Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
Air fryer chicken breasts make the ultimate weeknight dinner. Quick and easy to prepare, they’re packed with protein and nutrients while delivering perfectly juicy meat with a golden, crispy finish every time.
Air fryer chicken breasts are a healthy, delicious way to enjoy tender, flavorful chicken without the extra oil. Since they’re cooked with little to no added fat, they stay lower in calories while still delivering plenty of taste. A simple seasoning of salt, pepper, and your favorite herbs and spices is all you need to make them shine.
This recipe walks you through how to get perfectly juicy, well-seasoned chicken breasts right from your air fryer. Along the way, you’ll find a few easy tips for ensuring they come out just right every time.
Quick, easy, and wholesome, these air fryer chicken breasts are a weeknight favorite you’ll want to make again and again.
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Helpful
Tips
- The chicken I use is from Whole Foods Market and the breasts are large. Their cook time was 35 minutes.
- If your chicken breasts are normal- or medium-size, cook them for 25 minutes, and then check with a meat thermometer. The chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- If you are using small breasts, then check after 20 minutes. It all depends on the size of the chicken.
- Although I’m using a tray type of air fryer, this also works with the basket air fryer. You could flip the breasts in the middle of cooking, but I don’t bother.
- You can even cook the chicken in batches for weeks of meal prep. Just pack the chicken in an airtight container and either place it in the refrigerator for up to 10 days or in the freezer for up to three months.
- You could use boneless skinless chicken breasts, but you will have to check the internal temperature after 20 minutes, and you won’t get the glorious crispy skin experience.
- Here are a few ideas for leftover chicken: shred it and make tacos, or chop it up and make chicken salad for sandwiches or to dress up your green salads.
How to make air fryer chicken breasts
Pre-Step
Take out your air fryer, and get a small bowl.
Take the chicken out of the package and pat it dry with paper towels.
Step One
Gather the ingredients – bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts, garlic powder, tarragon, onion powder, smoked paprika, chipotle powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. (A)
Step Two
Add the herbs and spices to a small bowl and combine them with a whisk or a fork. (B)
Step Three
Hold one chicken breast in your hand and turn it skin-side down. Sprinkle some of the herb rub on the underside, then gently massage it in with your hand. Place the chicken skin-side up on the tray and sprinkle more of the rub over the top, rubbing it in again to coat evenly. Repeat the process with the remaining chicken breast. (C)
Step Four
Take the trays out of the air fryer and place chicken breasts on the tray if you use that type of air fryer. (D)
Or wait until the basket type has preheated.
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Step five
Preheat the air fryer oven at 370 degrees Fahrenheit and set the timer for 25 minutes.
Step Six
When the oven comes to temperature, add the tray to the bottom rung of the air fryer. If you have the basket type, add it now.
Step seven
After 25 minutes, take out the chicken and check the temperature with a digital thermometer. The breasts are done when they reach 165 F.
With larger breasts, the herbs and spices may char somewhat, but don’t worry, the chicken and skin will still be delicious!
Look at how crispy it is!
I plated some rice, bean, vegetable mixture with one of the juicy chicken breasts
Time to cut into the chicken.
I took a little bite. Mmmm. These are such flavorful chicken breasts!
I hope you enjoyed this air fryer chicken breasts recipe. We love it here in our house.
Other chicken recipes
And as always, may all your dishes be delish.
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Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 2 medium chicken breasts (unpackaged and blotted dry)
- 1.5 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon tarragon (dried)
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon chipotle powder
- 1/16 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Take the chicken out of the package and pat dry with paper towels. You want the meat to be as dry as you can get it.2 medium chicken breasts
- In a small bowl, add all the herbs and spices and mix with a fork or whisk.1.5 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon tarragon, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/8 teaspoon chipotle powder, 1/16 teaspoon black pepper
- Pick up one of the breasts and turn it over. Sprinkle the herb mixture on the underside and use your hand to rub it in. Turn the breast skin side up, sprinkle more herb mixture, and rub it in the skin and flesh. Repeat with the second breast.
- Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit and set the timer to 25 minutes. If you have the tray type of air fryer, take the trays out before you preheat. If you have the basket type, leave it in as you'll preheat it with the basket in.
- Place the chicken breasts on the tray in a single layer, without the meat touching. Once the oven beeps that it has come to temperature, you can place the tray in the lower slot. If you have the basket type, add the chicken in one layer with space between them.
- Check the internal temperature with an instant thermometer once the air fryer beeps that it's done cooking. The chicken is done when it reads between 160 – 165 F. You will let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Serve, smile, and enjoy.
Equipment
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Helpful tips
- I use large chicken breasts from Whole Foods Market, which take about 35 minutes to cook through.
- For medium-sized breasts, cook for 25 minutes, then check with a meat thermometer — the internal temperature should reach 165°F.
- If your chicken breasts are on the smaller side, start checking at 20 minutes. Cook time will vary depending on size and thickness.
- I used a tray-style air fryer, but this recipe works perfectly in a basket-style fryer If you’re using the basket type, you can flip the chicken halfway through cooking, though it’s not necessary.
- This recipe is great for meal prep! Cook multiple batches, then store the chicken in an airtight container — it’ll keep in the refrigerator for up to 10 days or in the freezer for 3 months.
- You can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but check for doneness at the 20-minute mark. Just note that you’ll miss out on the crispy skin that makes this version so irresistible.
- Have leftovers? Try shredding the chicken for tacos, chopping it for chicken salad, or adding it to green salads for an easy, protein-packed meal.
Nutrition
Originally published November of 2023.
Air fryers are such a great invention. These chicken breasts are cooked to perfection.
Thanks so much, Gloria!
This chicken was so easy to make in the air fryer and tasted amazing! This will definitely be a regular from now on!
Thanks so much, Lauren!
This is such a great way to make chicken breasts! 🙂 So good. Thank you.
Thanks so much, Carrie! I love my air fryer and use it all the time.
Used this recipe for my meal prep and it was so easy! Love the spice rub, gave the chicken so much flavor.
Thanks so much, Brianna! I appreciate your comment.
I love the seasoning, but the texture of this chicken is everything. Crispy on the outside and so moist and juice inside. Great, easy recipe. Thank you.
Thanks, Enri! It’s my go-to seasoning blend!
I love my air fried but I haven’t adventured to cook chicken breast in it until now. They were moist and delicious. The combination of spices were perfect.
Thanks so much, Silvia! I appreciate your comment.
We made these chicken breasts yesterday and they were terrific. My air fryer is new and I am still getting the hang of it. Never expected such good results with chicken. Thanks so much for the recipe and advice.
I’m so glad, Jenny. I use my air fryer all the time, and I bet you will too once you see how great it is.