Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Breasts (2024)

May 23, 2024July 13, 2022 by Erin

This foolproof recipe makes flavorful and tenderair fryer chicken breastsevery time, seasoned with herbs and spices.

Similar to myair fryer chicken thighs, thisair 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.

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 thismushroom sauce, white bbq sauceorPeruvian creamy green saucecan create an entirely new recipe.

And adding side dishes likeInstant Pot RisottoorSous Vide Asparagusmakes it the perfect meal.

Don’t own anair fryer? Try mySous Vide Chicken Breasts recipe! Looking for a crispier option? Try myAir 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

• In a small bowl combine the salt and spices with oil to create a paste. Coat boneless chicken breasts with the paste. Place chicken pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook.

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 thiscreamy 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.

FAQ

What to serve with them

• Green Bean Fries
• 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 MOREside dishes to serve with chicken
• And, be sure to check out these dipping sauces for chicken

Wine pairings

These choices pair nicely with a light meat chicken.

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

More air fryer chicken recipes

• Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
• Air Fryer Buffalo Wings
• Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
• Air Fried Chicken Tenders
• Air Fryer Chinese Chicken Wings

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 onInstagramusing the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more greatPlatings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me onInstagram,TikTok,PinterestandFacebook.

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).