How To Cook Chicken Breast In Air Fryer

The simplicity of air-frying chicken breast comes from its simple ingredients. Here is everything you need to cook chicken breast in an air fryer:

• Chicken Breast: Any store-bought chicken breast works fine. A key thing that determines the success of your dish is to find one that is of appropriate size. An ideal chicken breast would be 7 ounces. Larger size might affect the cooking time.
• Olive Oil: This is where air-frying stands out. All you need is a few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to brush on the chicken breast. The seasoning stick to the breast better because of this and the outside of the breast also becomes slightly crispy.
• Seasoning: Feel free to get creative with the spices. We use a simple mix of paprika, salt, black pepper, chili flakes, garlic powder and dried thyme. But you can experiment and add other options like cumin, oregano and even dried parsley.

Frozen Chicken Tip:

If you're starting with frozen chicken breasts, follow these steps:

• Defrosting: Transfer the frozen chicken to the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight. If you're short on time, allow at least 4 to 5 hours for defrosting.
• Temperature adjustment: After defrosting, let the chicken sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes before applying the seasoning. This helps the chicken cook more evenly.

Now that you have your ingredients ready to go, let’s get cooking! Follow this simple guide to make the best chicken breast in an air fryer:

1. Flatten The Breast

Thick chicken breasts are not the way to go. They become dry and take longer to cook. Instead, make them flat so they cook even throughout.

You can do this by one of two methods. Either, pound the chicken breast to flatten it. Or, simply slice the chicken breast into smaller flat pieces. Do not chop the chicken into bite-size pieces. Simply, slice and even out the size throughout.

2. Season

Once your chicken breast and nice and flat, its time to season. Start by applying olive oil throughout the chicken surface with a brush or just your hand. Sprinkle the seasoning.

Following the seasoning with the oil helps it stick to the chicken piece.

Use your hands to rub in the spices. This makes sure that every piece is properly seasoned and ready to be cooked.

3. Air Fry

Take your seasoned chicken pieces and place them in the air fry in a simple layer. Maintain some distance between the chicken breasts if you are looking for some browning.

Air fry the chicken for 10 minutes at 375°F. Then flip the chicken breast and cook for an additional 3 minutes. It might take longer if the breasts are thicker.

4. Serve

Let the chicken rest once its done cooking. This step is crucial because as the chicken cools down, the moisture inside gets locked. As a result, you have juicy and flavorful chicken breasts every time.

To serve, either transfer the entire breast onto the plate with some roasted veggies or slice it into smaller pieces and serve with some dips and sauces.

The best way to tell when your chicken breast is done cooking is by checking its internal temperature. When the internal temperature reaches 165°F, take your chicken out of the air fryer basket.

Use a meat thermometer to measure the temperature for the best results. Another important thing to remember is that the cooking time doesn’t increase if you cook two chicken breasts instead of one.

The total cooking time for chicken breast also differs based on its size.

• 6 to 7-ounce chicken breasts: 10 to 11 minutes
• 8 to 9-ounce chicken breasts: 11 to 12 minutes
• 10-ounce or larger chicken breasts:13 to 14 minutes

Since air frying is fairly easy to maneuver, you can also check the consistency of your chicken as it cooks. Look for certain signs like browning and crisp edges.

• Maintain an even thickness: Chicken breast has a thicker and thinner end. This difference in thickness might affect the cooking time for the breast. So always maintain an even thickness. You can achieve this by either pounding the chicken or simply slicing it into even flat slices.
• Avoid overcrowding: Cook one or two slices of chicken breast at a time. Maintain some space between the slices to allow even cooking. Hot air can pass through the chicken and cook it evenly.
• Don’t preheat your air fryer: Preheating is required when you want a crispy outside. It works while cooking chicken wings or even fried chicken. For the chicken breast, the high temperature might make the outside of the chicken dry.

To store: Leftover chicken breast will be kept in the fridge for a week. Make sure to cool the chicken completely before storing it. Transfer it to an air-tight container and keep it in the fridge.

To freeze: If the leftover chicken is in bulk, cut it into smaller pieces and freeze them for later. This way, the chicken can be kept for almost a month. Storing the smaller pieces of chicken is also helpful during the reheating process.

To reheat: if you’ve ever reheated chicken breast, you must know how it can be bland and dry. A useful tip is to add some water on top of the chicken breast. Place it in a microwave-safe container with the lid on and microwave for a few minutes.

The steam developed in the container helps reheat the chicken breast without drying it.

Once your air fryer chicken breast is cooked, it is now time to serve. Some of the famous ways through which this dish is brought forth include:

1. Salad: Just like in grilled chicken, air fryer chicken breast tends to be versatile. It is healthier than other types of chicken breasts; hence, it can be a perfect addition to salads. Opt for something with high fiber and a lot of greenies.

2. Pizza: Place air fryer chicken breast on top of your favorite pizza. Slice the breast into smaller pieces and place them as toppings on your pizza.

3. Sandwich: Use air fryer chicken in sandwiches and wraps. It makes for a healthier alternative to eating a fried chicken sandwich.

4. Pasta: Serve the chicken with some low-carb pasta, or slice and add pieces of chicken to the pasta itself.

5. Stir Fry: Take small cut pieces of chicken and cook them up with veggies such as carrots, lettuce, and green beans to make a stir fry. Pair this with plain white rice on the side.