Air Fryer Sweet and Spicy Chicken is ready in less than half an hour and perfect for meal prep! Covered with seasonings and brown sugar for a rich crust.
Chicken in the air fryer couldn't be easier, and this Air Fryer Sweet and Spicy Chicken is a great first Air Fryer recipe!
I usually make this on Sunday nights and double the recipe for a week of meal prep too!
These juicy chicken breasts go from raw to ready in less than 30 minutes and bring a wonderful bouquet of seasonings and brown sugar to your table.
You can easily adjust the spice level with the cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes in this recipe. A little goes a long way for both!
Love making chicken in the air fryer? These Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are super crisp and incredibly moist. Also amazing for meal prep!
HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER SWEET AND SPICY CHICKEN
Want to make this recipe with chicken thighs? Increase your temperature to 400 degrees F and flip them halfway through cooking.
- First, gather your spices: brown sugar, cayenne pepper, garlic salt, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, and ground pepper. Mix them together in a small bowl.
- Next, spray your chicken breasts with oil — I used avocado oil. Sprinkle your spice mixture over the chicken, trying to cover every surface evenly. Flip and repeat!
- Then, put your seasoned chicken breasts into the air fryer basket (or on your air fryer tray!), making sure to leave a little space between each breast.
- Cook your chicken at 350 degrees F (or 176 degrees C!) for about 18 minutes. Be sure to check the internal temperature!
- Divide chicken breasts between plates. Serve warm or allow chicken to cool for meal prep.
- To make this for meal prep, I like to add some Air Fryer Green Beans and Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes plus some cooked rice or quinoa.
How to Store
Cooked chicken, no matter the cut, can last up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
While cooked chicken CAN be frozen, it doesn't always work very well.
If you freeze it, I recommend slicing it first and storing in an airtight container up to 3 months.
How to Meal Prep
This recipe quickly became a staple in my meal prep rotation because it's one I can actually look forward to eating day after day!
When I make this recipe for meal prep, I like to add Air Fryer Green Beans and Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes to keep the mess in the air fryer and make a filling lunch or dinner.
Need some grains? Add a little cooked rice or quinoa!
MORE AMAZING MEAL PREP RECIPES
If you love meal prepping, you have got to check out these easy recipes: Air Fryer Butternut Squash, Crispy Orange Tofu, Air Fryer Chicken Breast, Mediterranean Hummus Bowl, Air Fryer Broccoli and Tofu Noodle Bowl
Pro Tips
- Use Any Air Fryer: This recipe can be made in an air fryer unit with a basket or an air fryer oven. If you're using an air fryer oven, place your food on the middle rack and select the "air fry" function.
- Check your food as it cooks! Since each air fryer runs differently, sometimes air frying is a trial and error process. When cooking a new recipe, be sure to check on your food often. This will help you avoid over or undercooking, and help you learn your air fryer's specific ways!
Sweet and Spicy Chicken
Equipment
- Small bowl
Ingredients
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Ground black pepper optional
- 4 chicken breasts boneless and skinless
- Oil
Instructions
- Combine all spices and brown sugar together. Mix thoroughly.
- Spray the chicken breasts with oil. Sprinkle spice mixture over the chicken breasts. Flip chicken and repeat.
- Place chicken into air fryer basket and air fry at 350 degrees F (176 degrees C) for 16 to 18 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Flip halfway through cooking.
- Slice chicken and enjoy!
Notes
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.
Wanda
I don't have an air fryer (yet) but this recipe looks so delicious I'm putting it on my Christmas wish list!
Cindy
I hope you get one for Christmas, they are so fun!
Tara
Oh yum! I love how you used the brown sugar to create a gorgeous crust on that chicken. Such wonderful flavors.
Cindy
Thank you so much 🙂
Alison
The spices and seasoning on this chicken is perfect! So easy to make using an air fryer!
Cindy
Glad you liked it!
Jersey Girl Cooks
Chicken in the air fryer is awesome!
Cindy
Agreed!
Katie
Looks so good! Can’t wait to try this one.
Cindy
Enjoy!