There is a method of preparing juicy chicken breasts no matter your tools, time, and effort preferences. Slow cooker shredded chicken and Instant Pot chicken breasts are simple set-and-forget methods that use liquid for super juicy but not crispy breasts. Meanwhile, oven-baked chicken breasts combine a crisp, golden exterior and tender, succulent middle in under an hour. Now, though, you can achieve the same results in a fraction of the time with this air fryer chicken breast recipe. Cooking chicken breast in an air fryer requires just minutes of hands-on prep, a handful of simple, inexpensive, pantry-friendly ingredients, and less than 25 minutes of your time to get perfectly tender chicken every time (definitely no rubbery or dry chicken here!). Best of all, it’s super versatile – both in the seasonings and marinades you can use and the many ways to serve this meal-prep-friendly, delicious protein. My love for air fryer chicken recipes doesn’t stop here, either. Find more air fryer recipes for air-fried wings, thighs, tenders, and whole chicken on my blog.
Top tips for juicy air fryer chicken breast
Follow just a few tips for the best chicken breasts that are lightly caramelized and crisp outside but tender and juicy in the middle.
For the juiciest chicken, brine it: this step isn’t necessary, but brining chicken helps to lock in all the juices to achieve the juiciest meat in a high-heat, liquid-free cooking method. Use a little oil: This helps the seasoning adhere while also locking in all the juices in the chicken and helping create a crispier exterior. Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket: Otherwise, it won’t cook evenly or crisp up outside. Cook in batches if necessary. Be careful not to overcook the meat: Otherwise, it can become tough and dry. An instant-read thermometer is a great way to monitor the meat, especially as the size of the chicken pieces and the air fryer model can affect the cooking time. It needs to reach 165°F/74ºC to be safe to eat. Experiment with seasonings and marinades: With this tried-and-tested method helping to achieve the perfect air-fried chicken breast every time, feel free to experiment with different ways to flavor the meat. Allow the chicken to rest: All you need is 5-8 minutes, but during this time, the juices will distribute throughout the meat and settle so they don’t flow out when you cut into the meat.
The ingredients for air fryer chicken breasts
Chicken breasts: I use boneless skinless chicken breasts of a similar size (for even cooking). You can use skin-on chicken if preferred. If using frozen chicken, ensure it’s fully defrosted first. Olive oil: Alternatively, avocado oil or melted butter will work. Seasonings: You only need a few pantry staples: Garlic powder, Onion powder, Sweet paprika (or smoked paprika), Dried oregano (or Italian seasoning), Salt (omit if brining the chicken first), Black pepper.
Optionally, add a small amount of brown sugar for extra caramelization and color and/or cayenne pepper for some heat. Alternatively, use other seasonings like lemon pepper, taco seasoning, chicken seasoning, etc.
How to cook chicken breast in air fryer
Here is how to air fry chicken breast in just a few low-fuss, simple steps.
Prepare the Chicken Breasts
For the absolute juiciest results, optionally start by brining the chicken as I do in my oven-baked chicken breast recipe. First, preheat the air fryer to 375ºF/190ºC. In a small bowl, combine all the seasonings. If any of the chicken breasts are of a different thickness, use a meat pounder or rolling pin to an even thickness. Place the breasts between two layers of plastic wrap or in a Ziplock bag to avoid splattering raw chicken germs. Then, pat the breasts with paper towels before rubbing the seasoning all over the meat and gently brushing them with olive oil. Place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer, with some space in between (no overlapping).
How Long to Cook Chicken Breast in Air Fryer?
Air fry the chicken at 375ºF/190ºC until tender and juicy. The exact time to air fry chicken breast depends on the size and thickness of the meat.
Small (5-7 oz): 7-10 minutes, Medium (8-10 oz): 10-12 minutes, Large (11 oz +): 12-16 minutes.
Make sure to flip the breasts once halfway for even cooking. To ensure the chicken is properly cooked, insert a thermometer into the thickest part. The internal temperature must reach 165ºF/74ºC to be safe. To avoid overcooked, dry chicken, cook it to 160ºF/71ºC. The residual heat will bring it above 165ºF while it rests. Once cooked, let the chicken rest for 5-8 minutes, loosely tented with foil. This will allow the juices to redistribute and settle for the juiciest air fryer boneless chicken breast. Slice and enjoy!
Ways to serve
Air-fried chicken breast is a super versatile, all-purpose protein you can easily add to heaps of meals, whether whole, sliced, or shredded. Some great accompaning options include:
Grains/starches: Including fluffy jasmine rice, brown rice, quinoa, farro, couscous, etc. Pasta: Including warm pasta dishes, noodles, and refreshing pasta salad. Stir–fries: Like this vegetable noodle stir-fry. Potatoes: Including mashed, roasted, or as fries. Roasted vegetables: i.e., roasted broccoli, oven-baked green beans, roasted Brussels sprouts, oven-roasted asparagus, etc. Sauteed veggies: Like garlic sauteed spinach, sauteed mushrooms, pan-fried zucchini, etc. Salads: Serve it with a side salad or enjoy the chilled leftovers in a salad.
You can also slice or shred the flavorful meat to use in wraps, sandwiches, shredded-chicken tacos, burritos, enchiladas, pasta dishes, over pizza, in chicken casseroles, etc.
More air fryer recipes
The BEST Chicken Drumsticks Air Fryer Steak Easy Air Fried Shrimp Air Fryer Cod
If you try this boneless chicken breast in air fryer recipe, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
