Air Fryer Breaded Chicken

5 from 3 votes

This air fryer breaded chicken is a delicious and tasty entree. Chicken fillets are coated in breading and air fried to crispy perfection.

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American, International

Keyword: chicken, dairy free, nut free, soy free

Servings:

Calories: 248kcal

Author: Tonje

Cost: Cheap

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

1 lbs chicken breast fillets
1 egg
5 tablespoon all-purpose flour
7 tablespoon panko breadcrumbs

Instructions

Use a meat tenderizer to beat the chicken breast fillets until it’s thin and tender. Alternatively, slice the chicken into chicken tender-sized pieces, or use chicken tenders.
Add the flour to a bowl, the breadcrumbs to another bowl, and the egg to a third bowl. Whisk the egg together to a smooth egg mixture.
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C / 395°F.
One by one, dip the chicken pieces first into the flour to coat it completely, then in the egg mixture and coat it again, and then into the breadcrumbs. Make sure that the chicken pieces are completely coated with breadcrumbs.
Add the chicken pieces to the air fryer, making sure to leave some space between each piece. Air fry for 5-6 minutes, then flip and fry on the other side.
The required cooking time might vary depending on how thick the chicken pieces are, but the total time is typically about 10 minutes. The chicken is done when the breading is golden and crispy, and the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 75°C / 165°F.

Notes

Is air fryer chicken healthy? – Breaded chicken is usually not particularly healthy, but this recipe is much healthier than other versions of crispy fried chicken as it contains no oil or sugar.

Is this recipe allergy friendly? – Always consult the nutrition labels of the ingredients you use. This recipe is generally dairy free, nut free and soy free.

Can I air fry the chicken with any sides? – Absolutely! If your air fryer is larger, you can air fry the entree and side at the same time. Try making these along with air fryer radishes.

Leftovers

Leftover breaded chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Keep in mind that the breading might soften over time. If you want the chicken to be coated in crispy and crunchy breading, you should serve it immediately after air frying it.

Top tips

Here’s my best tips to get a perfect result when air frying chicken:

Preheat the air fryer before you add the chicken. This makes it easier to control the cooking time, and will result in a more evenly fried chicken.
Check every couple minutes until the breading is exactly as crispy and golden as you want it. You can adjust the suggested cooking time to suit your personal preferences.
Approximately halfway through air frying the chicken, flip them over and continue cooking on the other side. This helps the breading crisp up evenly.
Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the chicken has cooked through. Serving undercooked chicken is dangerous, and overcooked chicken is tough and dry.

Nutrition