Air Fryer Chicken Breast
This Air fryer chicken breast is juicy, flavorful and so easy to make! Whether you’re making salads, wraps or rice bowls, this air fryer chicken is the perfect pairing.
Chicken breasts get a bad rap for being bland, chewy and boring. But that doesn’t have to be the case if you know how to cook it right. I always think of chicken breasts as a blank canvas. It tastes exactly like the ingredients you add to it. So be bold and make it flavorful!
Cooking chicken breast in an air fryer will give you a better end result than cooking it in a pan or oven. The chicken comes out perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside every time. If you’re not sold yet, here are some reasons why I think you will love this!
Why Cook Chicken Breast in an Air Fryer
- Quick and convenient: The air fryer cooks chicken breast faster than a pan, grill or oven.
- Juicy and tender: The air fryer circulates hot air around the chicken breast which locks in the moisture.
- Fewer calories: Use less oil without compromising on flavor. What more could one ask for!
- No mess: No oil splatters, no burns, and no sticky counter tops!
- Even cooking: . The hot air circulating the chicken cooks it evenly, making it crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
How to Cut Chicken Breast
Scoring chicken breasts in a crosshatch pattern has proven to be a foolproof technique. It absorbs the most flavor while retaining moisture and evenly cooking the chicken breast.
Pounding the thick side of the chicken breast also works well.
Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe
When you want a quick meal that is high on flavor, you need to make the best air fryer chicken breast!
Ingredients
- Chicken Breast: Boneless, skinless chicken breast works best.
- Seasoning Blend: My go-to spice blend for this recipe is paprika, dried thyme, dried oregano, salt and pepper.
- Garlic Butter: This is what makes this recipe stand out! Butter, garlic and fresh parsley mix is used while air frying the chicken.
- Olive Oil: A little olive oil to add flavor and help the chicken turn golden.
- Lemon and parsley: A squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkle of parsley at the end to make the dish sing!
How to make Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- Prepare the chicken: Score the smooth side of the chicken breasts in a crosshatch pattern. This helps the seasoning penetrate and ensures the chicken cooks evenly, while retaining moisture.
- Season the chicken: Combine paprika, dried thyme, dried oregano, salt and pepper in a bowl. Sprinkle the seasoning generously over both sides of the chicken breasts and rub it in well. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes. If you’re not cooking it within 30 minutes, refrigerate it.
- Prepare the garlic butter: In a small bowl, combine softened butter, grated garlic, and finely chopped parsley.
- Coat the chicken: Once the chicken has absorbed the seasoning, rub the olive oil all over the chicken breasts to lightly coat them.
- Preheat the air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). If your air fryer does not require preheating, skip this.
- Air fry the chicken: Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket, scored side down. Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes.
- Flip the chicken: After 5 minutes, flip the chicken breasts and coat the scored side with the garlic butter. Continue air frying for an additional 5-10 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breasts. Larger breasts may need a bit more time to cook through.
- Serve: Once cooked, transfer the chicken breasts onto a plate. Garnish with parsley and squeeze some lemon juice over it. Enjoy with some grilled or sautéed vegetables.
*If you wish to slice the chicken breast before serving, let it sit untouched for 10 minutes after transferring it from the air fryer to a plate. This will help the moisture redistribute and prevent it from drying.
How Long to Cook Chicken Breast in Air Fryer
The duration can change depending on the air fryer model and size of the chicken breast. These are general guidelines. Please adjust as needed to suit your air fryer.
At 375°F (190°C), small chicken breasts (6 oz/170g) will take 10 minutes, medium chicken breasts (8 oz/226g) will take 12 minutes and large chicken breasts (10 oz/280g) will take 15 minutes or more.
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Air Fryer Chicken Breast
INGREDIENTS
- 1 lb (450g) chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
- 1 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp thyme (dried)
- 1/2 tsp oregano (dried)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Garlic Butter
- 1 1/2 tbsp butter (softened)
- 2 garlic cloves (grated)
- 1 tsp parsley (finely chopped)
Garnish
- 1/2 lemon
- 1 tbsp parsley (finely chopped)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Prepare the chicken: Score the smooth side of the chicken breasts in a crosshatch pattern. This helps the seasoning penetrate and ensures the chicken cooks evenly, while retaining moisture.
- Season the chicken: Combine paprika, dried thyme, dried oregano, salt and pepper in a bowl. Sprinkle the seasoning generously over both sides of the chicken breasts and rub it in well. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes. If you're not cooking it within 30 minutes, refrigerate it.
- Prepare the garlic butter: In a small bowl, combine softened butter, grated garlic, and finely chopped parsley.
- Coat the chicken: Once the chicken has absorbed the seasoning, rub the olive oil all over the chicken breasts to lightly coat them.
- Preheat the air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). If your air fryer does not require preheating, skip this.
- Air fry the chicken: Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket, scored side down. Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes.
- Flip the chicken: After 5 minutes, flip the chicken breasts and coat the scored side with the garlic butter. Continue air frying for an additional 5-10 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breasts. Larger breasts may need a bit more time to cook through.
- Serve: Once cooked, transfer the chicken breasts onto a plate. Garnish with parsley and squeeze some lemon juice over it. Enjoy with some grilled or sautéed vegetables.
NOTES
- At 375°F (190°C), small chicken breasts (6 oz/170g) will take 10 minutes, medium chicken breasts (8 oz/226g) will take 12 minutes and large chicken breasts (10 oz/280g) will take 15 minutes or more.
- Use a thermometer for perfect results – The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Once air fried, if the internal temperature has reached 160°F it will continue to cook while it rests.
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