These super easy air fryer chicken recipes are the best way to turn out a juicy chicken breast that’s super low in fat and calories for healthy meal prep! So, if you want flavorful chicken breast without all the extra calories, you’re in the right place, my friends!
I’m sharing two air fryer chicken breast recipes here… One is not breaded and one is lightly breaded, So if you want to cut a little bit on the calories then go for the unbreaded version. However, the breaded crispy chicken breast in the air fryer is definitely my favorite! You can also make air fryer chicken thighs with these recipes, just replace breasts with thighs!
Recommended Tools For Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipes
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Air Fryer. The one I own and love! There are several different kinds of air fryers… Some are drawers or pots and some are like little ovens with shelf facks. I definitely recommend the little oven type for the easiest air frying! Air fryer shelves eliminate the need to turn food over halfway through cooking and get the hot air all around so the chicken cooks more evenly than the other types of air fryers.
Cutting Board. You’ll need a cutting boas=rd to trim chicken breasts. I like using a nice big cutting board so no meat ends up on my counter.
Instant Read Thermometer. The only way to ensure your chicken is safe to eat is to use a meat thermometer. Always check the internal temperature of the chicken breast to ensure that it’s cooked and safe to eat, as you might need to cook this for longer if the chicken breasts are big. Tip: Place the thermometer probe in the thickest part of the chicken to make sure it’s cooked through!
Cooking Times
The amount of time it takes to cook chicken breasts thoroughly in an air fryer depends on the size of your chicken breasts.
- Small-sized Breasts (about 5 to 7 ounces): 7 – 10 mins
- Medium-sized Breasts (about 8 to 10 ounces): 10 – 12 mins
- Large-sized Breasts (about 11 ounces or more): 12 – 18 mins
If you are using a pot-style air fryer, you’ll need to flip your chicken halfway through cook time to make sure it cooks evenly.
Air Fryer Chicken Recipes Ingredients
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast. These chicken breasts are not dry and boring! Air Fryed chicken breasts are flavorful and juicy when made right! These air fryer chicken breasts are tender and full of flavor, plus they are packed with healthy protein!
- Avocado Oil. A little avocado oil helps the seasonings stick to the chicken breasts while they cook, and it helps to keep them moist.
- Seasonings – There are endless options to season your chicken breasts. However, my favorite combo is a little red paprika, a bit of garlic and onion powder, kosher salt, and ground black pepper. It’s super flavorful, very versatile to use in different recipes, and it’s delish! Italian seasoning blends are also super good on air-fried chicken breasts!
- Bread Crumbs. If you are doing the breaded chicken breasts, you’ll use bread crumbs.. Use your favorite seasoned or unseasoned bread crumbs!
Directions
- First, place raw chicken breasts in a single layer on your cutting board. Cover them with a layer of plastic wrap. Then use a rolling pin, or meat mallet, or just use your palm, and pound chicken breasts till they are all an even thickness.
Then, For best results BRINE CHICKEN BREASTS NOW, BEFORE COOKING! Brining Chicken pieces before cooking them adds moisture and makes them much more tender and juicy! So always brine chicken breasts before cooking… It’s an important step! If you don’t brine them, then the chicken breasts dry out from cooking with high heat.
To brine chicken breasts: Dissolve 2 tablespoons of kosher salt in two cups of warm water (not hot water). Leave the chicken breasts to soak in saltwater for at least 15 minutes (and up to 6 hours in the fridge). Then, rinse your meat with fresh water and pat them dry with napkins or a paper towel.
Breaded Air Fried Chicken Breast Version:
Ingredients:
- 2-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts pounded to even thickness.
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 3/4 cup (25g) dried bread crumbs (seasoned or unseasoned)
If you are using unseasoned bread crumbs, add your own seasoning with these ingredients:
- 1/4 teaspoon red paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (use salt if you did not brine chicken)
The texture of air-fried chicken breast is more like Schnitzel, it’s not like deep-fried chicken.
- Put your raw pounded chicken breasts in a medium sized bowl and drizzle with avocado oil. Tuen them and make sure they are coated all the way around.
- In a shallow bowl, mix together your bread crumbs with spices till they are well combined. (This depends on your taste, but I normally like to add chili powder, paprika (which gives a great color), garlic and onion powder, ground black pepper, and kosher salt. If you like other seasonings better, use them!)
- Thoroughly coat all oiled chicken breasts in your bread crumb mixture… Make sure your chicken breasts are well-coated and that there are no excess breadcrumbs.
- Place breasts into your air fryer in a single layer.
- Air fry in the air fryer at 390°F (200°C) for 10-12 minutes. If you are using a basket or pot-style air fryer, flip chicken breasts after the first 7 minutes. Then continue cooking for 3-5 minutes till the internal temperature reaches 165F. (Cooking time till done depends on the size of the chicken breast.)
The total cooking time varies based on your air fryer and the thickness of your chicken. Check the chicken temperature often towards the end of cooking time so that you DO NOT overcook it… Or it will be dry.
If you are using a rack-style air fryer, place chicken breasts on racks and cook for 10-12 minutes, till internal temperature (at the thickest part) reaches 165F.
Using tongs or a fork, remove chicken from the air fryer to a plate or clean cutting board. Cover them with foil, and let the meat rest for 5 – 10 minutes.
Slice and enjoy!
Unbreaded Air Fry Chicken Breasts
- First, place raw chicken breasts in a single layer on your cutting board. Cover them with a layer of plastic wrap. Then use a rolling pin, or meat mallet, or just use your palm, and pound chicken breasts till they are all an even thickness.
Then, For best results BRINE CHICKEN BREASTS NOW, BEFORE COOKING! Brining Chicken pieces before cooking them adds moisture and makes them much more tender and juicy! So always brine chicken breasts before cooking… It’s an important step! If you don’t brine them, then the chicken breasts dry out from cooking with high heat.
To brine chicken breasts:
Dissolve 2 tablespoons of kosher salt in two cups of warm water (not hot water). Leave the chicken breasts to soak in salt water for at least 15 minutes (and up to 6 hours in the fridge). Then, rinse your meat with fresh water and pat them dry with napkins or a paper towel.
In a shallow bowl combine:
- 1 1/2 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1/4 teaspoon red paprika1
- /2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (use salt if you didn’t brine chicken.
Roll each chicken breast in the seasoning mixture till well coated. Evenly rub the spices evenly over all sides of the chicken breasts.
Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F. If you are using a pot-style air fryer, put the chicken breasts into the air fryer with the smooth side down and cook for 7 minutes.
Then, use hot pads or tongs to remove the air fryer basket or rack, and carefully flip chicken breasts over.
Continue cooking for 3-8 more minutes until the chicken reaches 165 degrees F. Chicken is safe to eat when it reaches 165 degrees F.
The total cooking time varies based on your air fryer and the thickness of your chicken. Check the chicken temperature often towards the end of cooking time so that you DO NOT overcook it… Or it will be dry.
If you are using a rack-style air fryer, place chicken breasts on racks and cook for 10-12 minutes.
Cook till internal temperature (at thickest part) reaches 165F.
Using tongs or a fork, remove chicken from the air fryer to a plate or clean cutting board. Cover them with foil, and let the meat rest for 5 – 10 minutes.
Slice and enjoy!
USING FROZEN CHICKEN BREAST
Yes, you put raw frozen chicken in the air fryer!
You won’t be able to brine it first or pound it to an even thickness (so the results are not *as* juicy) but if you forget to thaw your chicken, it’s a great option to have on hand.
- To Cook Frozen Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F. Drizzle the chicken with olive oil and season as desired. Spray the air fryer basket with non-stick spray then air fry the chicken for 18 to 20 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
How To Serve Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipes
- On Your Favorite Salad! Put air fried chicken breasts on top of your favorite salad recipe!
- In a quick homemade chicken noodle soup!
- Add protein to potato salad or pasta salad!
- With Alfredo Pasta. You can really pack extra protein into any pasta by adding sliced chicken.
- With Mash Potatoes and Homemade Gravy!
- On A Homemade Pizza. Use your air fryer chicken breasts to make a satisfying Chicken Ranch Pizza.
- In Stir Fry. Add your chicken to make an easy and healthy chicken veggie stir fry!
- Inside a homemade roll for a quick sandwich for a quick lunch – Use your air-fried chicken to make Chicken Sandwiches, or use it in an Avocado chicken salad wrap for a quick lunch!
How To Store Air Fried Chicken Breast
- To Store air fried chicken for later use – Refrigerate leftover chicken breasts in an airtight container, or zip lock bag, for up to 4 days of use!
- Reheat – Reheat chicken in the air fryer or oven at 350 degrees F for 2 minutes.
- Freeze – Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months.
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