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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.
Recipe didnt mention preheating airfryer before cooking the chicken. Is this necessary?
You don’t have to! But it’s always helpful if you can.
Do you have to preheat the Air-frier?
You can but you don’t have to!
Do I rub the oil and dry seasons on both sides of the breasts or just on top?
Add the rub to both sides of the chicken.
Do you season the Brussels sprouts at all before adding them?
I don’t! I season them with salt and pepper after they are cooked.
Can Brussel sprouts be frozen
If you use frozen Brussel sprouts then need to be thawed before you cook them with the chicken!
If I’m using frozen brussels, should I microwave them first?
No, you will add in the raw Brussels sprouts after the first 9 minutes of cooking (see step 3)!
I’m new to the air frying world and decided to try chicken breast in the air fryer. This recipe was spot on! I did not deviate at all and the chicken was juicy and tender and the brussel sprouts are on point! Thank you!
I’m so happy to hear this! 🙂
This was EXCELLENT! Super juicy & definitely fully cooked.
Did you brine the chicken breast first?
I have done both and find that brining is much more juicy and not as chewey
Not even close to the right cook time and temp, it took 15 mins each side at 360 degrees
I’m so sorry the times didn’t work for you! Different air fryers can be tricky with finding the exact time that works. I hope it at least tasted good when it was done!
Used some cheap, rather thin defrosted Tyson chicken breasts that I’d rinsed and dried, mixed the oil and spices together (x 1.5 for 3 breasts), rubbed the mix all over the chicken (a helluva lot easier than doing the oil and spices separately!). stuck ’em in my Dreo (sic!) for the times indicated, and though 18 minutes was probably a little over the necessary time due to their thinness, they still came out AMAZING – as good as the best cafe or coffee shop anywhere! I always knew convection cooking was the way to achieve restaurant quality food, but honestly, after having experimented with my air fryer for a month now, I never expected the results to turn out anywhere near as good as they so consistently are. Thanks for the top-notch recipe!
I never rinse meat. This is a recipe for food borne illness from your sinks and surroundings. Good recipe and spice mix.
What is the recipe for the sauce that you serve with the breasts
I didn’t use an extra sauce with this! Follow this recipe and yours should turn out juicy and seasoned like this too!
If I could I’d give this 4.5 stars… super tasty, but I really think marinating (as suggested for a more juicy breast) should be part of the recipe rather then optional. I didn’t marinate this time as I didn’t have the time, but I will marinate it before I make it next time. Rather then oiling the chicken, then sprinkling with herbs and spices, I added the herbs and spices to the oil and rubbed the chicken with the paste-like mixture. Love this as leftovers on Ceasar salad.
Excellent. TRBB Endorsed!
I am new to the air fryer world. I followed the recipe. Even knew mine needed to be preheated before using and it still took soooo much longer. I don’t understand what I did wrong. The breast were reasonable size too. Not the monstrosities that you sometimes find.
My family enjoyed this dish so much. Served it with roasted veggies, and it was such a hit ❤️
Super simple – so tender! I just got an air fryer recently so have been testing out recipes. This is a great one!