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Simple Air Fryer Chicken Breast is anything but boring when you know how to cook it. Here’s a basic but brilliant recipe that gets you succulent, delicious, perfectly cooked chicken, every time!
This is the very recipe that air fryers were made for. Basics made brilliant.
But when I first cooked chicken breasts in the air fryer, they were a bit boring and quite dry, so I made it my mission to come up with a go-to recipe that was PERFECT.
I tested this Air Fryer Chicken Breast recipe about 20 times (I kid you not!). Follow my guide here for getting perfect chicken breasts, every time!
Why you’ll love this Air Fryer Chicken Breast recipe
⭐️ Super quick, super simple
⭐️ A few basic ingredients for big results
⭐️ Deliciously tender chicken
Sarah’s Notes
When testing this recipe, I looked at so many others and found that many used brown sugar (credit to The Cookie Rookie, Well Plated by Erin and Munchy Goddess!).
This adds a caramelisation which is tricky to get in the air fryer (especially in such a short cooking time) and especially when cooking chicken. It also adds colour and a delicious depth of flavour.
Air Fryer Chicken Breast Ingredients
- Chicken breasts – Cut them in half horizontally (so you end up with very thin fillets from each piece of chicken)
- For the coating – Paprika, dark brown sugar, garlic powder, oregano, salt
How to make Chicken Breasts in an air fryer
1. Preheat your air fryer to 200C, the starting slicing your chicken breasts in half horizontally (making about 2 pieces per breast).
2. Mix the coating in a bowl and cover the chicken well in it.
3. Spray the air fryer basket with oil and place the chicken fillets in a single layer inside.
4. Cook as per the recipe below, turning half way.
Full chicken breasts vs thin chicken cutlets
We’ve tested this recipe SO many times using chicken breasts as they come from the pack and also slicing them in half lengthways. Here’s why I suggest making them thinner:
⭐️ The ratio of tasty outside coating to tender inside meat is so much better.
⭐️ They cook super quickly.
Of course, you can leave them whole if you prefer though. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Leftovers
In the fridge You can make a batch of chicken that you can use for up to 3 days. Slice up for sandwiches, salads or in other recipes.
You can enjoy the chicken cold or reheated (until it’s piping hot) – just add a tiny bit of water over your chicken before reheating to rehydrate it a little.
In the freezer You could cook and freeze these if you like (as long as they haven’t already been frozen), but they will be a little dry after being defrosted and not as good as when fresh.
SErve this with…
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EASY Greek Salad Recipe
How do I know they are cooked?
The cooking time for air fryer chicken breasts will depend on the size and shape of your chicken breasts, and whether you slice them thinly, as per the recipe.
If in doubt, check your meat thermometer to make sure it is cooked through.
The ideal cooking temperature for chicken is 74°C, according to Thermapen – my go-to thermometer-makers. There’s also more cooking time information here.
More Air Fryer Recipes…
FAQs
This will depend on the size of your air fryer. You can cook as many slices can fit in one layer, touching is fine but make sure they’re not overcrowded.
No – while I do spray the air fryer to reduce sticking, there is no need for oil on the actual chicken.
I have tested with and without, and oil makes the coating slip off and doesn’t add much in the way of texture. It’s tender enough without.
I recommend turning. Just turn once half way through for best results.
The one in these photos is a Russell Hobbs XXL one.
I’ve tested 3 air fryers now, and while I’m not saying that this one is THE BEST EVER, I’m really happy with it. It’s easy to fit in the dishwasher, not too expensive and has a basket large enough for 4 people.
Yes! As well as adding to the flavour, it’s also fantastic for caramelising the coating, which creates a delicious crusty outer edge while keeping the inside moist (sorry!) – something we’d struggle to get otherwise as we’re cooking it quickly.
It also helps the rest of the coating ingredients to stick to the meat.
Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below.
Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).
Basic Air Fryer Chicken Breast {Perfect Every Time!}
Ingredients
- 650 g Chicken breast (approx x4), Cut in half lengthways (so you end up with 2 very thin fillets from each piece of chicken)
For the coating:
- 6 tsp Paprika
- 6 tsp Dark brown sugar
- 4 tsp Garlic powder
- 3 tsp Oregano
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Pepper
Instructions
- While you’re prepping the chicken, put the air fryer on to preheat at 200C.
- Slice the chicken breasts in half lengthways (so you end up with 2 very thin fillets per breast).
- Mix the coating and cover the breasts in it.
- Spray the air fryer basket with oil. Place in a single layer and cook for 10-15 minutes until cooked through. Turn over halfway.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Best I’ve tried!