Air Fryer Chicken Breast
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Published Jan 08, 2024, Updated Dec 10, 2024
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This air fryer chicken breast recipe is easy to make, flavorful and results in perfectly tender and moist chicken every time. It makes for a simple and healthy dinner option and is perfect for meal prep.
Sometimes, deciding what to make for dinner feels like more of a chore than the actual cooking. That’s where this air fryer chicken breast recipe comes in. It’s super easy to whip up with pantry staples and works perfectly when you’re short on time. Plus, it’s incredibly versatile—you can use it in so many different ways!
Isaac and I make this all the time, especially on busy nights when we need something quick and dependable. The chicken turns out juicy and flavorful every time, and it’s great paired with simple sides like air fryer sweet potato fries or tossed into my kale caesar salad for a healthy meal. Trust me, you’ll find yourself coming back to this recipe again and again!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Delicious – This recipe guarantees tender, moist chicken every time. No dry chicken here!
- Easy – You only need minimal, pantry staple ingredients and it cooks up quickly.
- Meal prep – Whip up a batch to use in salads, wraps, or alongside veggies for easy meals throughout the week.
- Versatile – It’s a versatile recipe that can be customized to your liking!
// ★★★★★ REVIEW //
“Holy moly I cannot believe how good and easy this was. I love my air fryer and this recipe is just fantastic. The chicken came out so tasty and juicy! Great for meal prepping or just to have on hand.” – Emma
Ingredients Needed
You only need 8 simple pantry staple ingredients (half of which are seasonings) for this air fryer chicken breast recipe. I bet you already have everything in your kitchen!
- chicken breasts – this recipe is perfect for 2 chicken breasts, about 8 ounces each. I prefer boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe, I haven’t tried bone in chicken or chicken thighs but if you try either, let me know how it comes out in the comments!
- olive oil – helps to keep the chicken from sticking to the air fryer basket and helps the seasonings adhere to the chicken.
- apple cider vinegar – this helps tenderize the meat and gives it a great flavor.
- dijon mustard – pairs nicely with the apple cider vinegar and imparts a delicious flavor.
- seasonings – garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and black pepper. Feel free to customize this recipe with different spices. Paprika, chili powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, etc. are all great options.
Recipe Variations
- Want to switch up the marinade? Try this chicken marinade instead!
- Want to use thinly sliced chicken breasts? Try this air fryer chicken cutlets recipe instead!
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Breast
This recipe is such an easy way to cook chicken. There’s no marinating overnight, no breading and no complicated steps. Just coat your chicken breast in a simple marinade and air fry. Here’s how to make it:
Step 1: Whisk together oil, apple cider vinegar, and dijon mustard for the marinade. Rub chicken with seasoning blend and coat with marinade.
Step 2: Cook chicken for 18-22 minutes, flipping halfway. Check that the internal temperature reaches 165ºF, then let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Brittany’s Tips
- Size matters: Look for a package that has two equally sized chicken breasts so they will cook evenly. I used two chicken breasts, about 8 ounces each (1 pound total). If your chicken breasts are smaller or larger, you may need to adjust the cook time and keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.
- Pull chicken from air fryer: Don’t let your chicken breasts sit in the air fryer once fully cooked. I know you might think it’ll keep them warm, but the chicken will continue to cook causing it to dry out!
What to Serve With Air Fryer Chicken
The beauty of this air fryer recipe is that it produces super flavorful chicken that you can use in a variety of ways! Here are some ideas for easy week night dinners and meal prep!
- Busy day and don’t know what to make for dinner? Make air fryer chicken and serve it with a side of rice and roasted broccoli, roasted sweet potatoes or sautéed green beans for a complete meal with proteins, fats and carbs. Better yet, while you’re letting the chicken sit after cooking, use your air fryer to make air fryer vegetables or air fryer zucchini.
- Serve with my healthy ranch pasta salad or healthy pasta salad to turn a side dish into a meal.
- Use in a bowl like this chicken protein bowl.
- Add to a salad like this strawberry salad, cobb salad or easy kale salad.
- Shred the chicken and use it in chicken noodle soup, white bean chicken chili, confetti chicken casserole or curried chicken salad. Shredded chicken would also be great addition to a stir fry.
How to Store Leftovers
Air fryer chicken is a perfect meal prep option and will store both in the fridge and the freezer nicely!
In the fridge: Just prepare the chicken as the recipe states, let it cool slightly and then put it in an airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, warm the chicken in the oven or air fryer at 350ºF until warm throughout.
In the freezer: If you are going to freeze it, I suggest portioning out your chicken ahead of time and freezing individually, that way you can just take out the container or ziplock containing what you need instead of all of it at once! Even better? Pre-shred or chop for easier defrosting. The chicken will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to use your freezer air fryer chicken, place it in the fridge about 24 hours before you want to use it so it has time to thaw.
Frequently Asked Questions
To keep your chicken breast from drying out in the air fryer, make sure you don’t overcook it. Using a meat thermometer is key. Your chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165ºF. Another tip is to coat the chicken with the marinade before cooking. This helps lock in moisture, keeping the chicken juicy and tender.
Yes, you can absolutely cook raw chicken in an air fryer! Just be sure to season it, and cook it until it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF. The air fryer cooks chicken quickly and evenly, so it’s a great way to make juicy, flavorful chicken without all the extra oil.
I’m a big fan of preheating the air fryer! It helps get your chicken cooking right away, which means a crispier outside and juicy inside. Think of it like preheating your oven—it’s a small step that makes a big difference.
Yes, you totally can. You’ll just need a bit more patience. Frozen chicken takes about 25-30 minutes at 375ºF. It’s super convenient when you forget to thaw chicken in advance.
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Salmon
- Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Air Fryer Shrimp
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Filet Mignon
Be sure to check out the full collection of the air fryer recipes here on EBF!
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts, about 1 lb
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Whisk together oil, apple cider vinegar and dijon mustard in a small bowl and set aside. In a separate small bowl, mix together salt, pepper, garlic powder and Italian seasoning.
- Pour marinade over chicken breasts.
- Liberally rub seasoning on both sides of chicken.
- Preheat air fryer if required. Add chicken breasts to the air fryer and cook on 375°F for 18-22 minutes, until cooked fully, flipping once halfway. You want the chicken breasts to be 165°F on the inside. Cook time will vary depending on the size of your chicken breasts.
- Once cooked, remove chicken from the air fryer and let rest for 5-10 minutes.
- Enjoy chicken immediately or let cool, package in storage containers and save for later use.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi Brittany!!! I am so happy with this recipe, I made it just now and it is a keeper. The outside is a nice crunch and the inside is perfect. Thank you for the time and energy you put into sharing good, healthy food with us. Just delicious and so easy. Thanks!!!!!
Woo!! That makes me happy to hear, Colleen. I’m so glad you loved this recipe—it’s one of my favorites too. Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to leave a review. It means the world to me!
Have made this multiple times now, gorgeous every time! The method is so simple, and tastes like it was marinated for hours. Also lends itself to additions in seasonings, flexible, and guidance directions are very helpful. Thanks.
YAY! I am so glad you are loving this recipe and it is a hit for you. Thank you for sharing your review + star rating, it means so much to me!
This recipe is always a hit with my husband! He says it’s one of his comfort meals now. I usually pair it with rice pilaf and a vegetable. This recipe is one of my favorites to cook because it is so easy (no need to marinate for hours!) and flavorful and pairs well with many things.
WOO! This makes me so happy to hear, Jessica. I am so glad you and your husband are loving this recipe. Thank you for taking the time to share your review & star rating, it means so much to me.