Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe

This air fryer chicken breast is so simple, incredibly tender, and unbelievably juicy, all without splattering grease or heating up the oven. The air fryer is one of our favorite tabletop appliances, making foods like air fryer salmon, crab rangoon, and chicken tenders easy and fun to get on the table.

With a simple seasoning mixture of garlic and onion powder, smoked paprika, cumin, and salt and pepper, these chicken breasts are incredibly flavorful and take less than 10 minutes to cook through. While you can eat these as an entree for a busy weeknight meal, we recommend making this chicken breast and using it to make a chicken caesar salad, chopped up and used in wraps, or over cherry tomato pasta.

How to Make the BEST Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Ingredients

Process

1. Combine garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, cumin, and black pepper in a small bowl.

2. Sprinkle both sides of each chicken breast with the seasoning mixture.

3. Generously spray each chicken breast with the cooking spray on both sides and place it into the air fryer basket. Preheat the air fryer to 375˚F (if preheating is needed). Air fry the chicken breasts for 6 minutes. Flip and continue to air fry for an additional 4 to 6 minutes. Remove the chicken from the air fryer and transfer it to a cutting board. Allow the breasts to rest for 6 to 8 minutes before slicing and serving.

Why We Love Air Fryer Chicken Breast

• It takes only 15 minutes to make from start to finish, making these perfect for any weeknight lunch or dinner.
• Air frying helps seal the juices inside the breast for incredibly juicy and tender meat every time.
• You don’t have to worry about grease splatter from pan frying or the house heating up from baking in the oven.
• The flavor is super easy to customize. We used a basic smoky and savory seasoning, but you can season this chicken any way you’d like!

Is it Necessary to Brine the Chicken Breasts?

Brining is a method of soaking your chicken in a solution of water and salt. This can help increase the tenderness, juiciness, and flavor of chicken when it’s baked, and can otherwise dry out.

While you’re welcome to brine your chicken breast before air frying, we find that this method creates tender and juicy chicken even without a brine!

Flavoring and Seasoning Variations

We love the simple, slightly smoky, slightly savory seasoning in this recipe, but there are countless ways you can flavor this air-fried chicken and as many ways to use it!

• Slather it in buffalo sauce and use it for wraps, sandwiches, or shredded into a buffalo chicken dip.
• Toss it in our Sweet and Tangy BBQ Sauce.
• Marinade the chicken overnight in Italian or Greek dressing.
• Coat it in Fajita Seasoning.
• Sprinkle with cajun seasoning for more spice.
• Marinade it in Teriyaki Sauce.

How to Store and Reheat Chicken Breast

Let the cooked chicken cool and place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. You can also dice and freeze cooked chicken breast by placing in a freezer-safe container for up to three months.

To reheat your chicken breast without drying it out, preheat the oven to 300˚F and add a small amount of water to a shallow baking dish. Place the chicken in the dish and cover. Bake for 5-10 minutes, or until the chicken is heated through.

Our Favorite Dishes to Serve with Air Fryer Chicken Breast

For a complete meal, try serving this juicy chicken breast with these amazing sides:

• Smashed Potatoes
• Roasted Cauliflower
• Elote Baked Mac and Cheese
• Roasted Green Beans
• Caesar Salad
• Cacio e Pepe
• Vodka Sauce and noodles
• Mashed Potatoes
• Baked Asparagus Fries
• Grilled Avocado and Gem Salad

More Air Fryer Recipes You Will Love