Air-Fryer Chicken Breasts

Whether you need a quick-cooking protein for dinner or precooked chicken to use in other recipes, you can’t go wrong with this air-fryer chicken breast recipe. Bland, dry chicken recipes will be thing of the past!

These air-fried chicken breasts are perfectly seasoned with a handful of pantry staples. The air fryer locks in moisture, keeping the chicken juicy and tender—and it happens all in a fraction of the time it takes to bake chicken breasts. Serve them as-is for a quick and healthy dinner, or use the meat in recipes that use precooked chicken, like pasta or chicken salad.

How to Cook Chicken Breasts in an Air-Fryer

Air-frying is one of the easiest cooking methods for preparing boneless, skinless chicken breasts. The air fryer produces hot, circulating air that helps the chicken cook in about half the time it would take in the oven.

Preheat your air fryer, coat the chicken with one tablespoon of olive oil and dust it with your preferred seasoning mix. In this recipe, we make a simple seasoning blend using paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Use tongs, a silicone brush or your hands to ensure the chicken is thoroughly coated in the oil and seasoning.

Then, place the chicken in your air-fryer basket. It’s important not to overcrowd your air fryer; otherwise, the chicken may not cook evenly. The chicken should be in a single layer with some space between each piece to allow proper air circulation. Cook the chicken for six minutes, then flip it over and cook for three to five minutes longer until the internal temperature reaches 165℉.

How Long to Cook Chicken Breasts in the Air-Fryer

Most chicken breasts in an air fryer will take about 10 to 15 minutes to cook, but the exact cooking time will depend on your air fryer and the size of the chicken breasts. This recipe calls for 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, typically the equivalent of two or three chicken breasts.

Smaller chicken breasts weighing less than half a pound (about 8 ounces) will cook faster than larger pieces, usually four to five minutes per side. Chicken breasts weighing half a pound or more will need five to eight minutes per side. Thicker chicken breasts will also take longer to cook than thinner ones.

Be sure to flip your chicken halfway through the cooking time to help it cook evenly, and use an instant-read food thermometer to check for doneness. If the chicken breasts haven’t reached the minimum safe temperature at the end of the cooking time, air-fry them for one to two minutes more.

Ingredients for Air-Fryer Chicken Breasts

• Chicken: This recipe calls for 1 pound of boneless skinless chicken breasts, which cook faster than bone-in cuts. You could use chicken tenderloins if you prefer smaller pieces of chicken.
• Seasoning: There are many ways to jazz up plain chicken breasts (we’ve listed some more ideas below), but in this recipe, we’re using a simple herb and spice blend made from pantry spices. You’ll need ground paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
• Olive oil: You don’t need much cooking oil when you’re air-frying, but coating the chicken with olive oil makes the seasoning mixture stick and helps the chicken brown.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the air fryer

Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Coat the air-fryer basket with cooking spray.

Step 2: Season the chicken breasts

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In a small bowl, combine the paprika, garlic powder, salt, onion powder, Italian seasoning and pepper.

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Drizzle the chicken breasts with olive oil, then add the herb and spice mixture and rub it on both sides of the chicken.

Editor’s Tip: If your chicken breasts are uneven in thickness, lightly flatten them with the flat side of a meat mallet until they’re uniform before adding the seasoning. This will help the chicken cook evenly.

Step 3: Air-fry the chicken breasts

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Place the chicken in the air-fryer basket and cook for six minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for three to five minutes longer, until the internal temperature reaches 165°.

Editor’s Tip: Arrange the chicken in a single layer with space between each piece to allow air circulation for even browning and cooking.

Step 4: Rest the chicken

Let the chicken rest for five minutes before slicing or serving.

Editor’s Tip: Transfer chicken breasts to a cutting board to rest so the residual heat from the air fryer doesn’t continue to cook them.

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How to Use Air-Fryer Chicken Breasts

• Appetizers: Shred the cooked chicken to make buffalo chicken dip or other chicken dip recipes.
• Chicken salad: Chop the chicken to create the flavorful base of your favorite chicken salad recipe.
• Grain bowls: Layer chopped chicken with veggies, cheese and herbs over fluffy rice, quinoa or even savory oats to make a filling one-bowl meal.
• Pasta: Slice the chicken to top a plate of fettuccine alfredo or pesto pasta with extra protein.
• Salads: Use chicken breast cooked in an air fryer to make hearty salads like chicken Caesar salad or chicken pasta salad.
• Sandwiches: Sandwich warm or chilled chicken between slices of your favorite bread, or roll or wrap it with cheese, veggies and spreads to make chicken sandwiches.
• Tacos: Serve the chicken chopped with tortillas, beans, lettuce, salsa, avocado, sour cream and shredded cheese for build-your-own chicken tacos.

Air-Fryer Chicken Breast Variations

• Spicy chicken: For chicken with some kick, add cayenne pepper to the herb and spice mixture.
• Southwestern chicken: Give the chicken Tex-Mex flair by replacing the seasoning mix with taco seasoning.
• BBQ spiced chicken: Add ground cumin, smoked paprika and chili powder to the seasoning blend for smoky, spicy barbecue vibes. Brush it with barbecue sauce before serving.
• Mediterranean chicken: Omit the Italian seasoning and use dried oregano, rosemary and/or parsley flakes.
• Lemon pepper chicken: Season chicken breasts with olive oil and lemon-pepper seasoning for zesty flavor.
• Serve with a sauce: Pair the chicken with a sauce, like tzatziki or honey mustard, for dipping.

How to Store Air-Fryer Chicken Breasts

Once the air-fried chicken breasts have cooled, refrigerate them in an airtight storage container for up to four days. To reheat the chicken, microwave it until it’s warm or place it back in the air fryer, preheated to 350°, for three to four minutes per side.

Can you freeze air-fryer chicken breasts?

Yes, these air fryer chicken breasts can be frozen. Store the chicken in a freezer-safe storage container or bag and freeze it for up to four months. Transfer it to the fridge to thaw overnight before reheating it.

Can you make air-fryer chicken breasts ahead of time?

You can absolutely prepare this chicken in advance. These air fryer chicken breasts are a great meal prep option for having ready-to-eat protein on hand. Enjoy the chicken alone or add it to salads, sandwiches, bowls and more.

Air-Fryer Chicken Breast Tips

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Why are my air-fryer chicken breasts dry?

If your chicken is dry, overcooking is the likely culprit. To avoid dried-out chicken, start checking the internal temperature with an instant-read food thermometer a few minutes before the cooking time is up. The chicken is finished when it reaches 165°. Remove the chicken from the air-fryer basket as soon as it’s done to prevent overcooking. Letting the chicken rest helps it reabsorb its juices and stay tender.

Can you cook frozen chicken breasts in an air fryer?

You can air-fry frozen chicken breasts, but they’ll take longer to cook. It’s also harder to get seasoning to stick to frozen chicken. If you forget to thaw your chicken, follow the recipe as written, but increase the cooking time to 10 to 15 minutes per side, for a total of 20 to 30 minutes.

What can you serve with these air-fryer chicken breasts?

These chicken breasts complement a wide variety of side dishes. For an easy dinner, try plating them with a veggie and a starch, like mashed potatoes or rice pilaf. You can also slice the chicken and pile it on top of salad or pasta recipes.

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This recipe serves four and takes about half the time to cook as it would in the oven. Feel free to season to your liking, but we love the herb and spice blend that’s included. —Julie Andrews, Rockford, Michigan