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Learn how to make the juiciest Air Fryer Chicken Breast in minutes with this step-by-step guide. Boneless skinless chicken breast is flavored with simple seasonings for an easy, fool-proof meal bursting with flavor!
Great for busy weeknights, chicken breast in the air fryer is naturally gluten-free, low-carb, Keto, Paleo-friendly, and allergy-friendly!
The Best Air Fryer Chicken Breast
We love chicken breast recipes around here! When cooked right (ahem…not overcooked and dry), this lean cut of protein is so delicious and versatile! Using the air fryer is my favorite method for cooking chicken breasts because it checks off so many boxes:
- It’s super easy!
- It cooks chicken quickly.
- It uses uses hardly any oil.
- It results in juicy and moist chicken breasts every time.
Trust me, you’ll be using this method time and time again. In fact, you may never back to other cooking methods once you try it out!
Ingredients Needed and Substitutions
*Scroll down to the recipe card for the full recipe and ingredient list!
- Chicken: You’ll need one pound of boneless skinless chicken breasts for this recipe.
- Salt: We use this to create a quick brine.
- Olive Oil: A little goes a long way to season the chicken and keep it moist! Avocado oil will also work if preferred.
Where I Buy My Meat
- 100% Grass-Fed, Grass-Finished Beef
- Free-Range Organic Chicken
- Humanely Raised Pork
- Wild-Caught Seafood
Delivered to your door! The latest ButcherBox deal can be found right here!
How to Make Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer
- Brine the chicken: Pat the chicken dry with clean paper towels. Then, place it in a bowl, and sprinkle a generous amount of salt on top. Transfer the chicken to the fridge, and chill uncovered for 30 minutes.
- Create the spice blend: In a small bowl, whisk your seasonings of choice.
- Season the chicken: Preheat the air fryer. Then, rub the chicken breasts with olive oil, and coat both sides of the chicken breast with the seasonings mixture.
- Air fry: Arrange the chicken in an air fryer basket, leaving space between each piece. Cook the chicken breast in the air fryer for about 18 minutes, flipping it over halfway through. Then, let the chicken rest for 5 minutes to allow the natural juices to redistribute, and enjoy!
Seasoning Options
I use a quick blend of onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper for a deliciously seasoned chicken breast. Sometimes I add a dash and cayenne pepper for a little spice, too. However, you can use any homemade or store-bought seasoning blend you like best such as Homemade Taco Seasoning, or Cajun Seasoning.
Tips for the Best Easy Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe
- Size matters. Chicken breasts can range in size anywhere from 9 ounces to more than 14 ounces when buying them in bulk at your local grocery store. The cooking time will vary depending on the size and thickness of your chicken. So, we recommend looking for chicken pieces that are roughly the same size or pounding them out evenly! When determining how long to cook, we recommend weighting the largest piece. Use the cooking chart below to determine the number of minutes to set your air fryer!
- Don’t skip the dry brine. I’m a big fan of using a dry brine on everything from Thanksgiving turkey to weeknight chicken dinners. It’s my secret to achieve juicy chicken breasts without the mess of a wet brine. Without it, you run the risk of dry air fryer chicken breast!
- Give your chicken space. Don’t overcrowd your air fryer basket or tray. This will ensure they cook evenly.
- Check the temperature. Use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of your chicken reaches 165ºF to prevent it from being under or overcooked.
- Let it rest. The temperature will continue to rise and lock in those juices, keeping the chicken tender.
Cooking Time as Determined by Weight
As mentioned above, how long it will take to cook chicken in the air fryer varies based on the size of your chicken breasts. Follow the chart below, and keep in mind that you will need to flip the chicken halfway through cooking!
- Small Breasts that are roughly 5 to 7 ounces: 7 to 10 minutes
- Medium Breasts that are roughly 8 to 10 ounces: 10 to 13 minutes
- Large Breasts that are 11 ounces or more: 14 to 18 minutes
As all meat does, the chicken will continue to cook while it is resting, and this is a good thing. After the chicken has finished cooking, check the temperature. It should ideally be around 155ºF or 160ºF.
Let the chicken sit for an additional 5 minutes. The temperature will continue to rise as the chicken rests. Double-check one more time that the temperature has risen to 165ºF after it has rested! Then, you are ready to eat!
Thought you had the right cook time but didn’t?
If for some reason the chicken is below 155ºF once it has finished cooking, you can simply cook the chicken for 2 more minutes or so! For sure it’s a delicate balance when cooking chicken between making sure it’s fully cooked, but not overcooked!
Storing and Reheating
- Store leftover chicken breasts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze the cooked and cooled chicken in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Reheat chicken breasts in the oven or air fryer at 350ºF for just a few minutes.
Serving Suggestions
I love to keep air fryer chicken breast on hand to serve with various side dishes or add to meals for extra protein. If you’re looking to use it in meals, try adding your chicken to soups, pasta, chicken salad, fried rice, enchiladas, casserole, and stir-fry veggies.
Or, make the protein the star of the show, and pair it with sides like:
- My Everyday Chopped Salad Recipe
- Easy Cucumber Salad with Lots of Herbs!
- Greek Lentil Salad
- Healthy Cole Slaw
- Oven Roasted Vegetables
- Honey Glazed Carrots
- Air Fryer Asparagus with Lemon and Parmesan
FAQs
Unlike most fried chicken recipes that use lots of oil and often carb-heavy breadings, air fried chicken breast is free from any breading and uses very minimal oil. As a result, it’s high in protein and low in saturated fat, making it a healthy recipe in my book!
Yes, just keep in mind that bone-in chicken can take quite a bit longer to cook. So, keep a close eye on it, and adjust the cooking time as needed, ensuring it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF when measured with a meat thermometer.
Yes, but thighs typically cook a few minutes faster than chicken breasts. So, again, be sure to keep a close eye on them as they cook!
More Air Fryer Recipes to Try
- Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Steak
- Air Fryer Salmon
Watch The Video:
The Juiciest Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast see note
- Salt for quick brine
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Seasoning Blend:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Pat chicken dry. Place into a bowl and sprinkle with salt. Transfer to the refrigerator for 30 minutes, uncovered.1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, Salt
- In a small bowl, mix together the spice blend.1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon oregano, ½ teaspoon fine sea salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Remove chicken from the refrigerator and rub chicken breasts with olive oil all over, then coat with the spice mixture.2 tablespoons olive oil
- Spray the bottom of your air fryer with an oil spray (no aerosol), or use a pastry brush with olive oil.
- Cook the chicken at 375ºF for 9 min on each side (see note).
- Let sit for 5 minutes.
- Slice and enjoy!
Notes
- Small Breasts that are roughly 5 to 7 ounces: 7 to 10 minutes
- Medium Breasts that are roughly 8 to 10 ounces: 10 to 13 minutes
- Large Breasts that are 11 ounces or more: 14 to 18 minutes
- Store leftover chicken breasts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze the cooked and cooled chicken in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Reheat chicken breasts in the oven or air fryer at 350ºF for just a few minutes.
I want lots of recipes
This recipe did not disappoint. The brining (which was easy) made the difference. The breast was moist and the seasoning was great! The leftovers made a flavorful chicken salad as well.
Literally the only way I will ever cook chicken ever! So juice and a ton of flavor!
Very easy, and my picky husband even liked it.
Absolutely the juiciest chicken breast!
Thank you for the detailed post! My chicken breasts turned out amazing, this is now my go to recipe!
The very best chicken breast. I used sumac as a dry rub and bbq sauce when turning. Love that times are given by weight. Super helpful!
So SO amazing 🤩 Such a quick recipe, and works great with meal prep! Thanks for another go to recipe, Lexi!
This is SO good! I put it in ramen and in burrito bowls, both amazing. The air fryer is definitely my new favorite way to cook chicken, thanks to you!
Tried this out tonight and my 9 yo daughter said it was the best thing she’s ever tasted. Looks like it’s going into regular rotation! Thanks so much for sharing!
I’m using the air fryer for first time. I’m not sure which trays to use for chicken for example. it easy to use the basket, but that will make a mess.. I guess
Which air fryer do you have?
How much salt do you use to brine the chicken?