Juicy Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Breast

This Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Breast is tender, super juicy, and packed with flavor. It is perfectly seasoned with tasty spices like garlic, Italian seasoning, and chili powder and can be ready in less than 20 minutes!

This chicken breast recipe will become your new go-to for a quick and easy meal. It only requires a few minutes of prep time with some simple ingredients thanks to the air fryer. 

Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Breast is perfectly cooked, juicy, well-flavored chicken every single time. This is pretty much a foolproof recipe. The trickiest part will be the cooking time based on the size of your chicken breast. Don’t worry I have provided a cooking chart for guidance at the bottom of this post. 

If you prefer breaded chicken breast then you will love this crispy air fryer chicken. 

Why you’ll love cooking chicken in the air fryer

• It is so easy to do with no oven required!
• Perfectly cooked, juicy chicken every single time!
• Great for meal prep.
• Only requires some simple ingredients and under 20 minutes to make it!
• Low-carb, Gluten-Free, Paleo, Whole30 recipe!

You can use cooked air fryer chicken breast in so many meals like chicken salad, Chicken pizza, or chicken enchiladas. 

Ingredients for Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Breast

• Boneless Chicken Breast – I used 2 (5-ounce) boneless chicken breasts.
• Olive oil – extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil.
• Seasoning – garlic powder, chili powder, Italian seasoning, parsley, salt, and pepper. 

How to cook boneless chicken breast in the air fryer

*Be sure to check out the complete list of recipe ingredients and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. Prepare the chicken – pat the chicken dry with a clean paper towel, and drizzle it with olive oil. Mix up the seasoning and rub it all over the chicken breasts.  
2. Cook. Place the seasoned chicken breast into a preheated air fryer and cook it at 360 degrees F for 9 minutes. Flip each piece over then cook for an additional 9 minutes. Per the recipe card below. 
3. Serve. Once the chicken is done cooking, remove it from the air fryer and place it onto a plate to rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing and serving. 

Recipe Tips

• Use chicken breasts that are the same size for even cooking times. 
• Season the chicken well on all sides for the best flavor. 
• Cook the chicken breast until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. 
• Let the chicken rest for at least 5 minutes before you slice and serve it. 

Cooking chicken in the air fryer

One thing to keep in mind when cooking chicken breast in the air fryer is the size of your chicken breast and the type of air fryer you are using. Since air fryers vary and so does the size of chicken breast you can buy in most grocery stores, I recommend checking the chicken as it cooks to ensure you do not overcook or undercook it.

How long to cook chicken breast in the air fryer?

This depends on the size of the chicken you are using as I mentioned above. Most chicken breasts that you can buy in the grocery store are very similar in size around 3-5ounces each, which will take around 16-18 minutes to fully cook in the air fryer.

The best way to test the doneness of chicken is to use a meat thermometer. Once the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, then it is done.

Here are some cooking times for different size chicken breasts

• 4-5 ounce chicken breasts will take 7-8 minutes per side.
• 5-6 ounce chicken breast will take around 8-9 minutes per side.
• 6-7 ounce chicken breasts will take around 9-10 minutes per side.

Recipe variations

• Switch up the spices. You can use any spice blend you like in this recipe, even taco seasoning for a juicy and delicious Chicken Taco Salad.
• Top with a yummy sauce. You can add even more excitement to this air fryer chicken by topping it with a delicious healthy sauce like this Easy 5 Minute Romesco Sauce or this 5 Minute Green Goddess Dressing.
• Brine the chicken. For even juicier chicken, you can always brine it in some seasoned warm water or pickle juice for 30 minutes or overnight. This always makes it even juicier.

Why should you cook chicken in the air fryer?

Using the air fryer to cook boneless chicken breast makes it quick and easy with less cleanup and it just comes out perfect every single time. This recipe takes less than 20 minutes to make.

The air fryer is designed as a small convection oven that has a fan to circulate heat all around the chicken as it cooks, making it one of the best appliances for cooking chicken.

What to serve with this air-fried chicken breast

This chicken pairs great with so many other recipes like this Oven Roasted Broccoli (pictured above) or these Easy Ranch Roasted Carrots or even a hearty Easy Kale Salad. All great healthy meals that you can enjoy any day of the week are all perfect for meal prepping.

Do I need to marinate or brine my chicken?

It is not necessary to marinate or brine your chicken breast in this recipe. If you want an even juicier chicken breast then go ahead and brine it in a water + salt solution or some pickle juice for at least 30 minutes. Then you want to rinse and dry the chicken breast before seasoning and cooking it.

As for marinating the chicken, that is also up to you. There are a lot of great chicken marinades you can make yourself or buy. Check out this Perfect Chicken Marinade from the Recipe Critic.

This recipe really does result in perfectly seasoned, juicy chicken, every time!

Do I need to use oil to air fry chicken breast?

You do not need to use oil but it is highly recommended since it helps the seasoning stick to the chicken and also helps create a nice crispy outer layer. Two elements of this recipe that really take it over the top. Plus I only use 1 tablespoon of olive oil in total in this recipe, which is only 50 extra calories per serving. So go for it. It is totally worth it!

Can you cook frozen chicken breast in the air fryer?

Yes, you absolutely can put raw, frozen chicken breast in the air fryer. You won’t get the exact same results but it will still come out golden and juicy. This is a great shortcut if you are short on time and forgot to thaw your chicken.

To cook frozen, raw chicken breast in the air fryer:

Dry the chicken with a clean paper towel and then rub or spray it with olive oil all over. Then season it. Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees F and spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the frozen chicken breast into the air fryer in a single layer (not overlapping or stacked) and cook it for 18-20 minutes (based on the size of your chicken breast), flipping it over halfway through the cooking time.

Storing and reheating

This easy chicken recipe is perfect for meal prepping or making it ahead. Here are some storage and heating recommendations.

• Store it in the refrigerator: Once you have fully cooked the chicken, then let it cool completely and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

• Freeze it: Let the cooked chicken fully cool then transfer it to a freezer-friendly container and keep it in the freezer for up to 2 months.

• Reheat: You can reheat this chicken breast right from the refrigerator in the air fryer at 360 degrees F for 3-4 minutes. To reheat from a frozen state, let the chicken breast thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then air fry it at 360 degrees F for 3-4 minutes.

Recommended tools for making this recipe

• Air Fryer
• Flat cutting board
• Meat thermometer

More air fryer chicken recipes to try!

• Crispy Healthy Chicken Parmesan
• 10-Minute Air Fryer Chicken and Vegetables
• Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
• Healthy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
• Simple Air Fryer Whole Chicken
• Air Fryer Chicken Sausage and Veggies
• Air Fryer BBQ Chicken

Did you try this air fryer boneless chicken breast recipe? If you did, then please leave a rating and comment below. I would love to hear how yours turned out!

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