Forget deep frying, and make crispy, juicy, fried chicken breast in your air fryer! We’re showing you exactly how to make it, with plenty of tips and tricks to make sure your air fryer chicken comes out perfect, every time.
“I made this today and it was very tasty. Thanks!”
Quick and Healthy Fried Chicken Breast
This air fryer fried chicken breast is made with minimal oil and ready in just 15 minutes, making it a healthier, quicker alternative to traditional fried chicken.
This breaded chicken breast recipe is sure to become your new go-to for satisfying fried chicken dinners—no need for a deep fryer or a trip to the drive-through!
What’s even better is that this air fryer chicken breading technique doesn’t use any eggs, so it’s super quick to prep with just two bowls.
Serve these tender, juicy, crispy air-fried chicken breasts with mashed potatoes and cole slaw, and I guarantee you won’t hear a single complaint!
Ingredients List
- Chicken Breasts – This recipe calls for two whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in half to make 4 thinner chicken cutlets. Cutting the chicken breasts lengthwise is key to getting them to cook quickly and evenly in the air fryer.
- Olive Oil – For crispy, satisfying air fryer fried chicken, you want to use about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Mixed with seasoned breadcrumbs, olive oil gives the chicken the crunchiest coating.
- Breadcrumbs and Flour – We have found that this recipe works best with regular breadcrumbs (not panko). If you want to air fry chicken with a panko breading, try our Chicken Katsu recipe instead.
- Seasonings – Feel free to play around with the seasonings to suit your own tastes, but this blend of smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper is delicious.
- Cooking Spray – A little bit of extra oil, sprayed on the outside of the breaded chicken is key to making the best air fryer chicken breasts! I like to use avocado oil spray, but any kind of spray oil you have will work just fine.
How to make it
- Prep Chicken Breasts: Place the chicken cutlets in a bowl with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Toss to coat the chicken completely.
- Mix the Breading: Add the breadcrumbs, flour, salt, paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper to a shallow bowl or dish. Stir until combined.
- Press the oiled chicken breasts into the breadcrumb mixture, making sure both sides are covered.
- Now, place the breaded chicken in the air fryer basket, making sure that they are in a single layer and not touching. Cook in two batches if needed. Spray the top of the chicken with cooking spray.
- Air Fry at 400°F/200°C for 10-12 minutes, flipping the breasts over halfway through. Cook until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C.
- Serve immediately, topped with fresh parsley if desired.
What To Serve with Breaded Chicken Breast
Great news! ALL of your favorite side dishes will work with this simply seasoned (but delicious) air fryer chicken breast recipe! Here are some ideas to get you started (both traditionally cooked and air-fried options):
Potatoes: Ranch Mashed Potatoes, Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes, Air Fryer French Fries, or Roasted Potatoes and Brussel Sprouts.
Veggies: Cajun Fried Corn, Baked Zucchini, Air Fryer Cauliflower, Air Fryer Okra.
For Dessert, try these easy No Bake Cookie Dough Bites, or some tasty Air Fryer Monkey Bread!
Recipe Tips and Tricks for Chicken like this 🪄
- Use gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs to make this recipe gluten-free!
- Depending on the size of your chicken breasts, you may be able to slice more than two cutlets per breast. The chicken cutlets used in these photos were about 6 ounces each.
- If your cutlets are larger, You may need to cook them longer, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of each piece of chicken reads 165°F/74°C.
- Don’t try to air fry breaded chicken breasts that haven’t been sliced thinly. The breading will burn before the chicken has time to cook through.
- You will need to cook the chicken breasts in two batches to fit them in a single layer in your air fryer basket. If you’re cooking in an air fryer oven, you may have more room to work with!
- Looking for a low-carb recipe? See if you can convert this recipe for keto breaded chicken cutlets to an air fryer recipe! The breading is made with almond flour. We haven’t tested this type of breading, but as you know, the air fryer can be very forgiving when it comes to making substitutions.
Recipe FAQs
These breaded chicken breast cutlets take about 10-12 minutes to air fry at 400°F/200°C. Your chicken may take a bit longer if it’s especially thick.
This recipe uses olive oil to moisten the breadcrumb and flour mixture. Oil serves double duty as both an agent of crispiness and glue to keep the breadcrumbs stuck to the meat.
Generally, if you are following the recipe but your chicken isn’t crispy, it’s because you’ve overfilled the air fryer. Be sure to leave room between each piece of chicken so that the circulating air can do its job. Cook this recipe in two or more batches if you need to. It’s worth it!
We tested this recipe with different ratios of flour and breadcrumbs and found that a breading made from a half cup of breadcrumbs and a quarter cup of flour gave us the best crispy coating for chicken breast. All the flour was too soft, and all the breadcrumbs were too crumbly.
This recipe reheats very well in the air fryer. Simply place leftovers back in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes, or until heated through.
Keep leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
If you like breaded chicken, you’ll love our recipes for Air Fryer Boneless Wings, Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets, and homemade Air Fryer Chicken Tenders.
In the mood for wings? Try our recipe for perfect Air Fryer Chicken Wings, or enjoy some variety with Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings and Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings.
We have lots of ways to cook chicken breast in the air fryer too. Make Sticky Ginger Chicken, Air Fryer Smoky Chicken, Orange Chicken in the Air Fryer, or Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas. Stick with me and you’ll never run out of ways to cook chicken again!
Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Breast
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts sliced in half lengthwise to create 4 cutlets
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- cooking spray
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley finely chopped
Instructions
- Place the chicken breast cutlets in a bowl. Pour the olive oil over the chicken and toss to cover completely.
- Add the breadcrumbs, flour, salt, paprika, garlic powder and black pepper in a shallow bowl or baking dish. Stir until combined.
- Press the chicken breasts into the bread crumb mixture, making sure both sides are covered.
- Place the chicken in the air fryer basket, making sure they are spaced apart. Cook in batches if need be. Spray with cooking spray.
- Air fry at 400°F/200°C for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C.
- Top with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Use gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs to make this recipe gluten-free!
- Depending on the size of your chicken breasts, you may be able to slice more than two cutlets per breast. The chicken cutlets used in these photos were about 6 ounces each.
- If your cutlets are larger, You may need to cook them longer, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of each piece of chicken reads 165°F/74°C.
- Don’t try to air fry breaded chicken breasts that haven’t been sliced thinly. The breading will burn before the chicken has time to cook through.
- You will need to cook the chicken breasts in two batches to fit them in a single layer in your air fryer basket. If you’re cooking in an air fryer oven, you may have more room to work with!
I made this today and it was very tasty. Thanks!
Awesome! Glad you liked it Sandy and thanks for the love!