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Tender and Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Breasts turn out perfect every time! Golden and crispy on the outside and moist and delicious on the inside. It’s so easy and bursting with flavor!
Air fryer food is so succulent and easy! Make this a meal and serve your chicken with roasted potatoes, easy corn on the cob, or these delicious air fryer mushrooms! If you don’t have an air fryer…it’s time to get one!
Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe
Air fryers have changed cooking. It’s so quick and easy and everything that comes out tastes amazing. I love it. This is such a healthy way to cook chicken or any other dish for that matter. It uses the same method as a convection oven but this way you don’t have to heat the whole oven for just a few chicken breasts. It’s quick and the clean-up is so easy.
Chicken can be finicky sometimes, and hard to get juicy and tender each and every time. The air fryer method takes a lot of the guesswork out for you. You will just need to check the temperature of the chicken to ensure doneness, because you don’t want to overcook it. Use leftover chicken in recipes like fried rice, pasta dishes, or delicious salads!
Ingredients You Will Need
This air fryer chicken recipe uses ingredients that you most likely already have on hand. This will be your go-to dinner for busy weeknights because it’s so quick and easy!
- Chicken Breasts: Boneless skinless chicken breasts are trimmed and ready to go!
- Olive Oil: Perfect mild flavored oil for the air fryer.
- Italian Seasoning: Perfect combination of spices.
- Garlic Powder: Garlic powder adds great flavor!
- Paprika: Adds color and gives it that “wow” flavor.
- Salt and Pepper: Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Optional: Brussels sprouts or broccoli are my favorite.
Let’s Make Air Fryer Chicken Breast
I promise, you will make your chicken in the air fryer from now on. It’s so easy and fail-proof. Never wonder what’s for dinner again! This chicken is so versatile because it can be used in a lot of recipes.
- Oil: Place the chicken in the air fryer then rub with the olive oil to coat
- Combine: In a small bowl combine the spices and rub generously on the chicken
- Air Fry: Bake at 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 9 minutes then flip the chicken and add Brussels sprouts, if using. Cook for an additional 9 minutes or until the internal temp is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Rest: Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and enjoying!
Tips For the Juiciest Air Fryer Chicken
Let’s make the BEST juicy and tender air fryer chicken breasts! The air fryer can work wonders, so here are my tips for making this recipe a success!
- Olive Oil: This helps to crisp the skin and helps the spices and herbs to adhere to the meat.
- Space: Make sure you create room between the chicken breasts to ensure even cooking. Don’t overcrowd the chicken and cook in batches if you need to.
- Temperature: Check the temperature earlier than you think because you don’t want to overcook the chicken. Appliances can vary so go by the temperature of your chicken to ensure it’s done.
- Rest: Let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes before cutting into it. This allows the juices to reabsorb into the chicken instead of spilling onto your plate.
- Spices: Mix it up depending on your menu. You can use Mexican spices, BBQ spices, sauce, Indian spices, etc. Whatever your menu calls for this is a quick delicious way to cook your chicken.
- Moist: Want to make sure your chicken is super moist and tender? Try marinating or brining your chicken for even greater juiciness and flavor.
Storing Leftovers
I love this air fryer chicken because it makes the best leftovers! It’s great for meal prep and to use for other recipes throughout the week.
- In the Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- In the Freezer: You can freeze the chicken in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
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Tender and Juicy Air Fryer Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- salt and pepper, to taste
- optional: brussels sprouts
Instructions
- Place the chicken in the air fryer basket. Rub olive oil on the chicken.
- In a small bowl add the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Rub on each sides of the chicken.
- Bake at 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 9 minutes then flip the chicken and add Brussels sprouts, if using. Cook for an additional 9 minutes or until the internal temp is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and enjoying!
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I just love your cook books and i love to cook also. Chicken is the best when it come down to cooking garlic parmesan chicken.
This was a huge hit with my family! And it is hard to find recipes all my kids like.
It was my first time cooking chicken with just the air fryer setting (I have a ninja foodi deluxe and have previously done the pressure cooker setting and finished the last bit with the air fryer setting). This was so easy and turned out wonderful!
I’m not a big chicken fan because I find it to be dry most of the time. This is the best chicken breast I’ve ever had. It was so easy and fast. This is definitely going to be a weekly recipe. It’s so versatile. Great on its own with sides or in a salad. My husband made a chicken sandwich with it. Try it!
Does the chicken have to be cut thin?
No, this is best just adding it without being cut.
What type of air fryer do you use?
I am loving the new 6 quart Drew Barrymore air fryer. You can get it at Walmart. I am not a sponsor of this appliance but this is the air fryer that I have been currently using.
Would this also work with thin chicken breast?
The cooking time will need to be reduced, but yes, this will work great!
What’s the sauce recipe mentioned above
This recipe was fast, easy, and delicious. I made chicken and avocado sandwiches and will no doubt be making this at least once a week.
I brined for 4 hours. Followed the recipe as written. It’s good and easy. It gave me an opportunity since it is pretty hands off once in the air fryer to make a sauce for the kids to dip chicken bites in. They liked it.
Alyssa
Do you still recommend brining if your chicken breast is thick?
Thanks
You don’t have to brine it beforehand. Especially with the air fryer.
How do I increase the sauce in this recipe? It came out sooo good and juicy. Wish we had more sauce for rice and stuff.
This was very easy and very good. My whole family liked it. We had medium size breast and the 9 and 9 min was perfect. I let it rest for five minutes and it was awesome 🤩
Just made the chicken tonight in my new Instant Vortex Mini … it’s sooo good! It couldn’t have been any easier – fifteen minutes in total. Can’t wait to experiment with different seasonings.
I’ll be honest, I’m not typically a fan of a chicken breast but your photo drew me in. I’m willing to give it another shot because that looks so good and honestly so simple.
Do you put the brussel sprouts on top of the chicken in the air fryer?
No, on the side and in between the chicken.
Is there an advantage to putting the oil and seasonings on after you put the chicken in the air fryer? Seems counterintuitive…I would season before I put it in.
Also, is their skin on the chicken in your photos?
*is there, not their, sorry!
*is there, not their! Sorry.
Just bought an air fryer and this was the first recipe I tried. Turned out great. Very tender and juicy. Didn’t need the full time but maybe because I used smaller chicken tenders.
Which air fryer would you recommend pls .. very few in the market have high degree temperatures
I do love my William Sonoma air fryer but I also love my Costco air fryer too. They both reach 400 degrees which is perfect for any of my recipes. It is a 6 quart air fryer that can fit just enough for a family of 4 to 6 people.