Air Fryer Chicken Breasts – juicy every time!
Posted: 02/08/2021
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Ready in less than a half hour, these really delicious air fryer chicken breasts are tender, juicy, and flavorful.
You’ll be amazed at how tasty plain ol’ boneless skinless chicken breasts can be. With just a minimal amount of seasoning and very little prep time, low calorie chicken breasts can be transformed into a really delicious meal.
When you slice into an air fried chicken breast, expect to see juicy meat with a perfectly done exterior. It’s almost surprising. There’s no breading or fancy tricks.
I don’t know why I would be surprised because pretty much everything I’ve tried in my air fryer has been very, very good. If you haven’t tried air fryer salmon yet, don’t wait, it’s a total game changer. Or try air fryer breaded pork chops — so juicy and tender, you won’t believe it. My family loves these lightly breaded air fryer chicken nuggets, too.
About this recipe
Air fryer chicken breasts are so versatile. In just a minute, I’ll show you how to season them to your hearts’ content. But the versatility doesn’t end there. The chicken can be marinated before cooking. Try one of these 9 great recipes for Chicken Marinades. If the chicken is marinated, skip the olive oil and seasonings in this recipe.
This perfectly cooked chicken can be used in so many ways. Keep reading for lots of ideas. It can easily be made ahead and frozen for meals later on.
What you need
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Additional seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dried parsley
How to make them your own
The easiest way to make air fryer chicken breasts your own special recipe is by changing up the seasoning. Choose the seasoning, homemade or purchased, that best complements the meal you’re preparing. If you’re going Mexican, try seasoning the chicken with taco seasoning or fajita seasoning. Thinking of pasta tonight? Season the chicken with Italian seasoning. Having a salad? Try ranch seasoning or a dry bbq rub.
If you prefer dark meat, try Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks or Air Fryer Chicken Thighs.
If you’re looking for beef, air fryer steak bites with cowboy sauce from Best Beef Recipes look incredible! I can’t wait to try that sauce! Air fryer hamburgers from The Busted Oven look like a great weeknight go-to, too.
FAQ
How long do you cook chicken breast in an air fryer?
The answer depends on the size of the chicken breasts. If you’re cooking two six ounce portions, plan on around 18 minutes. If the portions are closer to eight ounces, air fry time will be about 20 minutes.
Not sure how much your chicken weighs? The internal temperature of the chicken on an instant read thermometer should be close to 165°F. The juices should run clear, not bloody or pink.
Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. The temperature will continue to rise a bit. Don’t overcook the chicken because it will get dry and tough.
How do you prevent chicken from drying out?
Most importantly, don’t overcook it! Use an instant read thermometer to make sure you don’t cook it too long. You can also marinate your chicken. We love balsamic chicken marinade, honey mustard chicken marinade, and Italian chicken marinade.
Make-Ahead Ideas
Air fryer chicken is great for meal prepping. Buy a large pack of boneless skinless chicken breasts and air fry the whole pack, in batches of course. Cool and freeze or refrigerate the meat in resealable bags for easy meals later on. The chicken is really perfect sliced on a salad, and works great for tons of other meals, too.
If you are making a vegetarian meal but have that one person who needs his meat, you have him covered with a perfectly cooked chicken breast.
Storage Tips
Cooked chicken can be stored in the fridge, well-wrapped, for up to 4 days. Store in the freezer for up to one month.
Reheating Suggestions
If the chicken is frozen, thaw it overnight in the fridge. Reheat gently in the microwave or in a skillet on the stove. It’s great cold, too!
What goes with chicken breasts
While these chicken breasts are perfectly good on their own, they also are wonderful used in other recipes. Slice the chicken and put it on a bun with your favorite toppings. Try:
- Southwestern BBQ Chicken Salad (best chopped salad!)
- Orzo Salad with Chicken and Vegetables
- Southwestern Quinoa Bowl with Chicken
- BBQ Chicken Burrito Bowls
- Farro Salad with Chicken, Beets, and Red Wine Vinaigrette
- Healthy Curried Chicken Salad
- The Best Cauliflower Nachos
- BBQ Chicken Pizza
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
servings
Ready in less than a half hour, these really delicious air fryer chicken breasts are tender, juicy, and flavorful.
Ingredients
- 2 (6 oz. each) boneless skinless chicken breasts (see note)
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together oil and seasonings. Rub all sides of the chicken with seasoning mixture.
- Place in air fryer and cook for 10 minutes, flip, and continue to cook for 6-8 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165ºF when checked with an instant read thermometer. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For 8 oz chicken breasts, cook for 10 minutes, flip, and continue to cook for 9-11 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165ºF when checked with an instant read thermometer.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1g, Calories: 328kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 53g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 145mg, Sodium: 657mg
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Mandy says
Did you use fresh or frozen chicken breasts?
Rachel Gurk says
I used fresh! We haven’t tested it with frozen, but I did some googling and it looks like it’s possible: https://forktospoon.com/air-fryer-how-to-cook-frozen-chicken-breast-in-the-air-fryer/#:~:text=If%20you%20want%20to%20cook,need%20to%20cook%20it%20longer.
Denise says
looks so good–and easy!
I almost bought an air fryer yesterday.
Rachel Gurk says
I love mine more and more every time I use it!