We are all obsessed with our air fryers, right? Literally name another $100 kitchen tool that has revolutionized your cooking as much as a countertop air fryer. This tender, juicy, quick air fryer chicken breast recipe might be the thing I use it for them most!
Why I Love Air Fryer Chicken
- This chicken works as a quick dinner; while the chicken is resting I can throw cauliflower or broccoli into the air fryer.
- It is great for meal prep! o it as a nearly-effortless weekend meal prep so you’ve got cooked chicken, all week long.
- I wrote this method for chicken breast but it works for chicken thighs, too.
- Budget friendly + healthy: my favorite weeknight combo!
Air Fryer Chicken Key Ingredients
- Chicken breast: The classic! You can use frozen raw chicken breast, too.
- Brine: I like to give air fryer chicken breast a quick brine in water and salt to make it ultra moist, but you can skip it if you’re pressed for time.
- Simple spice rub: salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and brown sugar. Classic, easy and delicious!
- Olive oil: Just a tiny bit keeps the chicken from sticking to the basket and helps the spices stick.
How To Make Chicken In An Air Fryer
- Brine the chicken for an hour or overnight. This is optional! It just makes it super moist.
- Pat the chicken dry.
- Rub the chicken with oil and the spice rub.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F.
- Put the chicken in the air fryer basket and cook for 8 minutes.
- Use tongs to flip the chicken.
- Cook the chicken for about 6-8 minutes more, until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160°F on an instant-read thermometer.
- Let the chicken rest. As it rests, the internal temperature should rise to 165°F, which is the perfect done temp for chicken breasts.
How Long To Cook
Air fryers vary brand to brand, and some chicken breasts are thicker than others, so I recommend keeping an eye on your chicken’s internal temperature. From the moment you put the chicken into the air fryer until you remove it, it will take about 15 minutes, total. Then, let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes.
More Tips For Success
- If the chicken breasts are really different thicknesses, pound the thicker ones to match the others so that they all cook at the same time.
- Don't skip the rest! It is crucial for juiciness.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to test for doneness.
- IF you don’t have an instant-read thermometer: Check that the chicken juices run clear when you slice into it, and that there's no raw pink at all in the thickest part of the breast.
- You can cook multiple chicken breasts at once but don’t overcrowd the air fryer. A good rule of thumb? Cook as many as fit in a single layer without overlapping.
- If you double this recipe the cooking time stays the same.
- A light spray of cooking oil on the air fryer basket can help keep the chicken from sticking.
- Especially if you do the brine, make sure to pat the chicken totally dry! Any leftover moisture prevents browning.
Variations
- You can use frozen raw chicken! Add 5 to 7 minutes to the cooking time and check with a thermometer. You won't be able to brine raw, frozen chicken, but the results are still good for a quick dinner.
- Use chicken thighs instead: Chicken thighs work great! Increase cooking time to 18-22 minutes and cook to 165°F internal temperature.
- Skip the brine if you don’t have the time.
- You can use different spices! The TMP taco seasoning would be delicious, for example.
How To Store + Freeze
Refrigerate the cooked chicken in an airtight container for up to 4 days, or you can freeze it for up to 3 months. I like to reheat it in the air fryer at 350°F for about 3 minutes.
How To Serve
You can use this chicken in so many ways! Put it in sandwiches, use it on top of green salads to make a meal, or try shredding it and using it in one of these classic chicken-based recipes:
More Simple Ways To Cook Chicken Breast
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