A simple method for how to make juicy, super tender, and wonderfully delicious chicken breasts in the Air Fryer! This basic Air Fryer chicken breast recipe is quick, healthy, and can be prepped ahead of time.
Quick Chicken Breast Recipe
This Air Fryer Chicken Breast recipe is your key to easy, effortless preparation for a delightful dinner or to creating versatile components for salads and sandwiches throughout the week.
The secret to achieving mouthwateringly tender and juicy chicken in this recipe is ➡️ BRINING!
Despite chicken breasts’ tendency to dry out, brining, combined with the use of an Air Fryer, ensures you can consistently attain wonderfully moist chicken breasts with minimal effort. The swift cooking time promotes tenderness, while the brine guarantees a juicy and flavorful outcome.
If the Air Fryer isn’t your preference, check out my highly sought-after recipe for Oven Baked Chicken Breasts.
How To Air Fry Chicken Breasts
The simple method goes a little like this: brine, rub, cook, rest.
- Create a brine by mixing 1/4 cup salt with 4 cups warm water. Soak chicken breasts in it for 20 minutes. They can be brined for up to 6 hours in the fridge, but avoid over-soaking thin pieces. Frozen chicken can be brined for up to 2 hours or until thawed.
- After brining, rinse and pat dry the chicken.
- Next, spray the chicken breasts lightly with cooking oil. Mix a bit of salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, dried oregano, or other seasonings of choice in a small bowl and rub onto the chicken.
- Place 2 to 3 chicken breasts in the air fryer and cook at 375˚F for 10 minutes, flip, and cook for another 6 to 8 minutes until done (165˚F internal temperature). Check the temperature of the chicken a few minutes early to ensure it doesn’t overcook.
- Let rest for 8-10 minutes before serving.
How To Cook Frozen Chicken Breasts in the Air Fryer
- Preheat Air Fryer to 390˚F.
- Season chicken breasts and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping over halfway through cooking. Chicken is done when the internal temperature registers at 165˚F.
Tips for Success
- Do not overcrowd the Air Fryer, and do not stack the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket. Make sure each piece of chicken has enough space around it for the hot air to circulate.
- Flip the chicken halfway through to cook the chicken evenly and get a crispy texture on both sides.
- Check the internal temperature: Use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the chicken is fully cooked. The safe internal temperature for cooked chicken is 165°F.
- Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes after air frying to ensure a juicy result.
- Prior to cooking, season it well with basic or diverse spices.
- A light oil spray can enhance the chicken’s crispy texture and golden appearance, a key benefit of air frying.
What To Serve with Chicken
- Oven Roasted Asparagus
- Easy Oven Roasted Vegetables
- Tomato Avocado Corn Salad
- Maple Mustard Roasted Potatoes
- Honey Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots
- Instant Pot Mashed Cauliflower
- Creamed Spinach
ENJOY!
Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Ingredients
- 4 cups warm water
- ¼ cup kosher salt
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- olive oil cooking spray, you can also use butter cooking spray OR avocado oil spray
- ¼ teaspoon salt, OPTIONAL – keep in mind that the chicken will have absorbed some of the salt from the salted water.
- fresh ground black pepper, to taste
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano, or any other dried herbs that you want to use
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts in a large bowl.
- In a mixing bowl or a large measuring cup, combine warm water and salt; stir, then pour over the chicken breasts. Set aside for 20 to 30 minutes. You can also cover the bowl and refrigerate for up to 6 hours.
- In the meantime, stir together the salt (optional), ground black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and oregano.
- Take each chicken breast out of the brine and rinse under cold water; pat dry with paper towels.
- Spray chicken breasts with cooking oil on all sides.
- Sprinkle the seasoning blend evenly over the chicken breasts and rub in on all sides.
- Place 2 to 3 chicken breasts in the air fryer basket. Leave enough space between the breasts to ensure even cooking.
- Cook at 375˚F for 10 minutes.
- Using tongs, flip the chicken over and continue to cook for 6 to 8 more minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness.
- Remove chicken breasts from the air fryer basket and let rest on a cutting board for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Air fryers and cook times may vary depending on the size of the chicken breasts.
- Always use an Instant Read Meat Thermometer to make sure your chicken is cooked all the way through.
- DO NOT OVERCROWD the Air Fryer basket. If you stuff the air fryer, the food will steam rather than roast or crisp up.
- Always turn your food or shake the basket to ensure even cooking.
- Store cooked chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
My husband called it excellent! It really was tender and no need for extra salt.
Would this work the same way using chicken tenders? Obviously I would decrease the cooking time, but I’m wondering if I should reduce the salt for the brine?
Delicious, flavorful, juicy, and tender! Definitely a keeper!
I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
This was very good. My husband loved it. Thank you for recipe.
This was easy peasy, quick and delicious!! Followed the recipe exactly and it was perfect!! Thank you for sharing!!
That’s great! I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
This is quite possibly the most exquisite chicken breast I have ever eaten in my life, no lie! I’m never making chicken any other way.
That’s great to hear! I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Thank you. Looking fforward to trying your other recipes
I hope you enjoy them! Thank YOU! 🙂
Hello, should a thick and/or uneven chicken breast be flattened with a meat mallet to ensure even a Cooking? Thanks
I see you use parchment paper. I didn’t realize you could do that. Could you explain that? I’m also new to this and I have a split breast with bone. Would you recommend I remove the bone? Thank you.
HI!
Yep, I do use parchment paper, but these parchment liners are specifically for Air Fryers and I get them from Amazon (affiliate link) https://amzn.to/2z7LYb8 😊
And, yes, do remove the bone, or if you decide to keep it, note that the chicken will take a bit longer to cook through.
Thank you for your reply! It came out really well. The whole breast off the bone took about 22 minutes at 375. But it was big. I paired it with my favorite fresh cranberry relish that I make with a shallot, white wine vinegar, sugar substitute, rosemary and a little grated orange or in this case skipping the orange and rosemary for cilantro and jalapeño! Cheers
Made this recipe and it was so delicious! Thank you for sharing!!
I am very happy you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Thank you so much for this delicious ,easy recipe. I was looking for a new chicken breast recipe.
I hope you enjoy it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Followed the instructions for air fryer but needed to almost double the time for it to be fully cooked
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!!!! It was good, but I think was a little salty for me, and I only added the salt during brining and a little less than 1/4 cup. It is still a keeper recipe. Do you think if I butterflied the chicken and decrease the salt during brining, will that help with the less saltiness and gives the chicken more crispy?
Would you keep everything the same if you were using the air fryer oven? Do you still want to flip the chicken?
Hi!
Yep, I’d suggest to flip the chicken for even cooking.
Great recipe! full of favor and no need for extra salt the brining takes care of that. Made it and whole family enjoyed it.
Thanks for sharing. Such a great variety.
This was such a flavorful dish; easily a new family favorite recipe! Delicious!
Another great recipe for my air fryer! I know what I am making for dinner tonight! This looks amazing!
The perfect chicken breast! Can be used in so many recipes!!
I never thought of using my air fryer for cooking chicken! Can’t wait to try this out. It looks so tender and juicy.
This will be a new favorite in our house! I will make it soon!
Can’t wait to try preparing chicken this way!
This chicken looks absolutely fantastic! A must-have indeed
Everyone is crazy about thier air fryer. This looks like the perfect way to make chicken in it. So easy!
I have cardiac issues and have to watch my sodium intake. Is there a way to make this recipe without salt?
This looks so tasty! I can’t wait to try it.
This recipe is a winner! Everyone loved this delicious chicken!
So dang delicious! This is one I could eat every night!
I love my air fryer and this chicken! Yum!