Cooking split chicken breasts in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a delicious, healthy meal for your family. The air fryer allows you to achieve crispy, golden brown chicken skin while keeping the meat incredibly moist and tender. But exactly how long does it take to cook split chicken breasts to perfection in the air fryer? In this article, we’ll provide a complete guide with timing, tips, and tricks to help you master air frying split chicken breasts every time.
Understanding Split Chicken Breasts
First, let’s cover what exactly split chicken breasts are. Split chicken breasts are bone-in, skin-on halves of a whole chicken breast. The bone and skin provide added moisture and flavor when cooking. Opting for split breasts over boneless skinless breasts when air frying gives you better results, with crisper skin and juicier meat.
When purchasing split breasts for air frying look for pieces of comparable size and thickness to ensure even cooking. Avoid extremely large or thick pieces, and avoid frozen chicken if possible as fresh chicken works best.
Advantages of Cooking Split Chicken Breasts in an Air Fryer
Air frying is a great hands-off way to cook bone-in split chicken breasts. Here are some of the benefits:
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Quick cooking time – Air frying is significantly faster than oven baking, Split breasts take only around 25 minutes to cook through,
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Lower fat – The air fryer uses little to no oil for crisping compared to deep frying, resulting in a healthier meal
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Juicy meat – The circulating hot air seals in moisture exceptionally well. The chicken stays succulent.
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Crispy skin – The high heat air frying method delivers skin with a perfectly crispy, crunchy texture.
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Easy cleanup – With minimal oil splatter, air frying makes cleanup a breeze compared to other cooking methods.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Cook Split Chicken Breasts in an Air Fryer
Follow these simple steps for foolproof air fried split chicken breasts.
Ingredients:
- 2 split chicken breasts, skin-on and bone-in
- 1-2 Tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
- Seasonings of choice (salt, pepper, paprika, herbs, etc.)
Instructions:
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Remove chicken from packaging and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Make sure no excess moisture is on the skin.
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Brush both sides of the chicken breasts lightly with oil. This helps the skin get extra crispy.
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Season the chicken all over with salt, pepper, and any other spices or herb blend you desire. Apply the seasoning generously to infuse lots of flavor.
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Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. This takes around 3-5 minutes.
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Place the split chicken breasts in the air fryer basket skin-side down in a single layer without overlapping.
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Cook for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, flip the chicken breasts over so the skin-side is up.
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Cook for an additional 8-12 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked through. The timing depends on the size and thickness of your breasts.
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Use a meat thermometer to check doneness. The internal temperature should reach 165°F. If not, cook for 2-3 more minutes.
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Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute evenly.
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Enjoy your perfectly cooked split chicken breasts! The skin will be crispy and the meat will be moist and flavorful.
And that’s it! In around 25-30 minutes you can have delicious, golden brown air fried split chicken breasts ready for a meal.
Tips for the Best Results When Air Frying Split Chicken Breasts
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Pat the chicken very dry before seasoning – this helps the skin get ultra crispy. Moisture prevents crispiness.
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Use a binder like oil or yogurt when adding seasonings to help them stick better.
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Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook chicken in a single layer.
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Brush skin lightly with oil for an extra crispy finish.
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Preheat the air fryer fully before adding chicken for even cooking.
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Flip chicken halfway during cooking to get both sides browned evenly.
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Use a meat thermometer to check doneness and prevent overcooking.
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Let chicken rest before slicing into it so juices remain locked in.
Common Questions about Air Frying Split Chicken Breasts
How long does it take to cook frozen split chicken breasts in an air fryer?
Frozen split breasts take about 35-40 minutes in an air fryer preheated to 375°F. Flip them halfway through cooking and check the temperature.
Can you put raw chicken directly into the air fryer?
Yes, you can put raw, thawed chicken directly into the air fryer with no prior cooking needed. Just pat it dry, coat with oil, and season it before air frying.
Do you need oil to air fry chicken breasts?
While not 100% required, using a small amount of oil helps promote browning and makes the skin extra crispy. Olive, avocado, and canola oil all work well.
What temperature should you cook chicken breasts in an air fryer?
The ideal air fryer temperature for boneless or bone-in chicken breasts is 375°F. This high heat crisps the outside while keeping the inside moist.
How do you bread chicken for the air fryer?
For breaded chicken, coat raw chicken in egg wash and seasoned breadcrumbs before air frying. Mist the breaded chicken with oil spray to help it brown and crisp up nicely.
Can you put vegetables in with chicken in the air fryer?
Yes, you can easily cook veggies alongside chicken breasts in the air fryer. Just watch cooking times, as denser veggies may take a bit longer than chicken.
Sample Air Fryer Split Chicken Breast Recipes to Try
Now that you know how long to cook split chicken breasts in the air fryer, give these tasty recipes a try!
Simple Air Fryer Split Chicken Breasts
Coat split breasts with olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, oregano, and garlic powder. Air fry at 375°F for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway.
BBQ Air Fryer Chicken
Brush split chicken breasts with BBQ sauce. Coat with a rub of brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Air fry 25-30 minutes.
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Bread raw chicken in egg wash and Italian breadcrumbs. Mist with oil. Air fry 20 minutes. Top with tomato sauce and mozzarella. Finish 3-5 minutes.
Lemon Garlic Air Fryer Chicken
Marinate split breasts in lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, and herbs for 30 minutes. Discard marinade. Air fry chicken 25-30 minutes.
Crispy Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken
Cook chicken 25 minutes. Toss with buffalo sauce. Air fry 2-3 more minutes to set sauce. Serve with blue cheese dressing.
Enjoy Delicious Air Fryer Split Chicken Breasts Tonight
With this complete guide, you can feel confident about cooking moist, tender, and crispy split chicken breasts in your air fryer. In around 25-30 minutes, you’ll have a quick protein ready for amazing meals.
Be sure to pat the chicken dry, use a light oil coating, preheat the air fryer, flip halfway through cooking, and always double check doneness. Once you’ve mastered the basics, get creative with different seasonings and sauces. Your family will keep asking for these crispy, juicy split chicken breasts cooked to perfection in your air fryer!
Flavor Variations for Roasted Chicken Breast
- Sweet & Smoky: Use 1-2 tablespoons of homemade dry rub for a sweet and spicy variation of baked split chicken breasts. Delicious served with barbecue sauce as well.
- Italian-Seasoned: Along with the olive oil, season the chicken with 1 teaspoon each of kosher salt, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes if desired.
- Swap Out the Salt: In place of the salt use Homemade Seasoned Salt or Adobo Seasoning, for a simple, yet more nuanced flavor.
- Poultry Seasoning: Along with the olive oil and salt, season the split chicken breasts with 1-2 teaspoons of poultry seasoning before baking.
- Lemon Garlic: Combine 2 tablespoons of olive oil with the zest of 1 lemon, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 2 cloves of minced garlic. Use to rub all over the chicken bake as directed.
- Refrigerate: Allow the chicken to cool and then, if desired, remove the chicken from the bone and shred or dice it into bite-size pieces. Place the chicken into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Place the diced or shredded chicken into airtight freezer-safe bags and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. To use frozen cooked chicken, allow the chicken to defrost overnight in the refrigerator or add the frozen chicken directly to casseroles before baking or to simmering soups.
How to Roast Split Chicken Breast
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the ingredient quantities and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Use your hands to rub the oil and seasonings into the chicken breasts. This will help the seasonings really adhere to the chicken and every bit of the chicken breast be well-seasoned.
- Bake with an oven-safe thermometer. If you have an oven-safe digital meat thermometer, now is the time to use one. Insert the probe into the thickest part of one split chicken breast and set the temperature to 165 degrees F which is the perfect temperature for chicken. The alarm will sound when the chicken is cooked, ensuring perfectly cooked, always juicy chicken.
- Rest before serving. Allow the roasted chicken to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving, as this will allow the juices to redistribute and the chicken to stay nice and juicy.
