Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years as a quick and healthy way to cook meals. One of the best things to make in an air fryer is chicken breast. Air frying chicken breasts results in juicy, tender chicken with a crispy exterior in a fraction of the time it takes to bake or grill.
Benefits of Cooking Chicken Breast in an Air Fryer
There are several benefits to cooking chicken breast in an air fryer compared to other methods:
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Cooks Faster – Chicken breasts cook in just 10-15 minutes in an air fryer, compared to 25-30 minutes in the oven. The circulating hot air quickly crisps up the outside while keeping the inside tender and juicy.
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Uses Less Oil – Only a small amount of oil is needed to brush onto the chicken to help it get crispy Much less oil is used compared to pan frying or deep frying,
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Juicy and Tender Results – The air fryer traps in moisture while the high heat caramelizes the outside. Chicken breasts cooked in an air fryer are exceptionally juicy and tender.
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Easy Clean Up – With minimal oil being used, there is less splatter and mess than other cooking methods. Air fryer baskets also wipe clean very easily.
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More Consistent Results – The hot air circulates all around the chicken cooking it evenly on all sides. You don’t have to worry about undercooked or overcooked spots.
How to Cook Chicken Breast in an Air Fryer
Follow these simple steps for perfectly cooked chicken breasts in the air fryer every time:
Ingredients:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (6-8 oz each)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- Seasonings of choice (salt, pepper, paprika, Italian seasoning, etc.)
Directions:
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Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and use a fork to poke holes all over both sides. This helps the seasoning penetrate better.
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Brush both sides of the chicken with oil. This adds flavor and helps the outside get crispy.
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Season the chicken breasts on both sides with your desired seasonings. Popular options are salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, or Cajun seasoning.
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Place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer, not overlapping.
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Set the air fryer temperature to 390°F. Cook for 5 minutes.
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Flip the chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes more, until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
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Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. The rest time allows the juices to reabsorb back into the meat.
Tips for the Best Results:
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Brining the chicken for 30 minutes in saltwater before cooking helps keep it extra juicy.
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Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook chicken breasts in a single layer.
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Use an instant read thermometer to check temperature. Cook to 165°F for food safety.
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Let chicken rest before slicing for juicier meat.
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Flip chicken halfway through cooking for even browning.
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Coat the basket with nonstick spray for easier cleanup.
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Adjust cook times based on the size of the breasts. Larger ones may need a couple extra minutes.
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Chicken breasts pair well with roasted veggies or can be sliced and added to salads.
With just a quick brush of oil and seasoning, you can enjoy restaurant-quality chicken breast from your air fryer any night of the week. The air fryer makes it so easy to get tender, juicy results in way less time than using your oven.
Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipes
Beyond the basic seasoned chicken breast, there are lots of fun ways to use an air fryer to add flavor and make delicious chicken recipes.
Lemon Garlic Chicken
- Pound chicken breasts to flatten
- Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice over breasts
- Sprinkle with minced garlic, parsley, pepper
- Air fry 10-12 minutes at 390°F
Buffalo Chicken Breast
- Brush chicken with hot sauce
- Sprinkle with ranch seasoning
- Air fry as directed
- Toss with more buffalo sauce before serving
Chicken Parmesan
- Bread chicken breasts with seasoned panko breadcrumbs
- Air fry until crispy, about 12 minutes
- Top with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese
- Broil 2 minutes to melt cheese
Jerk Chicken
- Marinate chicken in jerk seasoning, lime juice, oil, garlic for 30 min
- Cook as directed, 10-12 minutes
- Garnish with sliced green onions
Crispy Ranch Chicken
- Brine chicken for 30 minutes
- Coat with mayonnaise and ranch seasoning
- Air fry until golden brown and crispy
The possibilities are endless when it comes to the variety of flavors you can add to basic air fried chicken breasts. Use your favorite sauces, rubs, and seasoning blends to customize them.
Air frying is a quick and healthy cooking method that results in juicy, tender chicken breast with very little oil needed. The circulating hot air cooks the chicken fast while keeping it moist inside. Follow the simple steps to cook chicken breasts to perfection in your air fryer. Then get creative with different seasonings and recipes. Air fried chicken is sure to become a new family favorite.
No Air Fryer? Pan-Fry Instead!
If you don’t have an air fryer, have no fear. People were making fried chicken before air fryers were invented!
I prefer to pan-fry my fried chicken in a cast iron skillet if I’m not using an air fryer. You only need enough oil to go about 1 to 1 1/2 inches up a skillet, and then fry the chicken at 350°F for about 8 minutes per side. Check the meat’s temperature to ensure doneness, but the pieces will be golden brown and wonderful!
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Why Air Fry?
There are two reasons why you might want to make air fried chicken instead of classic fried chicken.
- First, there is a health benefit to air frying over deep frying or pan frying. While I do recommend very lightly spraying the fried chicken with oil before and during air frying, you don’t submerge the pieces entirely in oil, and as a result, they undoubtedly absorb less oil in the process.
- For me though, the bigger advantage is time savings. It takes 30 seconds to flip on the air fryer, and the cleanup is worlds easier than dealing with big pots of hot oil.
There are some recipes that I don’t think adapt well to the air fryer, but fried chicken works really well. The chicken will come out crispy and browned. It’s definitely worth a try!
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The BEST Air Fryer Chicken Breast In 8 MINUTES | SUPER JUICY!!
FAQ
How long would it take to cook a chicken breast in the air fryer?
Roll each oiled chicken breast in the seasoning and put in your air fryer basket. Cook at 180C for 18-20 mins, turning after 10 mins. To check it is cooked, pierce the chicken with a knife at the thickest part to see if the juices run clear. Or insert a temperature thermometer and it should read 70C.
How to cook chicken breast in an air fryer without drying it out?
Place the chicken on the air fryer basket / grate in an even layer, leaving a bit of space for air to circulate around. Air fry the chicken at 415 degrees for 10 minutes. If you have larger pieces of chicken, you’ll want to go closer to 13 minutes.
How do you air fry chicken breast?
Air fry. Place chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket (I have and love this air fryer which has a really roomy basket!). Air fry chicken breast until the internal temperature reaches 163-165 degrees F. TIP: Leave space between chicken breasts.
How long to cook chicken breast in air fryer?
All you need to do is rub a few boneless, skinless breasts with seasoned oil and heat them in the air fryer. You’ll be good to go in about 20 minutes. Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
Can you cook frozen chicken breast in air fryer?
Yes, you can cook frozen bone in chicken breast in the air fryer. Your cooking time and temperature will differ. You will have to cook it in a lower heat for a longer time so the skin or the outer edges don’t burn before the chicken is well cooked on the inside. You can cook it at 180° for 30 to 35 minutes.