Air Fryer Chicken Breast is the fastest way to prepare incredible, juicy chicken breasts! Forget the oven - your air fryer will have this mouthwatering chicken on your table in only 20 minutes!
Air Fryer Chicken Breast is a healthy and delicious dish that is seasoned to perfection!
The savory outer coating complements the juicy and tender chicken so well, you'll love cooking chicken in your air fryer!
This easy air fryer chicken recipe pairs perfectly with fresh greens and rice, or a flavorful Roasted Red Pepper Risotto.
Ingredients needed for Air Fryer Chicken Breast
You won't believe how easy it is to make the perfect juicy chicken breast!
Here's what you'll need for this recipe:
- Cornstarch
- Garlic Powder
- Paprika
- Oregano
- Boneless chicken breasts
- Oil
How to cook chicken in an air fryer
- Start by trimming off unwanted pieces from your chicken breasts. Simply snip excess fat, skin, and cartilage off using a good pair of kitchen shears and discard.
- Combine the cornstarch and spices together in a shallow bowl.
- Coat the chicken evenly with the spice and cornstarch mixture.
- Line your air fryer basket with foil or parchment, and place the seasoned chicken breasts on top.
- Cook the chicken in your air fryer for 16-18 minutes at 350 degrees. Flip the chicken halfway through the cooking time to ensure that it cooks thoroughly.
- Let the chicken breasts rest for 5 minutes, then slice, plate, and dig in!
How do I know when chicken is done?
It is super important to take food safety measures when cooking chicken!
Undercooked chicken can harbor bacteria and cause illnesses, so it's imperative that you cook your chicken to the right temperature!
While it may be tempting to eyeball it, I recommend playing it safe and using a meat thermometer.
Chicken should reach a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F at the thickest part of the cutlet.
Is Air Fried Chicken Healthy?
Because air frying uses very little, if any, cooking oil, it adds only a minimal amount of additional fat when cooking.
Traditionally fried foods are immersed in oil, and it can often be difficult to drain off the excess.
Air frying eliminates a significant amount of the extra fat and calorie content that traditional frying adds, so it's considered a much more desirable cooking method.
There are a few other ways to reduce excess fat and calorie content when air frying chicken breasts.
Consider using boneless, skinless chicken breasts, as directed in this recipe.
Sugary glazes can be swapped for flavorful seasoning mixes as well.
What you're left with is juicy, filling chicken that is packed with protein and so good for you!
Want more main dish recipes? Check out these air fryer eats!
Pin this air fryer chicken breast recipe for later
PRO TIP: When cooking meat it is extremely important that you measure the internal temperature to make sure your meat has been cooked to completion.
I highly recommend that you get a meat thermometer to keep handy when cooking in your air fryer!
Looking for purchase an air fryer? Wondering which air fryer is right for you?
Here are my TOP picks of air fryers on the market today!
Pro Tip: This recipe can be made in the air fryer unit with a basket or the air fryer oven.
If you are using the air fryer oven, use the middle rack and select the "Air Fry" function.
Meat Air Fryer Resources - We have a Meat/Veg Air Fryer Newsletter, which you can subscribe to here. We also have several Air Fryer Facebook Groups that you can join (see below for links).
Vegetarian Air Fryer Resources – We have a vegetarian air fryer newsletter, which you can subscribe to here. We also have a specific vegetarian air fryer recipes group on facebook.
If you are looking for vegetarian recipes beyond air fryer ones, we have a Vegetarian Newsletter as well as a Vegetarian Recipes facebook group. This newsletter and FB group offers up recipes that on the stove, in the oven, on the grill, in the instant pot and more!
Have you made this recipe? Please leave a comment AND rating below! It helps other readers!
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Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 1.5 tbsp cornstarch
- 1.5 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1.5 tsp dried oregano
- 4 chicken breasts boneless
- oil
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken breasts by trimming off any excess fat and unwanted pieces.
- Mix the spices and cornstarch together in a bowl.
- Coat the chicken breasts with oil or cooking spray.
- Sprinkle the spice & cornstarch mixture on the chicken.
- Place a piece of parchment or foil in the bottom of your air fryer basket. Place the chicken on top of that.
- Air fry the chicken for 16-18 minutes at 350 degrees F, flipping the chicken breasts halfway through. Cook until the internal temperature in the thickest part of the chicken reaches a minimum of 165 degrees F.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing & plating.
Video
Notes
- Each air fryer will run a bit different. Temps and time may vary.
- Make sure that your chicken is cooked through. It must be 165 degrees F at the thickest part.
- The chicken breasts I used in this recipe were 1 inch thick.
Nutrition
Air Fryers can vary greatly. Please take the time to learn your specific air fryer. You may need to adjust times and temperatures based upon your air fryer. All though this website attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, the information should only be considered an estimate. Varying factors such as different product types, different brands, etc. can change nutritional information. It is your responsibility as a consumer to read all labels to make sure the ingredients fit your dietary needs as well as calculate your own nutritional information as a double check.
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Vegetarian Air Fryer Bundle - Click here
Teach me about air fryers
Still wondering about your air fryer? Are you wanting to learn more about air frying? I highly suggest you check out our "Start Here" page to get more information!
Let's talk! Drop me a comment below and let me know if you have cooked chicken in your air fryer? Have you tried my air fryer chicken recipe? Let me know how it tasted!
Veena Azmanov
Air Fryer Chicken Breast sound like a very healthy version. This chicken look flavorful and easy to make too.
Cindy
Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out our Air Fryer Chicken Breast! The air fryer is a wonderful way to cook chicken breast. It is super easy to make and the chicken is juicy and tender!
Deb
This is one of the few recipes I hadn’t tried on this site yet. I saw a comment in my Seniors Air Fryer Group that was labeling this recipe in a negative way. I knew I needed to try it to set the record straight (I love this site) and maybe I could help to problem solve for the person. Well I made it. It turned out great. I had zero problem. The chicken was moist and juicy. I used a meat thermometer. Unsure what the lady did in this FB group but when I made it, it turned out GREAT!
Thank you to this site for all the hard work they put in. I know it’s not easy. I know sometimes it’s hard. Please keep doing what you are doing!
Cindy
Thanks Deb, that is so kind. Yes, I saw that comment. I am not sure what happened to be honest. Each air fryer runs a bit different. I am unsure. I am so glad it worked out for you and others who have tried it!
Dannii
We always make chicken breast in our air fryer. It's so juicy.
Cindy
So glad you already know about how wondering chicken in the air fryer is! Who would have thought Air Fryer Chicken would be so easy to make!?
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
That chicken breast looks so tender, delicious and flavourful. I love cooking chicken breasts in the air fryer.
Cindy
Yes, I love making chicken in the air fryer as well. It does make the chicken so tender!
Julie
Love my air fryer! Everything I have made in mine has turned out great! Chicken is really easy!
Thanks for sharing!
Cindy
You are so welcome! So glad you loved our air fryer chicken breast. I agree that chicken is so easy in the air fryer!
Alison
Healthy and delicious, and the seasoning is perfect!
Cindy
Thank you so much Alison! So glad you were able to try our air fryer chicken this week! The seasoning is so simple, yet so amazing!
annie
Ohh I have all the ingredients I'm going to try it tonight!
Cindy
Fantastic! Be sure to come back and let us know how your air fryer chicken breast turned out!
Zhanna
What did you use as a liner for meat? Is it butcher paper? Or special lining?
Cindy
Hello Zhanna! I switch between parchment paper and foil 🙂 . These work great on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SE8PRh
Sarah
This chicken breast recipe was the first thing that I cooked in my air fryer. I gave it five stars because it was so moist and absolutely delicious.
Cindy
Thanks Sarah, we are SO glad you loved our Air Fryer Chicken Breast!
Cinnamon
Perfect taste and texture. Simple.
Cindy
Yay, thank you for coming back and letting us know how your air fryer chicken turned out! Glad you loved it!
Diane McChesney
Made great chicken sandwiches! Will definitely use this one again.
Cindy
Hi Diane! Thanks for coming back and leaving a comment after you've tried this air fryer chicken breast recipe! So glad to hear you liked them and they made good chicken sandwiches!
James E. Steele Sr.
I used this recipe yesterday to air fry my chicken & also did a batch of mushrooms using another one of your recipes. Both my chicken & mushrooms are so very hard to quit nibbling on, nummy to my tummy! Today I'll be doing a batch of jalapenos! So many recipes, so little time....
Jim Steele, Sr.
Cindy
You are on a roll Jim! So glad you loved this air fryer chicken breast recipe! We love it too! Mushrooms are delish in the air fryer as well and I do have to say jalapenos in the AF are so YUMMM!
Rachel Bess
Absolutely delicious!!
My air fryer has yet to disappoint me!
This turned out so good & juicy. I seasoned my chicken breast & lightly sprayed them with olive oil cooking spray, Rice w gandules & potato salad on the side.
I will never put chicken breast in the oven or frying pan again.
Cindy
Rachel, you are making me hungry with your description!! YUMMMMO what delicious side dishes! So glad you loved this air fryer chicken breast recipe! WE love it too! Thanks for coming back and letting us know!
Sydney Frailey
Every time I make this recipe they breasts come out moist and never dry. I try to make chicken in the air fryer because it doesn't heat the house like the oven does and when I am not making chicken tenders this is my go-to for breasts.
I love this recipe because you can always customize it and add your favorite seasons too.
Cindy
Hi Sydney, I agree, I love making food in the air fryer because it doesn't heat up the house. Especially with the temps being so hot lately! Thank you for letting us know you loved the air fryer chicken breast. It is great to be able to customize with spices!
Chris Smith
WOW thanks to you guys
The recipe are real
Much love from air fry
Cindy
Thank you Chris! Thanks for being such a big fan of our site!
Chris Smith
Best recipes from airfryers
Cindy
Thank you Chris! Thanks for being such a big fan of our site!
betty
I really made this
Thanks guys
Without you I wouldn’t have learn that ❤️
Cindy
Hello Betty! So glad you made it and enjoyed it! I appreciate your support! Thanks for coming back and letting us know how it turned out! We are happy to help you in your air fryer journey!
Cheryl
Made a boneless chicken breast. Best ever! Cooked well on outside and inside was moist and tender. Thank you for the recipe.
Cindy
Hi Cheryl! Thank you so much! I am so glad you came back to let us know. It is very helpful for other readers! So glad it was cooked well on the outside and inside too!
Jamie
We made these for dinner last night and I had to come back today to tell you how delicious they were!!
Cindy
So glad you came back to tell us, glad you liked it!
Betty
These turned out great! Thank you for making it easy!
Cindy
Hi Betty, you are welcome!