This Air Fryer Chicken Breast is perfectly seasoned and incredibly juicy! It is golden and crispy on the outside and SO flavorful!
New to the air fryer recipes? Check out my Best Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners or my 50 Best Air Fryer Recipes post!
The Air Fryer has quickly become one of our favorite way to cook certain things, and chicken is definitely one of them.
Spoiler: this Air Fryer Chicken Breast is outstanding.
I started with a simple seasoning based on this Slow Cooker Chicken Breast and these Pan Fried Chicken Breasts — when you’ve got a good thing going, why change it?!
They turn out perfectly every time, and are almost completely hands off (other than a couple minutes prep!).
Love a crispy coating? You might want to try these Air Fryer Chicken Tenders or Air Fryer Fried Chicken!
I’m sharing all my tips and tricks below to make sure your air fryer chicken turns out just the way you want it!
Why we love to cook chicken breasts in the air fryer:
- I mean, they’re perfect: they come out with the perfect combination of golden on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside!
- Less babysitting: I don’t have to worry about them burning, or sticking, or overcooking like I do when I’m cooking them in a skillet.
- You don’t have to heat up the oven: while I love my Baked Chicken Breasts, you do need to turn on the oven. In the summer time, why not air fry them instead? It’s more energy efficient and they cook up super quick!
- They’re great for meal prep: whether you just want some cooked chicken for sandwiches, salads, or easy lunches, they’re easy enough that you can make a batch on the weekend and enjoy them over the next few days.
See what people are saying!
“Thank you for sharing this recipe. I used the seasonings you show in the recipe and it turned out great. It was golden brown on the outside and very juicy inside. Great flavor and a great recipe for one!!!” Marie
“This is the first air fryer recipe I have used. I was intimidated by 1) cooking and 2) using my new air fryer. This recipe came out perfect! My kids and hubby loved it. Thank you!” CM
How long do I cook chicken breast in the air fryer?
Well, it depends!
It depends on your air fryer temperature and how thick your chicken breasts are.
I like to cook my chicken breasts for a shorter time at a higher temperature, so I opt for 400 degrees F for a cook time of 10-15 minutes.
The exact cook time is hard to tell, and will depend on the size and shape of your chicken breast.
For better results, you can use a heavy rolling pin or flat meat mallet to flatten any thicker parts of your chicken breasts so that they cook more evenly — although I don’t usually go through this extra step.
And always be sure to check the internal temperature with an instant read thermometer to ensure it reaches 165 degrees F.
Is air fryer chicken healthy?
Air fryer Chicken Breasts aren’t really any healthier than chicken breasts that are cooked with the same ingredients on the stove top, in the oven, or in the slow cooker.
The air fryer is a healthier method than deep frying food, so this air fryer chicken breast is healthier than deep fried chicken, but that’s not really an equal comparison.
That being said, chicken breasts are still a lean protein option, and we love cooking them in the air fryer because they are the juiciest we’ve ever had! (Check out this photo taken right after I sliced them!)
Variations on this Air Fryer Chicken Breast recipe:
- Swap breasts for thighs: you can swap boneless, skinless chicken thighs for the chicken breasts in the recipe and you won’t need to change the recipe much — I would set your air fryer timer for 8 minutes and then check for doneness with a meat thermometer, as they are usually smaller than chicken breasts. (I also recommend checking out this Air Fryer Chicken Thighs recipe!)
- Swap the seasoning: have a go-to seasoning blend of spices you love? It will work perfectly here! Think garlic herb, cajun, barbecue, taco, Greek — any dry blend can be substituted. Just sprinkle on both sides evenly before cooking.
How do you keep chicken breast from drying out in the Air Fryer?
That’s easy! Just be sure to cook it until it’s done, and not more than that.
Chicken breasts dry out when they are overcooked because they are so lean, so the best way to have juicy Air Fryer Chicken Breasts is to use a meat thermometer to watch the internal temperature (165 degrees F is what you’re looking for!).
What to serve with this air fryer chicken breast:
This chicken breast is a versatile protein that goes with so many things!
Slice it to top a Caesar salad, stir it into your favorite pasta or Buttered Noodles, or serve with some of our favorite sides:
- Lyonnaise Potatoes — with caramelized onions!
- Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
- Homemade Mac and Cheese — made in one pot!
- Roasted Potatoes and Carrots — a reader favorite!
Leftover Air Fryer Chicken Breasts? Use it in these recipes!
- Stir some into this Veggie Lo Mein
- Use it in this Chicken Pot Pie Soup
- Swap your leftover chicken for the ham in this Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Breast
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees according to manufacturer's instructions if your air fryer requires preheating (I simply turn mine to 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes while I prepare the chicken)
- Pat chicken dry and rub with canola oil.
- In a small bowl, combine salt, parsley, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and paprika. Sprinkle over both sides of the chicken.
- Lightly spray the inside of the air fryer basket with non stick spray and place the chicken breasts in the bottom.
- Place the basket inside the air fryer and set the cook time for 12 minutes (a couple minutes more or less depending on the size of your chicken breasts — keeping in mind you can always easily add more time but you can't take it away).
- At the end of the cook time, check the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken with a meat thermometer to ensure it has reached 165 degrees F. If it has not, return it to the air fryer for 2-3 minutes until cooked through.
- Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Nutrition Information
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K Heaton says
This was the best chicken I have ever made! Delicious! First time cooking in air fryer too! I’m sold! My family just loved it! Paired it with creamy mac and cheese and frozen peas in butter. Thank you for sharing.
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you so much! I’m glad it was a hit!
Nell Marie says
So juicy and tasty. The seasoning was delicious! It made for a nice chicken dinner and the whole family liked it.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks for your review Nell!
LakesCo says
Just came across this recipe and will try it. But one suggestion – if your air fryer is nonstick, DO NOT use nonstick cooking spray. I learned the hard way and had to replace the rack. Put olive oil in a spray bottle and only use that. The chicken looks great!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hope you enjoy it!
Marie W says
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I used the seasonings you show in the recipe and it turned out great. It was golden brown on the outside and very juicy inside. Great flavor and a great recipe for one!!!
CM says
This is the first air fryer recipe I have used. I was intimidated by 1) cooking and 2) using my new air fryer. This recipe came out perfect! My kids and hubby loved it. Thank you!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi CM! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Evelyn Fourie says
Hi Ashley, this is the very first recipe I made in my new air fryer – as CM mentioned, i was also very afraid and intimidated by this big new product which I had never used and never seen anyone using it, although I had heard so much about it. So I am thrilled to say, the recipe came out perfectly delicious and I cannot wait to try out more of your air fryer recipes. Thank you so much!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Evelyn! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Jenifer says
I haven’t cooked with frozen chicken breasts very much. In the interest of saving money, I’ve bought some. Could i cook this in the air fryer from frozen? Or would I need to defrost? Thanks!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Jenifer, I have not tried to cook the chicken breast from frozen in the air fryer. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes!
Linda says
Perfect combination of spices! Delicious and moist. Pinned it to my “Recipes I have tried and love “ board. Thanks for sharing.
Linda
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Linda! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this review!
Amelia says
Used this recipe tonight for dinner!!! 10/10 so delicious
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Amelia! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this review!
TriRegionBestBuds says
I like it. Timing is good.
The Recipe Rebel says
So glad to hear!
Taina says
Thanks for a great, easy and quick recipe. I prepped it for dinner last night. The chicken was perfectly seasoned and juicy. Loved it!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Taina! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this review!
Rona says
This was way too salty. That being said, I’m still giving it 5 stars because it was so good otherwise and salt amount is a personal preference. Still, I would mix the other seasonings and put them on and then just sprinkle the chicken with the amount of salt you normally like. So very delicious. I’ve printed it up to put in my “Tried and Liked” recipes binder.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Rona! Thanks for your feedback and review! You are correct salt is definitely based on preference and can absolutely be adjusted!
TriRegionBestBuds says
TRBB – Excellent. Try Achar Pickled Mango in a marinade..
The Recipe Rebel says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Jessica Burgess says
My GOSH this was good! I had made chicken a few times before and could never get it “right” but decided to try this recipe and oh my goodness, game-changer. So much better than what I’ve made before. Haha. Thank you!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Jessica! I’m so glad you liked it!
Kristyn says
This recipe makes juicy & tasty chicken!! It’s fool proof & super easy! Great any night of the week!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Kristyn!