Looking for a quick and easy dinner idea that’s ready in 20 minutes? This recipe is a must try!
You won’t believe how incredibly tender and juicy air fryer chicken breasts are with minimal prep and just a handful of seasonings
LEARN: Read up on all of our favorite air fryer tips including how it works, what to look for when buying, and what to cook in it.
OUR FAVORITE AIR FRYER: Cosori 5.8QT XL (more options here).
Chicken Breasts can range in size from 5oz to 10oz. This recipe is for boneless skinless chicken breasts sized 6-7oz. (We use this recipe for air fryer chicken thighs). Four 6oz chicken breasts will weigh about 1 1/2 lbs.
Seasonings are simple. Olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, kosher salt, and pepper are all that’s needed.
Add other seasonings to the blend in the recipe or swap the seasonings and your favorite spice mixture. Try taco seasoning, lemon pepper or Greek seasoning.
For lean meats like pork chops, a brine is great, but it’s not necessary for chicken breasts in the air fryer. You can still make them extra juicy as long as you don’t overcook them.
Marinating is also optional, but if you use a chicken marinade, make sure to remove any excess to help the chicken get crispy on the outside while still being juicy on the inside.
Serve air fryer chicken breasts on their own or slice them for salads, pasta, or to meal prep.
Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
Air Fryer Chicken Breasts are perfectly seasoned, tender & juicy!
Prep: 5min
Total: 21min
Yield: 4
Serving Size: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts: calories 174 kcal, Carbohydrate 1 g, Protein 24 g, Fat 8 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 72 mg, Sodium 132 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1 g, servingSize 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 4 boneless chicken breasts (6-7 ounces each)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
Instruction:
- Preheat the air fryer to 370°F.
- In a small bowl, combine the seasoning mix.
- Dab the chicken dry with paper towels and then rub it with olive oil. Season with the seasoning mix or your own preferred blend.
- Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer, ensuring that they don’t overlap.
- Cook the chicken for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken over and cook for an additional 6-9 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F. Be sure not to overcook.
- Once the chicken is fully cooked, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
Air Fryer Chicken Breast
The BEST juicy air fryer chicken breast. Golden outside, moist and tender inside and seasoned to perfection. Enjoy on its own or use for meal prep.
Prep: 35min
Total: 48min
Yield: 2
Serving Size: 1 small, 6-ounce chicken breast (of 2)
Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 small, 6-ounce chicken breast (of 2), calories 237 kcal, Carbohydrate 2 g, Protein 36 g, Fat 9 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Trans Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 109 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1 g
Ingredients:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instruction:
- Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board and cover with a large sheet of plastic wrap. With a rolling pin, meat mallet, or your palm, lightly pound into an even thickness.
- To Dry Brine*: Place the chicken on a plate and sprinkle all over with the kosher salt. Place in the refrigerator uncovered for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 day—if you will not be dry brining, skip this step.
- When ready to air fry: remove the chicken from the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.
- In a small bowl, stir together the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper (if you did not dry brine the chicken, add the salt now)
- Place the chicken in a large bowl and drizzle with the olive oil. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the top. Toss to coat the chicken, ensuring you rub the spices evenly over both sides.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F (my model takes 3 minutes to heat). Place the chicken presentation side (smooth side) down in the air fryer and let cook 6 minutes.
- Remove the air fryer basket, then with tongs, carefully flip the chicken over. Continue cooking until the chicken registers between 155 and 160 degrees F, 2 to 8 minutes more. Chicken is considered safe to eat at 165 degrees F, but I like to remove mine a few degrees early, then let the carryover cooking finish the job. The total cook time will vary based on your model and the size of your chicken. Smaller breasts (about 6 ounces each) will need only around 8 minutes total; larger ones may need 14 or more. Check the chicken often towards the end to monitor its progress. DO NOT overcook or it will be dry.
- Remove the chicken to a plate. Cover and let rest 5 to 10 minutes. Slice and enjoy!
The BEST Air Fryer Chicken Breast In 8 MINUTES | SUPER JUICY!!
FAQ
Can I put raw chicken in the air fryer?
How long does chicken breast take in an air fryer?
How do you keep chicken breast from drying out in an air fryer?
Don’t overcrowd. Cook in batches if you need to. Check: Check the temp earlier than you think so you don’t accidently over cook the chicken. Appliances can vary so go by temperature of your chicken to ensure it’s done.
Is it better to bake or air fry chicken breast?
