The Best Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe
Let’s be honest. On busy weeknights, the last thing that we want to do is cook something complicated! This air fryer chicken breast recipe is one of my go-to recipes when I need something nutritious but super easy to make. It is great to make at the beginning of the week and have as a base for your meal prep! I season the chicken breasts with garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt and paprika! Feel free to do you own combination! (Lemon pepper would be amazing!) Cooking chicken breasts in the air fryer is super fast AND It creates juicy chicken with a golden brown crust that is to die for.
Ingredients Needed
Chicken: I used two large chicken breasts and sliced them into four thinner slices. You can also use boneless, skinless chicken breast if you prefer! Olive Oil: Or your choice of cooking oil. I like the flavor the olive oil adds! Spices: I used a combination of garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, and salt. This combo adds a lot of flavor and is versatile enough to pair with a plethora of sides!
How to cook chicken breasts in the air fryer
Serving Suggestions
Juicy air fryer chicken breast can be used to make so many different meals. It is great to meal prep at the beginning of the week and serve on salads, in wraps, or even make sandwiches for a high protein lunch option! They are also excellent to make on a busy weeknight and serve with all of your favorite sides! I highly recommend serving it with some of these:
Creamy Mashed Potatoes Warm German Potato Salad Roasted Asparagus Garlic Pasta Mexican Street Corn Pasta Air Fryer Fried Rice Best Dinner Rolls Honey Roasted Carrots
More Easy Chicken Recipes to Try
Chicken Souvlaki Chicken Shawarma Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Baked Chicken Teriyaki Chicken Puttanesca
title: “Air Fryer Chicken Breast” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-11” author: “Betty Black”
Air fryer recipes are a simple way to prepare foods quickly in a way that locks in moisture and flavor. Pounding the chicken into an even thickness is the secret to this foolproof recipe, resulting in perfect air-fried chicken every time. Cooking chicken in the air fryer is faster than baking and doesn’t add lots of oil like traditional frying- a win-win! For more delicious air fryer chicken recipes, try my air fryer chicken parmesan, air fryer chicken wings, or air fryer chicken tenders.
What You Need to Make This Recipe
Chicken Breasts – boneless skinless chicken breasts work best for this recipe. Most air fryer baskets will hold two medium to large-sized chicken breasts. Pound each breast into an even thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin. Oil – olive oil is rubbed on each piece of chicken to help the spices adhere and promote browning while cooking. Another neutral flavored oil such as avocado oil or vegetable oil can be substituted. Spices – a blend of garlic powder, salt, pepper, dried oregano, and paprika provide an aromatic and colorful flavor. You can add or substitute thyme, basil, Italian seasoning, onion powder, or other herbs and spices as desired.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- In a small bowl, stir together the garlic powder, salt, oregano, black pepper, and paprika.
- Lightly pound the chicken breast to even the thickness of each.
- Rub the olive oil all over the chicken.
- Sprinkle the seasoning all over the chicken, pressing it to help the spices adhere to the chicken.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket, smooth side down, and cook for 8 minutes.
- Flip the chicken breasts and continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, about 6 to 8 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken pieces. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
Pound the chicken to an even thickness. Using a meat mallet or rolling pin, pound the chicken until it reaches an even thickness. This will help the chicken cook and brown evenly for juicy chicken breast that isn’t too tough or dry. Pat the chicken dry. Before pounding, use paper towels to pat the chicken dry and remove any excess liquid. The oil will spread on more smoothly, helping the spices to better adhere to the oil. Flip the chicken halfway through cooking. While cooking chicken breast, you will want to flip it once during the cooking time to ensure that it cooks evenly. After air frying for 8 minutes, use a long-handled spatula or heat-safe tongs to flip the chicken. The air fryer basket will be very hot, so flip the chicken carefully. Use a meat thermometer. The exact cooking time will depend on the thickness and size of your chicken breasts and air fryer. Use an instant read thermometer to easily know when the chicken is cooked through. Overcooking to a higher temperature can result in dry chicken. For cook time and temperatures for other cuts of chicken, see my instructions for air fryer chicken tenders, air fryer chicken wings, and air fryer chicken thighs. Let the chicken rest after cooking. For the juiciest chicken, let it rest for 5 minutes at room temperature before slicing and serving. Optional spicy air fryer chicken breast variation. For spicier chicken, add ¼ teaspoon of chili powder or Cayenne pepper to the spice mixture and serve with hot sauce.
If you’ve tried this air fryer chicken breast recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
