to check the temperature of the meat throughout the cooking process. It is the most accurate thermometer I have found and have been using it for years!

slilced chicken on a plate with salad and rice

Storage Tips

This air fryer chicken breast is perfect for your meal planning. So you can make plenty of it ahead of time and then store it for using all week long.

Store chicken breasts in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, you can slice and heat in a skillet, use the microwave, or gently reheat in the air fryer.

What To Serve With Air Fryer Chicken Breats

looking down on a plate or cooked air fryer chicken with salad and rice

Can You Use Frozen Chicken Breast In The Air Fryer

Yes, you absolutely can. You will want to use a lower temperature, so that it doesn’t burn on the outside before it is cooked in the center. The chicken doesn’t turn out quite as tender and juicy as it does when you use thawed chicken, but if you didn’t plan ahead, you can still go ahead and make this quickly!

Follow the recipe as written, just change the temperature to 350º, and cook for 18 minutes, flipping half way through. Be sure to check the internal temperature of the chicken to make sure it is safe to eat. You may need to add 1-2 more minutes of cook time.

air fryer chicken close up for pinterest collage

More Air Fryer Recipes

Yield: 4

Air Fryer Chicken Breast

close up air fryer chicken on plate

Air Fryer Chicken Breast - tender and juicy chicken breasts that are seasoned to perfection and cook in just minutes! This will make you re-think the way you cook chicken.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken breasts
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • pinch cayenne pepper

Instructions

    1. Place chicken breasts between pieces of plastic wrap, and pound until it is even thickness.
    2. In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil and the spices.. Add the chicken and toss to get the chicken evenly coated.
    3. Preheat air fryer to 370º F for 3 minutes.
    4. Place chicken in the air fryer in a single layer, making sure they are not overlapping.
    5. Cook chicken at 370º for 12 minutes, making sure to flip about half way through the cooking time. Check to see that the internal temperature is 165º F before serving.
    6. Serve immediately

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 235Total Fat 8gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 102mgSodium 619mgCarbohydrates 2gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 38g

Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on dinnersdishesanddesserts.com should only be used as a general guideline.

Did you make this recipe?

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Sandra

Thursday 21st of October 2021

This is really ahh-mazing! So easy to make and taste really good! Thanks for the recipe!

Catalina

Tuesday 19th of October 2021

The best way to cook chicken. It's delicious and healthy! Yummy!

Krystle

Tuesday 19th of October 2021

Super delish and cooks up fast. My new favorite way to make chicken breast.

Erin

Tuesday 19th of October 2021

Chicken in the AF is the best! I'll have to give this a try soon!

Beth

Monday 18th of October 2021

This is why I love cooking with an air fryer. That chicken looks so perfectly delicious. Golden on the outside and so juicy on the inside.

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