Home » Air fryer » How To Cook Chicken Breast In Air Fryer (Air Fryer Chicken Breast)

How To Cook Chicken Breast In Air Fryer (Air Fryer Chicken Breast)

Learn how to cook chicken breast in air fryer perfectly at all times. This is a quick, simple, and delicious chicken recipe you would be happy to have in your repertoire.  This air fryer chicken breast is flavourful, tender, and juicy to the last bite.

three chicken breasts in air fryer.

Learn to cook chicken breast in air fryer

I am kicking off the year 2021 with an incredibly easy and healthy air fryer chicken recipe. I mean, who doesn’t want to jump on the healthy wagon this time of year, right?

You will love how simple it is to make this chicken. It is versatile yet simple. It is great with salad, sandwich filling, tossed in curries and perfect with rice or pasta.

Today, I’ll show you how to cook juicy and flavorful chicken breast in your air fryer. Once you master this technique, you won’t look back. Stay tuned for my breaded version!

Related post: how to cook chicken breast in a pan.

a plate of food.

Why you would love this recipe

  • Air fryer recipes are quick, easy, and convenient and this chicken recipe is hands-off too. No babysitting it or worrying about cleaning an entire oven over 3 pieces of chicken.
  • Ready in under 20 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of the chicken breast.
  • This chicken recipe is easily customizable. I seasoned the chicken with my homemade Peri Peri seasoning, but you can make it your own by using any preferred spices or herbs of choice,
  • This juicy and tasty air fryer chicken breast makes meal prepping easy.
  • You do not need to brine the chicken before cooking and you are still guaranteed a moist bird.
a plate of chicken and salad placed beside air fryer.

Air fryer chicken breast ingredients

Chicken breasts:  I am using boneless skinless chicken breasts. You can substitute them with boneless chicken thighs. Please note that the cooking time may vary if using other cuts of chicken parts.

Peri-Peri seasoning: as I mentioned earlier, you can use any spices or herbs over the chicken, store-bought or homemade. I use my homemade Peri Peri seasoning as it gives an instant boost of flavor to the chicken without having to marinate it.

Salt and black pepper

Vegetable oil: you can also use any other flavorless cooking oil of choice. Olive oil and avocado oil are great options.

Dried parsley

ingredients.

How to cook chicken breast in air fryer

Pat the chicken breast dry with a kitchen towel, using a meat tenderizer or mallet, and pound the chicken a few times to flatten it so that the chicken can have the same thickness. This also helps the bird cook evenly. Then, season with salt and pepper.

Rub each side of the chicken with vegetable oil and season generously with the Peri Peri seasoning.

Preheat the air fryer to 390F/195C for 3 minutes, then spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil. Avoid using cooking spray on your air fryer basket, as it can peel off the coating on the basket.

Place the seasoned chicken in the air fryer and cook for a total of 20 minutes, 10 minutes on each side. In order to know that the chicken is completely cooked, the internal temperature must read 165F/75C.

If you will not be eating the chicken immediately, then you can stop cooking the chicken at 160F/70C. The chicken would continue to cook as it rests. Transfer the chicken to a plate with a kitchen tong, serve and enjoy.

chicken breast in air fryer basket.

Tips on how to cook the best chicken breast in air fryer

  • Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. It is important that there is space for air circulation for even cooking.
  • I used about a tablespoon of oil for each chicken breast. You can cut it in half if you prefer.
  • Check that the chicken is cooked through before consuming it. A meat thermometer is a must-have air fryer accessory. It is a simple gadget that helps you measure the doneness of your cooked protein.
  • Start checking the chicken from 12 minutes for doneness. If you cut the chicken breasts into 2 lengthwise (cutlets), it is highly likely that the chicken breast will cook half the time recommended in today’s recipe.
  • Don’t leave the cooked chicken sitting in the air fryer after cooking it as it would dry out. Remember, it is lean meat. Transfer the chicken to a platter and leave to rest for about 3 minutes before serving or slicing it for the juice to redistribute into the meat.
  • To avoid overcooking the bird since they come packed in different sizes, you can weigh the pieces you would be cooking so they cook evenly. I do not necessarily weigh mine. I just judge them with my eyes. The ones that do not make the cut end up in soups or fried rice.
a plate of sliced chicken breast and salad.

How long to cook chicken breast in air fryer

This will be dependent on the size and thickness of the chicken breasts. Thinly sliced chicken breast would cook faster than a whole breast. Typically, a whole boneless chicken breast would cook in the air fryer at 390F/195C for 18-20 minutes, flipping it halfway through the cooking time.

If you prefer, you can cook the chicken breasts at 360F/180C temperature. Start checking from 15 minutes. The internal temperature of cooked chicken would register 165F/73C

What to serve with air fried chicken breast

Air fryer roasted potatoes

Potato wedges

Chimichurri rice

Tomato basil pasta

Mushroom rice

Garlic butter rice

How to store

If you do have any chicken leftovers, ensure you do not leave it out unattended for long without storing away. Cooked chicken must be stored immediately after it cools in an airtight container and in the fridge for up to 4 days.

More air fryer recipes

Air fryer garlic bread

Air fryer lemon pepper chicken wings

How to cook turkey burgers in air fryer

Air fryer chicken frozen nuggets

Air fryer chicken cutlets

Air fryer frozen chicken thighs

Air fryer frozen chicken breast

If you made this easy air fryer chicken breat recipe, please leave me feedback. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save away to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox

cooked chicken breast in a basket.

How To Cook Chicken Breast In Air Fryer (Air Fryer Chicken Breast)

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Learn how to cook chicken breast in air fryer perfectly at all times. This is a quick, simple and delicious chicken recipe you would be happy to have in your repertoire. The chicken breast is flavorful, tender and juicy
5 from 7 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 23 minutes
Course Chicken, Main Course
Cuisine American, British
Servings 3
Calories 383 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 3 chicken breasts
  • 1 ½ tbsp Peri Peri seasoning use any other seasoning, spices or herbs of choice
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil see note

Instructions
 

  • Pat the chicken breast dry with a kitchen towel, using a meat tenderizer or mallet, and pound the chicken a few times to flatten it so that the chicken can have the same thickness. This also helps it cook evenly. Then, season with salt and pepper.
    a meat tenderiser on chicken breast.
  • Rub each side of the chicken with vegetable oil and season generously with the peri peri seasoning.
    seasoned raw chicken.
  • Preheat the air fryer at 390F/195C for 3 minutes, then spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil. Avoid using cooking spray on your air fryer basket as it can peel off the coating on the basket.
  • Place the seasoned chicken in the air fryer and cook for a total of 18 to 20 minutes, 10 minutes on each side (please see note). In order to know that the chicken is completely cooked, the internal temperature must read 165F/75C.
    If you will not be eating the chicken immediately, then you can stop cooking the chicken at an internal temperature of 160F/70C. The chicken would continue to cook as it rests. Transfer the chicken to a plate with a kitchen tong, serve and enjoy.
    three chicken breasts in air fryer.

Video

YouTube video

Notes

Tips
  • Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. It is important that there is space for air circulation for even cooking.
  • I used about a tablespoon of oil for each chicken breast, you can cut in half if you prefer. You can also use any cooking oil of choice.
  • Check that the chicken is cooked through before consuming it. A meat thermometer is a must-have air fryer accessory. It is a simple gadget that helps you take the guess regarding the doneness of your cooked protein.
  • Start checking the chicken from 12 minutes for doneness. If you cut the chicken breasts into 2 lengthwise then it is highly likely that the chicken breast would cook half the time recommended in today’s recipe.
  • Do not leave the cooked chicken sitting in the air fryer after cooking as it would dry out. Remember, it is lean meat, transfer the chicken to a platter and leave to rest for about 3 minutes before eating.
  • In other to avoid overcooking the bird since they come packed in different sizes, you can weigh the pieces you would be cooking so they cook evenly.
  • I do not necessarily weigh mine, I just judge them with my eyes. The ones that do not make the cut end up in soups or fried rice.

Nutrition

Calories: 383kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 48gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 263mgPotassium: 857mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 96IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.

Keyword air fryer chicken breast, air fryer chicken wings, how to cook chicken breast in air fryer
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10 Comments

  1. I was looking for some good instant pot/pressure cooker recipes. Yours look absolutely perfect.

    Thanks!

5 from 7 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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