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This is the easiest way to get juicy, tender Air Fryer Chicken Breasts that is seasoned perfectly for meal prepping or to add to your favorite dishes! Chicken breast is so often dismissed for being dry and bland – two things this Air Fryer Chicken Breast is not! Keep reading for my key tips on what will be your new favorite way to make chicken breast!
Watch the Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe Video Below!
Table of Contents
- Watch the Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe Video Below!
- What Ingredients do I need for Air Fryer Chicken Breast ?
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast : Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- What is Dry Brining and Why?
- What Should I Serve with Air Fryer Chicken Breast?
- Expert Tips for The BEST Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- Storage and Reheating Tips for Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast – SUPER JUICY! Recipe
By now, you know my love for air fryer recipes – especially for cooking chicken! Air Fryer Chicken Wings is my #1 recipe on my site; Air Fryer Chicken Tenders and Air Fryer Chicken Katsu are so crispy without deep frying! My Air Fryer Chicken Skewers actually has gone viral several times on my Instagram – it’s definitely worth the hype!
My most special one is my Air Fryer Crispy Pork Belly, based on the recipe I inherited from my Yeh-Yeh or grandfather. Want a non-meat alternative? Try my super crispy Air Fryer Tofu!
What Ingredients do I need for Air Fryer Chicken Breast ?
- boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 2 breasts)
- If you prefer chicken thighs, try this Air Fryer Chicken Thighs recipe instead!
- If you’re using chicken breasts with skin, save it and make Chicken Skin Chips!
- neutral oil – my go to neutral oil is avocado oil; you can also use canola, vegetable, or in this case, olive oil, even though it is not a neutral oil because of the temperature we are cooking at.
- kosher salt – amount dependent on the size of chicken breasts; see note below on “Dry Brining”
- Seasoning – You can use any of your favorite herbs and seasonings for Air Fryer Chicken Breasts – below is my recommendation:
- freshly cracked black pepper
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- smoked paprika
- dried rosemary
- dried thyme
Refer to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and measurements!
I cook with chicken breast all the time – it’s a popular protein choice for Asian dishes like String Bean Chicken, Mushroom Chicken, Bourbon Chicken, or Chinese Chicken and Broccoli. I also love it for Italian dishes like Chicken Parmesan!
Want to fry chicken instead? Make my easy Fried Chicken!
Air Fryer Chicken Breast : Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
1. Dry Brine the Chicken Breasts
Weigh the chicken breasts to get a total weight in grams, then multiply that number by .015 to get the weight of kosher salt you need. You want to salt each chicken breast with 1.5% of its weight in kosher salt. Once the weight needed is confirmed, weigh out kosher salt on the scale. It’s totally ok to round to the nearest gram here – for about 580 grams of chicken, I used 9 grams of kosher salt (about 1.5%).
Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board and sprinkle with kosher salt evenly on both sides. Let sit for 10 minutes for the salt to infuse in the chicken breasts – the salt should no longer be visible on the exterior of the chicken.
PRO TIPS
What is Dry Brining and Why?
My key tip for the juiciest, most tender Air Fryer Chicken Breast is to dry brine the chicken with 1.5% of its weight in kosher salt.
- Dry brining for at least 10 minutes allows the chicken to fully absorb the salt. When chicken absorbs salt, not only does it flavor the meat but it also helps absorb extra liquid, which keeps the meat moist and juicy when cooked.
- It’s my favorite ‘cooking hack’ because it’s so simple but effective.
Dry brining with 1.5% of the chicken’s weight in kosher salt is a restaurant tip I learned for my perfect Grilled Steak recipe! It ensures that you are using enough salt for the weight of your chicken breasts – rather than give an arbitrary amount, this means you can calculate exactly how much salt you need for the juiciest Air Fryer Chicken Breast!
Note: everyone has different tolerances and health needs – please adjust the amount of salt according to your own needs!
2. Season Chicken Breasts
In a small bowl, combine pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, rosemary and thyme. Mix together, then add the neutral oil to form a paste.
Evenly spread the spice mixture over the chicken breasts until they are fully coated.
3. Air Fry the Chicken
My #1 tip would be to avoid overcooking the chicken – different air fryers cook at different speeds, and chicken breasts vary in size, so I would monitor the chicken closely and pull it out as soon as it hits 155°F internal. Use you absolutely use a wireless probe thermometer to help track the internal temperature of the chicken while it is cooking. Add the probe thermometer to the smaller chicken breast, this way you will ensure that the chicken breasts, including the larger one, do not overcook. You can always add more time to cooking if needed – you can’t do the opposite!
Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket, rounded side down. Cook at 400°F for 8 minutes. Use an internal thermometer to check the temperature – the chicken should register ~140°F.
Flip the chicken breasts and turn the heat to 400°F. Cook for another 6 minutes until the chicken registers 155°F internal. This will help ensure the chicken is cooked evenly.
4. Rest the Chicken Before Serving
Remove chicken breasts from the air fryer basket, place on a plate and cover with foil for 10 minutes. This is important so the juices of the chicken can redistribute throughout the meat. If you skip the resting, the juices will simply flow out of the chicken after cutting them, rather than staying in the chicken!
The carryover heat will continue to cook the chicken and the thermometer should read at least 165°F. According to the USDA, chicken should be cooked to a internal temperature of 165°F to be safe to be eaten. Enjoy your Air Fryer Chicken Breast!
What Should I Serve with Air Fryer Chicken Breast?
Air Fryer Chicken Breast is a versatile protein that could be used as a ‘shortcut’ for many of your favorite meals – I love slicing it up and tossing it into dishes like Chicken Tikka Masala Chicken Lo Mein, or Chicken Fried Rice! Shred the chicken breast and add it to Chicken Corn Egg Drop Soup or Buffalo Chicken Dip!
You can also eat it as a main entree alongside sides like Crispy Smashed Potatoes, Baked Mac and Cheese, and creamy Mashed Potatoes! Don’t forget about roasted vegetables – my favorites are Roasted Green Beans with Bacon, Honey Roasted Carrots, Roasted Cauliflower and Roasted Brussels Sprouts!
PRO TIPS
Expert Tips for The BEST Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Dry Brining
- Dry brining for at least 10 minutes allows the chicken to fully absorb the salt. When chicken absorbs salt, not only does it flavor the meat but it also helps absorb extra liquid, which keeps the meat moist and juicy when cooked.
- Use 1.5% of the chicken’s weight in kosher salt (weigh the chicken in grams and multiple by .015) – this is a restaurant tip I learned! It ensures that you are using enough salt for the weight of your chicken breasts – rather than give an arbitrary amount, this means you can calculate exactly how much salt you need for the juiciest Air Fryer Chicken Breast!
Customize the Seasoning
- You can use any of your favorite herbs and seasonings for Air Fryer Chicken Breasts! I included my recommendation but feel free to adjust! Here are some more ideas:
- Add cayenne pepper for a spicy kick
- Add oregano, Italian seasoning, or herbs de provence
- Add brown sugar to add sweetness and slightly caramelize the chicken
Flip the Chicken
- For the first 8 minutes, cook the chicken at a hot and fast temperature to prevent it from drying out. Flip the chicken breast halfway – not only does this help to get a nice crust on the rounded side of the chicken for a beautiful presentation, but it also ensures that the chicken breast is cooked evenly.
Use a Thermometer
- My #1 tip to avoid overcooking your Air Fryer Chicken Breasts is to use an internal thermometer. Remove the chicken from the air fryer as soon as it hits 155°F internal. The carryover heat will continue to cook the chicken and the thermometer should read at least 165°F. According to the USDA, chicken should be cooked to a internal temperature of 165°F to be safe to be eaten.
Storage and Reheating Tips for Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Store any leftover Air Fryer Chicken Breasts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
To reheat, you can use the air fryer, microwave, or oven:
- Air fryer: reheat at 325°F for 6-8 minutes until the chicken breast is warmed through
- Microwave: reheat at 1 minute intervals until the chicken breast is warmed through
- Oven: reheat at 350°F for 10 minutes until the chicken breast is warmed through
If you tried this Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
Air Fryer Chicken Breast – SUPER JUICY!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, (about 2 breasts)
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil
- kosher salt, see note
- ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp dried rosemary
- ¼ tsp dried thyme
Instructions
- Weigh the chicken breasts to get a total weigh in grams, then multiply that number by .015 to get the weight of kosher salt you need.
- Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board and sprinkle with kosher salt evenly on both sides. Let sit for 10 minutes for the salt to infuse in the chicken breasts and the salt is no longer visible on the exterior of the chicken. Pat dry any excess moisture from the surface of the chicken breasts.
- In a small bowl, combine pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, rosemary and thyme. Mix together then add the neutral oil to form a paste.
- Evenly spread the spice mixture over the chicken breasts until they are fully coated.
- Place in the air fryer basket, rounded side down and cook at 400°F for 8 minutes (chicken should register ~140°F). Flip and turn the heat to 400°F and cook for another 6 minutes until the chicken registers 155°F internal.
- Remove and let rest on a plate and cover with foil for 5 minutes. The carryover heat will continue to cook the chicken and the thermometer should read at least 165°F.
Notes
Storage and Reheating
Store any leftover Air Fryer Chicken Breasts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
To reheat, you can use the air fryer, microwave, or oven:
- Air fryer: reheat at 325°F for 6-8 minutes until the chicken breast is warmed through
- Microwave: reheat at 1 minute intervals until the chicken breast is warmed through
- Oven: reheat at 350°F for 10 minutes until the chicken breast is warmed through
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
