Air Fryer Chicken Breasts Recipe (Juicy, Tender & EASY)

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This foolproof recipe makes flavorful and tender air fryer chicken breasts every time, seasoned with herbs and spices.

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Similar to my air fryer chicken thighs, this air fryer chicken recipe is made with just the right amount of seasoning and extremely versatile. This recipe is also perfect for someone following a keto or Whole30 lifestyle.

Reader

Love

This recipe was so easy and delicious! My chicken turned out tasty and juicy and luscious looking as well!

–

Vicki

Why you’ll love it

Air frying is the best way to cook tender chicken in less time, since there’s no preheating the oven. And with my simple seasoning blend, these flavorful chicken breasts not only make an easy weeknight dinner, but they’re perfect for meal prep too. This recipe results in super flavorful, tender chicken breasts with no brining!

The best thing about serving chicken is that it is so versatile. Adding a delicious and creamy sauce like this mushroom sauce, white bbq sauce or Peruvian creamy green sauce can create an entirely new recipe.

And adding side dishes like Instant Pot Risotto or Sous Vide Asparagus makes it the perfect meal.

Don’t own an air fryer? Try my Sous Vide Chicken Breasts recipe! Looking for a crispier option? Try my Air Fried Crispy Chicken Tenders! There are so many options to choose from.

Ingredients

• Olive Oil
• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
• Kosher Salt
• Oregano – Or, try one of these substitutes for oregano.
• Paprika – Or, try one of these paprika substitutes.
• Black Pepper
• Garlic Powder

Note: To switch things up, try swapping in my Chicken Wing Rub, Italian Seasoning or Cajun Seasoning in place of the herbs called for in this recipe.

How to make air fryer chicken breasts

Step 1

Coat the chicken in spices

• In a small bowl combine the salt and spices with oil to create a paste.
• Coat boneless chicken breasts with the paste.

Step 2

Air fry

• Place chicken pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook according to the directions below.

How long to cook chicken breasts in the air fryer

• Place in the air fryer basket and cook at 370-degrees for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for an additional 4-8 minutes cooking time, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160-degrees on an instant read thermometer. The total cook time will depend on the size of your chicken breasts (see below).

Size matters

• Small Breasts (5-7 oz.) – 14 minutes
• Medium Breasts (8-9 oz.) – 16 minutes
• Large Breasts (10+ oz.) – 18 minutes

Resting time

After your chicken has finished cooking, be sure to let it rest for 5-minutes, tented with foil, to allow the juices to redistribute and the chicken to finish cooking.

Food safety guidelines recommend cooking chicken to an internal temperature of 165-degrees. However, if you remove it from the air fryer once it has reached 160-degrees, the residual heat will continue to cook the chicken as it cooks.

If chicken is undercooked

If you find that your chicken is undercooked, return it to the air fryer and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes until it is no longer pink inside and the juices run clear.

When to add vegetables

• You can add vegetables like zucchini, brussel sprouts, red peppers, broccoli and asparagus. Add them to the air fryer basket at the halfway point.

Variations

• Try swapping in my Italian Seasoning or Cajun Seasoning in place of the herbs called for in this recipe.
• Marinade. Try marinating your chicken overnight in some Italian dressing.
• If you’d prefer to make chicken thighs, be sure to try out this air fryer chicken thighs recipe!
• Add a delicious sauce like this creamy sun dried tomato sauce, white bbq sauce, Jerk Sauce, Peruvian green sauce, or lemon butter sauce. Or, try one of these 25+ delicious sauces for chicken.

Sauces for chicken breasts

• Creamy Garlic Sauce
• Buffalo Sauce
• Honey Mustard
• BBQ Sauce
• Creamy Mushroom Sauce
• More → 25+ tasty sauces for chicken.

Storing leftovers

Store leftover chicken in an airtight container (these are my favorite!) in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It will also keep in the freezer for up to three months, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.

Reheating air fryer chicken breasts

Chicken reheats best on the stove. Add it to a small skillet with a splash of water or broth and heat until the chicken is warmed through.

Recommended tool

You likely already have an air fryer since you are reading this post. But in case you’re in the market to buy a new one, here are my TOP 5 Favorite Air Fryers!

FAQ

Can you put raw chicken in an air fryer?

Of course! The air fryer is great for cooking chicken breasts or thighs. Just be sure to cook them thoroughly according to the time charts below.

Why is my air fryer chicken tough?

The most likely reason for tough chicken in the air fryer is overcooking. Be sure to cook it to only 160-degrees and then allow it to rest for 5-minutes tented with foil.

Do you have to flip chicken in the air fryer?

For best results, you should flip your chicken in the air fryer halfway through. This ensures even cooking. However, if you forget, it will still be fine. You may just end up with some overcooked areas.

Do you have to brine it?

If you have the time, a brine can result in extra juicy chicken. However, it is definitely not necessary! This recipe, which is coated in a dry rub, comes out extremely juicy and flavorful!

What to serve with them

• Green Bean Fries
• Greek Roasted Potatoes
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Sauteed Spinach
• Salad with Poppyseed Dressing
• Potato Salad
• Roasted Sunchokes
• Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
• Shaved Fennel and Celery Salad
• Kale Caesar Salad
• Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas
• Click here for MORE side dishes to serve with chicken
• And, be sure to check out these dipping sauces for chicken

Erin’s wine pairings

These choices pair nicely with a light meat chicken.

• Sauvignon Blanc
• Chardonnay
• MORE → the BEST Chicken Wine Pairings.

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Browse More Air Fryer Recipes

Did you make these air fryer chicken breasts?

If you loved these chicken breasts in the air fryer, I would appreciate it so much if you would leave a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on  Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Facebook.

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Full Recipe

Air Fryer Chicken Breast

This foolproof recipe makes flavorful and tender air fryer chicken breasts every time, seasoned with herbs and spices. 5 from 1253 votes Print Pin Serves 2 Created by Platings and Pairings Prep Time: 10 minutes minsCook Time: 20 minutes mins

Equipment

• Air Fryer

1x2x3x

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ 2 chicken breasts (boneless and skinless)
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (***)
• ▢ ½ teaspoon oregano
• ▢ ½ teaspoon paprika
• ▢ ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

• In a small bowl combine the salt and spices with oil to create a paste. Coat chicken breasts with the paste.
• Place in the air fryer basket and cook at 370-degrees for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for an additional 4-8 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160-degrees.
• Tent the chicken with tin foil and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

***If using Diamond Kosher Salt, increase the amount of salt used to 1 teaspoon to account for the fact that it has 50% less sodium than other salt brands.  If you’d prefer to make chicken thighs, be sure to try out this air fryer chicken thighs recipe!

Nutrition

Calories: 326kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 845mg | Potassium: 870mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 325IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Note: This recipe was adjusted in January 2023 to change the amount of salt in the recipe. Some readers commented that the chicken was too salty for them. This is due to the fact that I typically cook with Diamond Kosher Salt which is about 50% less salty than table or other salt (more on that here).

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