Perfect Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Your hunt for the perfect air fryer chicken breast is over! This recipe is so flavorful, easy to make and cooked to juicy perfection every time. There’s no marinating necessary so it’s ready in just about 25 minutes.
Picture this: it’s Wednesday night, you’re home from work, tired, hungry and have no idea what to cook because all you have is some chicken and old veggies in your fridge. Enter: the BEST juicy, easy to make, under 30 minute air fryer chicken breast.
There’s the perfect amount of seasoning and flavor that is a delicious blend of salty, savory, and sweet. With a crispy golden exterior and juicy and tender center that is to die for! It’s great served with your favorite pasta, rice, a fresh salad – whatever you like. This recipe isn’t breaded, so it’s naturally low carb
The chicken itself has so many seasonings and spices on it, but if you want some extra flavor, I love serving it with my roasted red pepper sauce or homemade pesto. If you love this recipe, try my parmesan air fryer chicken cutlets or air fryer tilapia.
Before we get started…
- You may need to cook your chicken in two batches, depending on how big your air fryer is. You want to ensure the chicken breasts are in one single layer to ensure even cooking, so if there is too much overlap, just do two batches!
- I do not recommend using frozen chicken breasts here. If you have frozen chicken, just thaw it fully before making the recipe.
- You don’t need to coat chicken in oil before air frying it, but I do recommend just 1 tablespoon of an oil drizzle on top to help seal in the spices and give the outside a nice crisp.
How to make air fryer chicken breast
Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cut your chicken breasts in half so with each breast you end up with two thinner pieces. Mix together the sugar, spices, salt and pepper in a small dish.
Season each chicken breast on both sides and pat into the breast.
Spray your air fryer basket with oil and add the chicken in one layer. Drizzle the top with the olive oil.
Air fry for 10-14 minutes, flipping halfway, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit – exact cook time will depend on how thick your chicken breasts were.
Remove from the air fryer and let rest for about 5 minutes, then serve and enjoy! If you love this recipe, try my gluten free chicken piccata.
Serving suggestions
There are so many ways to serve these air fryer chicken breasts! I love them with my gluten free parmesan risotto and green beans on the side, but it’s also great on top of my caesar salad, or with my air fryer carrots.
Other ideas are to serve with pasta such as my broccoli pesto pasta, but would also be great diced up and serve with my caesar pasta salad. Other ideas:
- Roasted Veggies with fresh lemon
- Quinoa or rice
- Sweet potato fries
- Mashed Potatoes and green beans
Frequently asked questions
Can I use frozen chicken breasts?
I don’t recommend frozen chicken here as the seasonings won’t stick. However, you can thaw your chicken thighs and then use once thawed. I suggest just thawing in the fridge for 24 hours.
Can I add other herbs?
Definitely! Feel free to get creative with the herbs and spices here. If you want some spice you can add some cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes, or for a more herby approach try some basil, thyme, Italian seasoning etc.
Do I have to flip it in the air fryer?
For best results, I do recommend flipping the chicken halfway through the cooking process. This ensures even cooking. However, if you forget, it will still be fine because air fryers circulate the air a bit more evenly than an oven does.
How to store and freeze
Store any leftover chicken breasts in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I like to reheat in the air fryer just until warm through the center. Chicken breasts do dry out a bit more easily and faster than chicken thighs, so heat them up just until warm so they don’t over cook.
You can also freeze this chicken recipe! You’ll want to cook it as usual, let it cool completely, then I suggest cutting it into strips and freezing it sliced. That way, it’s easy to add to stir fries, soups etc.
Try these air fryer recipes next!
Lastly, if you try this recipe, leave a comment below and let me know how it turns out! Be sure to follow along on instagram to stay up to date on future recipes.
Perfect Air Fryer Chicken Breast
by: claire cary
Your hunt for the perfect air fryer chicken breast is over! This recipe is so flavorful, easy to make and cooked to juicy perfection every time. There's no marinating necessary so it's ready in just about 25 minutes.
/ /
4
Instructions
Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cut your chicken breasts in half so with each breast you end up with two thinner pieces.
Mix together the sugar, spices, salt and pepper in a small dish.
Season each chicken breast on both sides and pat into the breast.
Spray your air fryer basket with oil and add the chicken in one layer. Drizzle the top with the olive oil.
Air fry for 10-14 minutes, flipping halfway, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit – exact cook time will depend on how thick your chicken breasts were.
Remove from the air fryer and let rest for about 5 minutes, then serve and enjoy!
Notes
You may need to cook your chicken in two batches, depending on how big your air fryer is. You want to ensure the chicken breasts are in one single layer to ensure even cooking, so if there is too much overlap, just do two batches!
Serving: 1breast / Calories: 250kcal / Carbohydrates: 6g / Protein: 37g / Fat: 8g / Saturated Fat: 2g / Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g / Monounsaturated Fat: 4g / Trans Fat: 0.02g / Cholesterol: 109mg / Sodium: 782mg / Potassium: 710mg / Fiber: 1g / Sugar: 3g / Vitamin A: 931IU / Vitamin C: 2mg / Calcium: 35mg / Iron: 2mg