Juicy, tender air fryer chicken breast is an amazing entree you can serve with virtually any side dish. Cooking chicken has never been easier!
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Chicken breasts are lean and flavorful, and the perfect healthy entree for a weeknight dinner. Chicken has a very mild flavor, which means that you can season it with any of your favorite spices or marinades to make it suit your preferences.
If you love this recipe, make sure to check out my collection of air fryer chicken recipes, including air fryer whole chicken, air fryer chicken thighs and air fryer orange chicken.
Ingredients
To make this air fryer chicken breast you will naturally need chicken breast fillets. You will also need olive oil, salt and pepper, and any other seasoning you like. Check out some of my favorite seasoning variations below!
If you have frozen chicken breasts, you should defrost them before use to make sure that the meat cooks evenly.
💡 TIP! You can season the chicken breasts with any store bought spice mixes or marinades if you prefer.
Instructions
Season the chicken fillets on both sides, and brush or rub them with olive oil.
Place the chicken breasts in an air fryer and cook for about 10 minutes on 360 °F / 180 °C. Use tongs to flip them, and cook on the other side for about 8-12 minutes.
The exact cooking time will vary, and depends both on the make and model of your air fryer, as well as the size of the chicken breasts. To ensure that they are perfectly cooked, I recommend using a meat thermometer. The chicken can be removed from the air fryer when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 °F / 74 °C.
Allow the chicken breasts to rest for 5 minutes before slicing them. The juices will settle into the meat, and the chicken will be nice and juicy.
Top tips
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure perfectly cooked chicken. The exact cooking time will vary depending on the size of the chicken breasts.
- Season the chicken well before placing it in the air fryer.
- As chicken is very lean, it tends to dry out quickly. To combat this, you should always coat the chicken with olive oil or a marinade.
- To prevent the chicken from getting stuck in the air fryer basket, you can spray the inside of the basket with an olive oil spray.
Side dishes
Not sure what to pair with this dish? Not a problem! Try any of these amazing side dishes:
- Honey roasted potatoes - Delicious crispy roasted potatoes complete any meal.
- Pesto rice - Easy, but flavorful Mediterranean rice made with only 2 ingredients.
- Roasted carrots and green beans - Roasted vegetables are the best, and this recipe is as easy as can be.
- Sriracha aioli - Throw together this spicy garlic dip while the chicken air fries.
- Spiralized potatoes - Crispy potato spirals are a fun and tasty side that the kids will love.
- Tabbouleh with quinoa - Filling and protein rich side salad bursting with flavor. Perfect for a light, refreshing meal.
Variations
Here are some of my favorite ways to vary the chicken breasts:
Smoked & spicy: Season with smoked paprika, chili powder and cumin.
Mediterranean: Add some dried herbs like thyme, parsley and basil + lemon juice.
Tandoori style: Combine greek yogurt and curry powder, then coat the chicken breasts in the marinade.
Taco: Use taco seasoning! You can then dice or pull the chicken breasts to make pulled chicken tacos.
Leftovers
Leftover air fried chicken breasts can be stored in a refrigerator for up to 3 days.
You can reheat the chicken in a microwave, oven or air fryer before serving it as an entree for lunch or dinner. Alternatively, shred or dice it and use it on other dishes, such as salads, sandwiches or casseroles.
Frequently asked questions
Absolutely. You can air fry any raw meat.
Yes. However, the chicken takes much longer to cook, and risk drying out if it's frozen. I recommend defrosting it in a refrigerator overnight first.
Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Equipment
Instructions
- Season the chicken fillets on both sides, and brush or rub them with olive oil.
- Place the chicken breasts in an air fryer and cook for about 10 minutes on 360 °F / 180 °C. Use tongs to flip them, and cook on the other side for about 8-12 minutes.
- The exact cooking time will vary, and depends both on the make and model of your air fryer, as well as the size of the chicken breasts. To ensure that they are perfectly cooked, I recommend using a meat thermometer. The chicken can be removed from the air fryer when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 °F / 74 °C.
- Allow the chicken breasts to rest for 5 minutes before slicing them. The juices will settle into the meat, and the chicken will be nice and juicy.
Video
Notes
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure perfectly cooked chicken. The exact cooking time will vary depending on the size of the chicken breasts.
- Season the chicken well before placing it in the air fryer.
- As chicken is very lean, it tends to dry out quickly. To combat this, you should always coat the chicken with olive oil or a marinade.
- To prevent the chicken from getting stuck in the air fryer basket, you can spray the inside of the basket with an olive oil spray.
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