Easy Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Chicken Breast is a quick, simple protein that’s easy to make in the air fryer with this Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe. It’s perfectly seasoned and ready to eat in less than 20 minutes!

Air Fryer Chicken Breast or Air Fryer Chicken Thighs have become our go-to for busy weekends, they are so versatile and easy to pair with pasta, vegetables, or as is! We cut them up and eat them as nuggets too with our favorite dipping sauce, it’s completely up to you. Air Fryer Chicken Breast will quickly be a go-to for meal prep or a busy weeknight!

The air fryer cooks the chicken breast evenly and quickly with very minimal oil. A juicy, tender chicken breast will be the result which is easy to pair with your favorite side dishes.

Can you cook raw chicken breasts in the air fryer?

Raw chicken can be prepared in the air fryer. The first thing you will want to do is coat the air fryer basket well with olive oil cooking spray.

After coating the basket, go ahead and season the chicken with salt and pepper or any seasoning that you prefer.

Once the olive oil is coated on the air fryer basket, place the chicken breast in the air fryer. 

Once it’s seasoned, coat it with an additional coat of olive oil spray, then it’s time to cook. The chicken will be cooked at 375 degrees F for about 12 minutes. It’s important to have a meat thermometer on hand as the internal temperature will need to be at least 165 degrees F to be considered done.

Tips for making Air Fryer Chicken Breast:

It’s best to cook the chicken breast for roughly 6 minutes on each side to get the most even texture throughout.

The key is that the chicken needs to be at least 165 degrees F internally, using a quick-read thermometer.  If the chicken is not at this temperature after 12 minutes, add 1-2 additional minutes of cooking time until it reaches this internal temperature.

The cooking time does vary a bit due to the heating of each air fryer being different.

One thing we really love about this cooking method when it comes to the chicken breast is that it gives a crispy outside even with using boneless, skinless chicken breast.  It resembles a rotisserie chicken, such a great choice for dinner.

After the chicken has cooked, let it rest in the air fryer for about 5 minutes to allow the juices to fully circulate throughout the chicken breast. This is important to avoid overcooked or dried-out chicken breast.

• Do NOT overcrowd the air fryer basket – be sure that there is room around the chicken for air to circulate.
• Use a meat thermometer to get the correct temperature without drying out the chicken.
• Add a variety of seasonings – try Lemon Pepper, Barbecue Seasoning, Cajun Seasoning, or More!
• Cooking time variations – thicker chicken breast may take longer than chicken thighs or thinner chicken breast, so be sure to utilize the meat thermometer and adjust the cooking time as needed.

How do you store leftovers?

Once fully cooled, store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. When reheating, place in the air fryer at 330 degrees F for 2-3 minutes.

I also like to cook chicken this way and then shred it up for soup.  Another great method is this Ninja Foodi Chicken Breast that is made using the pressure cooker function.

Air Fryer Chicken Breast is an easy way to cook a quick and delicious meal and pair it with a variety of vegetables. This chicken breast is a wonderful combination of juicy, tender meat with a crispy exterior. It can easily be sliced and served with your favorite dipping sauce!