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Make air fryer chicken breasts in 15 minutes that are juicy and flavorful, and never dry. You need only 5 ingredients! Cooking chicken breasts in the air fryer is perfect for meal prep. Easily add this chicken to a salad for lunch or enjoy it with sides like cabbage or air fryer green beans for dinner.
I make these juicy chicken breasts in the air fryer whenever I need a fast, tasty dinner. They’re coated with simple pantry seasonings and cooked until tender, perfect for slicing over a Cobb salad, shredding for chicken salad, or serving as is with a veggie side. This recipe is very customizable, so I can add a chicken marinade or change up the seasonings depending on how much time I have and the ingredients I have on hand.
Why Make Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
- 5 ingredients: That’s all you need to make flavor-packed air fryer chicken breast.
- 15 minutes: Simply season, drizzle with cooking oil, and air fry.
- Perfect for meal prep: I also make a version of this chicken breast in a cast-iron skillet. What I’ve learned is that it tastes great hot or cold. So, enjoy this chicken on top of salads, with an easy vegetable side dish, or as a high-protein snack. It’s super versatile.
Ingredients Needed
These are some quick notes and substitutions for this juicy air fryer chicken recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for the full ingredients list with exact measurements.
- Chicken Breasts: I’m using boneless, skinless chicken breasts that are thawed
- Avocado Oil: Avocado oil can withstand high cooking temperatures. If you don’t have avocado oil, feel free to use coconut oil or another cooking fat with a high smoke point, like vegetable oil.
- Italian Seasoning: You can use whichever brand you prefer. I’ve linked my favorite Primal Palate Organic Italian seasoning below because the freshness of the dried herbs and the balance of the seasoning in this particular brand are amazing. You could also use an easy poultry seasoning or rotisserie chicken spice.
- Garlic Powder, plus Salt and Pepper: Pantry staples that add flavor to the meat. If you love garlic, extra garlic powder never hurts.
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How to Make Chicken Breasts in the Air Fryer
Air fryer chicken breasts are one of my best air fryer chicken recipes for a reason. They cook in just two easy steps. I tested this recipe in my Ninja Foodi air fryer, but it works in any air fryer model.
Season the Chicken
Mix the spices and then toss them with the chicken breasts. Make sure the chicken is evenly coated.
Air Fry
Arrange the chicken inside the air fryer, drizzle with oil, and set them to cook on the “Air Crisp” setting (on the Ninja Foodi) or at 400ºF for 6-8 minutes.
Flip the chicken breasts, and cook for another 6-8 minutes, or until the chicken reaches 160ºF. Leave the chicken breasts in the air fryer with the lid closed for another 5 minutes to rest and cook to 165ºF.
Tips for Juicy Chicken
- Pre-mix the spices. This ensures that the chicken gets coated evenly. When in doubt, simply mix your spices in a small bowl or ramekin before adding them to the chicken breasts.
- Adjust the cook times. You may need to adjust the time depending on the size of your chicken breasts. I always start one side on 8 minutes, flip, then cook for 6 minutes. I add on 1-2 minutes at a time until the meat is cooked.
- Check the internal temperature. Chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165ºF at the thickest part of the breast. Use an instant-read thermometer.
- Account for resting. While chicken breast is done when it reaches 165ºF, if you cook the chicken to this temperature before resting, it may become dry by the time you slice into it. I always cook my meat 5 degrees less (160ºF), and cover it or leave it in the closed air fryer to let it finish cooking while it rests.
Quick Variations
Change up the flavors of this chicken breast recipe simply by changing the seasonings:
- Tex-Mex: Season with fajita seasoning or taco spice. It’s great if you’re making shredded chicken tacos or nachos.
- BBQ: Season the chicken breasts with BBQ seasoning and brush them with BBQ sauce in the last 1-2 minutes of cooking.
- Cajun: I love the spicy Louisiana flavor of my homemade Cajun seasoning.
- Buffalo chicken: Toss the hot, cooked chicken with your favorite Buffalo hot sauce.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Chicken Breast
One of my favorite ways to eat this juicy chicken is sliced over a bed of greens with creamy homemade Caesar dressing or blue cheese dressing, air fryer boiled eggs, and air fryer crispy bacon. I’ll also serve air fryer chicken breasts as a main protein with an easy vegetable side dish. Some of my personal favorites are:
Meal Prep and Storage
- Refrigerate. This air fryer chicken stores well in the fridge for up to 5 days. Store it airtight or portion it into meal prep containers with air fryer cauliflower. Or, use it for Buffalo chicken bowls, salads, soups, and more.
- Enjoy warm or cold. You can reheat the chicken breasts in the air fryer or microwave, or enjoy leftovers cold.
- Freeze. You can freeze the cooked and cooled chicken breasts for up to 2 months. Thaw them in the fridge before serving or reheating.
More Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipes
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Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
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Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound Chicken Breasts, about 2 large chicken breasts, patted dry
- 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Natural Ancient Sea Salt, or more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
- Avocado oil, Coconut Oil or other fat for cooking, 2 tbsp is enough
Instructions
- Mix all of the spices in a small bowl (so that they get incorporated evenly) and sprinkle them on both sides of the chicken breasts.
- Add the chicken breasts to the air fryer cooking pot and drizzle with avocado oil.
- Cook the chicken breast on "air crisp" for 6-8 minutes per side, or until the chicken breasts reach 160ºF (they'll continue to cook to 165ºF as they rest).
- Leave the chicken breasts in the air fryer and allow the meat to rest for 5 minutes before cutting.
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Nutrition Details
The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used.
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