The exact cook time can vary. Read below for our tips!
Want to make a simple yet juicy chicken breast? Air fryer chicken breast is the way to go!
With just a few common spices, this chicken breast turns out crispy on the outside while remaining super juicy on the inside.
Air fried chicken makes the perfect meat component to a balanced dinner with rice or potatoes and a veggie – or cut it up in a salad. It’s a versatile chicken recipe for you to use however you like!
Ingredients
To make these fresh chicken breast in the air fryer, here are the ingredients that you will need:
- Chicken breasts – You’ll need two boneless chicken breasts between 7-8 ounces per breast.
- Avocado oil – Alternatively you can use canola oil, vegetable oil, sunflower oil, or olive oil.
- Garlic powder – For added flavor; add more or less to taste.
- Paprika – For flavor and color.
- Salt – For flavor, add more or less to taste.
- Black pepper – For flavor.
Recipe Tips/Substitutions
Before you make chicken breast in air fryer, read through these few recipe tips so you have best results!
- We are using fresh chicken breast for this recipe – boneless and skinless. If you want to use frozen chicken breast, you’ll have to adjust the cooking time.
- You can definitely change up the spices a little bit to suit your taste. Just remember once you add spices – like cayenne pepper – it’s hard to remove it from the spice blend so don’t overdo it.
- Don’t skip the oil since it helps the spices stick to the chicken breast.
- After you remove the chicken from the air fryer, place it on a plate, cover it with tin foil, and let it rest for a few minutes. Don’t skip this step. This is how it gets extra juicy… and it’s worth the wait.
- If you’re ever unsure if the chicken breast is cooked through, you can check the internal temperature which should be at 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Alternatively – if you don’t have a meat thermometer – you can also cut it through the middle to check. The meat should be all white through with no pink. Better to be safe than sorry.
- We’ve got a recipe for stuffed chicken breasts if you want chicken with a creamy spinach filling!
Recipe Video
Step by Step Instructions
If you’d like to see visuals for how to air fry chicken breast, have a look at the process photos in this section.
Alternatively, feel free to skip to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
If the chicken breasts are quite wet, you can pat them dry with a paper towel. You can also trim any excess fat if applicable.
Mix the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika in a small bowl until well combined.
You can adjust the spices to suit your personal taste.
Brush the chicken breasts with 1 teaspoon avocado oil per breast, then massage the seasoning on the top. Flip and add seasoning to the other side as well.
Alternatively, you can add the oil and spices together in a small bowl and then brush this blended mix directly onto the chicken. It doesn’t really matter which method you choose.
Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
When the air fryer is hot, place the chicken breasts on the air fryer tray.
Cook the chicken breasts for 9 minutes, then flip and cook for 8-10 more minutes or until fully cooked.
The cook time might vary slightly based on your specific air fryer and the size of the chicken breasts. The internal temperature of the chicken breasts should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove the chicken breasts from the air fryer and place them on a plate. Cover the plate with tin foil, and let the chicken breasts sit for 5 minutes.
Remove the tin foil from the plate and serve the chicken breasts hot.
Storage Tips
Any leftovers should be placed in a sealed container or covered in tin foil on a plate and put in the fridge.
The chicken will last in the fridge for around 3-4 days but the sooner it is eaten the better (because it’s meat and it will inevitably dry out over time).
To reheat, you can place the chicken breast in the air fryer again for a few minutes until warmed (280 degrees Fahrenheit works well).
For easier warming, you can also cut the chicken into smaller slices and warm it in the microwave.
What to Serve Air Fryer Chicken Breast With
Once you make chicken breast, there is so much you can do with it:
- You can serve this chicken with nice side dishes like roasted red potatoes or even baked potatoes. Other vegetables such as brussels sprouts, asparagus, or green beans also pair nicely!
- Instead of potatoes, you could also serve the chicken with rice or quinoa.
- Another suggestion to use this chicken breast is cut it up and use it for a salad or wrap. We like chicken Caesar salad wraps and this chicken has a perfect flavor to work well with Caesar dressing and crunchy romaine! You can also cut this chicken up to be used in chicken fajitas. (We also have a recipe for chicken fajitas if you want to make that right form scratch.)
FAQ
Here are some answers to questions asked about making chicken breast in the air fryer:
Cook raw and thawed chicken breast in the air fryer at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for around 8 minutes on one side. Flip the breast, then cook for another 8-10 minutes until thoroughly cooked. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
To cook chicken breast in the air fryer, mix the oil and spices and then spread it on all sides of the raw chicken breast. Set the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit, then cook for approximately 9 minutes on one side. Flip the chicken, then cook for another 8-10 until the chicken breast is cooked through fully and reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Related Recipes
For more air fryer chicken recipes, try out these classic ones that’ll have your mouth watering!
- Air Fried Chicken Wings (Simple Seasoning)
- Lemon Pepper Wings in the Air Fryer
- Chicken Sausage in the Air Fryer
- Air Fried Chicken Bites
- Air Fried Chicken Drumsticks
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts, 7-8 ounces per breast
- 2 teaspoons avocado oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- If the chicken breasts are quite wet, you can pat them dry with a paper towel. You can also trim any excess fat if applicable.
- Mix the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika in a small bowl until well combined.
- Brush the chicken breasts with 1 teaspoon avocado oil per breast, then "massage" the seasoning on the top. Flip and add seasoning to the other side as well.Alternatively, you can add the oil and spices together in a small bowl and then brush this blended mix directly onto the chicken. It doesn’t really matter which method you choose.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
- When the air fryer is hot, place the chicken breasts into the air fryer. They shouldn't touch each other. Cook the chicken breasts at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 9 minutes, then flip and cook for 8-10 more minutes or until fully cooked. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The exact cook time can vary slightly based on your specific air fryer and the size of the chicken breasts.
- Remove the chicken breasts from the air fryer and place them on a plate. Cover the plate with tin foil, and let the chicken breasts sit for 5 minutes.
- Remove the tin foil from the plate and serve the chicken breasts hot.
Notes
- Don’t skip the last step of covering the chicken with tin foil to let sit – this is how the chicken turns out really juicy!
- If the chicken breast is a lot smaller or larger than 7-8 ounces, you’ll have to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
This sounds simple and delicious,
I’m going to have to try it this week . Thanks for the great recipes.
I would just like to comment on your fabulous website. I am 84 years old. Live alone in a very remote part of Thailand in the mountains and do so much enjoy your recipes, especially the accompanying videos!
Thank you so much for your kind comment, Stan – I’m so glad to hear that you’re enjoying our website!