Air Fryer Chicken Breast

This air fryer chicken breast is tender and juicy inside and incredibly crispy outside. A healthier version of crispy deep-fried chicken! Both breaded and unbreaded chicken recipes are included.

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Air Fryer Chicken Breast

You might be thinking that fried chicken is reserved for Southern mothers and line cooks at American diners, but this is SO easy and it’s reliably perfect every single time. Our simple, straightforward recipe is all you need to deliver awesome fried chicken.

You’ll Need

How To Bread Chicken

• You can go one of two ways. You can bread raw chicken with seasoned dried breadcrumbs, adding some oil along the way, but the breadcrumbs don’t stick well.
• The other option is to go old-school and follow the egg method perfected by grandmothers across generations. This is a great way of making fried chicken and we actually prefer it as the egg mixture really makes the breadcrumbs stick and you get that classic crispy texture we know and love in fried chicken.

How To Cook Boneless Breaded Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer

• First, cut the breast into cutlets. Thinner strips cook faster than thick ones.
• Next, combine the egg with lemon juice and garlic in a shallow bowl.
• Mix panko breadcrumbs with your choice of seasoning in a separate shallow dish. We like cayenne pepper, oregano, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt. If you don’t like it spicy, don’t use cayenne pepper. These seasonings really help flavor the chicken.
• Next, coat each piece of chicken in the egg mixture and dredge in panko breadcrumb mix. You want the chicken evenly coated with no leftover breadcrumbs.

• Spray the chicken with cooking oil spray.
• You want to switch your air fryer on about five minutes before cooking, preheating it to 390°F (200°C).
• Take your chicken and put it in the air fryer basket. You might need to cook your chicken in batches, depending on the size of your basket.
• Air frying for 10-12 minutes comes next. Flip the chicken after seven-eight minutes using tongs – you don’t want to burn your hand.

This chicken breast will be more similar in texture to chicken schnitzel than KFC fried chicken, but you’ll be licking your fingers all the same.

How To Make Unbreaded Chicken In The Air Fryer

To cook the unbreaded version of this recipe, just skip the breading step, and spray with a cooking oil spray and season the chicken before frying.

Do I Need Oil For Air Frying Chicken?

Yes! Of course, you won’t need as much as you would to fry it on the stove, but you do need a cooking spray ( recommended) or a tablespoon of oil for this recipe. Any cooking spray will work well. If you prefer to use oil, olive oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil are best as they will impart minimal flavor while still bringing out the best in your chicken breast.

Should I Marinate or Brine My Chicken Breast?

If you have time, brining chicken breasts in a simple mix of 2 cups water and 2 tablespoons salt for just 15 minutes can make a big difference—keeping them juicy and flavorful. Room temp water helps them cook evenly, too. For extra flavor, marinate overnight with herbs, lemon, or honey.

❗ If you’re breading the chicken, you can skip the brine—breadcrumbs help lock in moisture. But for unbreaded chicken, brining is totally worth it.

How Long To Cook Chicken In An Air Fryer?

Ten to fifteen minutes in the air fryer should be enough to get crispy, golden fried chicken. The cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of your chicken. If you’re unsure about whether your chicken is done, you can either use an instant read meat thermometer, or cut through a piece of the chicken to see if it’s cooked through. Cooked chicken will be all white with no pink left.

What Sauce To Serve With Air Fryer Chicken Breast?

Homemade yum yum sauce, Japanese style, is a great place to start. You could try homemade ranch sauce, too, or even add some cayenne pepper for that extra kick.

More Delicious Chicken Breast Recipes

• French Onion Stuffed Chicken
• Hummus Crusted Chicken
• Oven Baked Chicken Breast
• Creamy Garlic Chicken Breast

If you make this air fryer chicken breast be sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! We will be happy to hear from you!

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5 from 2 votes

Air Fryer Chicken Breast

By: chefjar

This air fryer chicken breast is tender and juicy inside and incredibly crispy outside. A healthier version of crispy deep-fried chicken!

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Equipment

• Instant Vortex Air Fryer
• Cayenne pepper
• Pepper Mill

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Ingredients 

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• ▢ 1 large egg
• ▢ 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• ▢ 3 garlic cloves, minced
• ▢ 1 teaspoon paprika
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ 3/4 teaspoon oregano
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 3/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
• ▢ 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
• ▢ 2 medium boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut in half horizontally to make 4 fillets
• ▢ Cooking oil spray

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Instructions 

Breaded Chicken Breast:

• In a shallow bowl combine the egg, lemon juice and garlic.
• In a separate shallow bowl mix together paprika, black pepper, cayenne pepper, onion powder, oregano, garlic powder, salt and Panko breadcrumbs.
• Add the chicken fillets to the egg mixture and coat evenly.
• Dredge in the Panko mixture, pressing the coating onto the chicken lightly. 
• Spray with cooking oil spray  and transfer to your air fryer basket.
• Air fry at 390°F or 200° for 10-12 minutes. After 7 minutes, open the air fryer and flip the chicken. Then, continue cooking for 3 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breasts. See the notes below.

Unbreaded Chicken Breast:

• Spray the chicken with cooking oil spray and season with your favorite seasonings on both sides.
• Transfer to your air fryer basket and air fry for 12-15 minutes  (whole chicken breasts) or 10-12 minutes ( chicken fillets), flipping halfway through cooking with your kitchen tongs.
• Remove from the air fryer immediately to prevent the chicken from drying out. Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to reabsorb into the chicken.
•  

Notes

To brine the chicken: The secret to juicy, tender chicken breast is brining your meat before cooking. The meat will absorb extra liquid and salt, enhancing the chicken’s natural flavor and making sure it won’t dry out under high heat. The salt will penetrate the entire chicken breast, so it ends up tasting great all the way through rather than just being seasoned on the outside and not on the inside. Wet brine is the classic way, but in some parts of the Deep South a dry brine – simply sprinkling the chicken with salt and seasoning – is a tradition, too. Try both and see which way you like it! Dry brining is way less messy, just as a side note.

Don’t overcook the chicken:The other way to get the best breast is to ensure you aren’t overcooking your chicken. Chicken is fully cooked at an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Use a meat thermometer to check your chicken’s internal temperature.

 As a quick tip, removing the chicken from heat at 155 to 160 degrees F and allowing it to stand for a few minutes before checking the heat again will let it cook in its own juices. Carryover cooking will bring the chicken to temperature and you’ll have it ready to eat at a totally edible temperature!

Cooking time: Depending on the size of your chicken breasts, they might require different cooking times to reach these temperatures. As a guide, small breasts of 5 to 7 ounces will cook in 7 to 10 minutes, medium breasts of 8 to 10 ounces will cook in 10 to 12 minutes, and large breasts over eleven ounces will take 12-15 minutes. Flipping the chicken halfway through cooking will also help to ensure an evenly cooked piece of meat.

Nutrition

Calories: 213kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 119mg | Sodium: 526mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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