Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Breast
Making boneless chicken breasts in the air fryer or Ninja Foodi is a quick and easy way to cook up a healthy meal. These Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Breasts come out tender and juicy, and best of all, they’re cooked in just 20 minutes or less!
The air fryer can truly do it all! Whether you’re making vegetables, appetizers, using it to reheat food, or cook frozen foods, the air fryer is a versatile kitchen appliance that is also easier to work with than the oven.
Cooking boneless chicken breasts in the air fryer is a great way to make a quick and healthy protein for a meal. Use it to make salad, sandwiches or for meal prep!
Best of all, they come out tender and juicy every time! The air fryer uses dry circulating heat to cook food which means it cooks quickly and evenly and can be seasoned in many different ways!
This air fryer chicken breast recipe is perfect for those busy weeknights when you don’t have much time to cook. Whether you’re cooking thin chicken breast, full-sized chicken breast or even frozen chicken breast, the air fryer is the best way to cook boneless juicy chicken breast!
🍗What You’ll Need
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast – These can be found at most grocery stores in the meat section. You can also buy boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer.
- Seasonings – I like to use a combination of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and salt. But feel free to use whatever flavor blends, seasoning blend, or spice mixture you like or have on hand!
- Cooking Oil – The best oil to use for the air fryer is avocado oil when making chicken breast. You can also use an avocado oil cooking spray.
- Tongs – You’ll need tongs to flip the chicken breasts during cooking.
- Air Fryer – Any air fryer will make a great tender chicken breast. We love using the Ninja Foodi because its reliable and versatile!
📖How To Cook Boneless Chicken Breast In Air Fryer
1️⃣Prepare the chicken: Let the chicken sit outside of the refrigerator on a dish or in a small bowl for 10 minutes to take the chill off. Trim off any excess fat, then pat dry with paper towels. Coat with a thin layer of cooking oil, then season with your favorite spices on both sides.
2️⃣Preheat the air fryer: Turn your air fryer to 375F and let it preheat for 3-5 minutes.
3️⃣Air fry chicken breast: Once the air fryer is preheated, place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 10 minutes, then flip and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes or until cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 165F.
4️⃣Rest chicken: Remove chicken from the air fryer with tongs and let rest on a plate for 3-5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute. Serve with your favorite sides, and enjoy!
👩🏼🍳Cooking Tips
- For thin chicken breast: Cook for a total of 10 minutes or until fully cooked through and no longer pink. Be sure to flip halfway.
- For best results, let the chicken sit out at room temperature for 10 minutes before adding it to the air fryer. This will make sure the proteins relax before going into the hot air fryer and will keep the texture juicy and not tough.
- How long to cook boneless chicken breast in the air fryer depends on how thick your chicken is and the wattage of your air fryer. Generally, a full-sized eight ounce chicken breast will be fully cooked in 20 minutes or less using the steps above.
- Use a kitchen meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken breast. The safe internal temperature for chicken breast is 165F.
- Place the chicken breast in a single layer in the air fryer basket. If the basket is overcrowded, the chicken will not cook evenly.
🧄Air Fryer Chicken Breast Seasoning Ideas
- Lemon Pepper: Add lemon pepper seasoning to the chicken breast before air frying.
- Garlic Parmesan: Season the chicken with garlic powder, salt, and Italian seasoning then top with shredded Parmesan cheese before cooking.
- Buffalo Chicken: Season the chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Coat with hot sauce after cooking.
- BBQ Chicken: Season the chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and salt. Coat with BBQ sauce after cooking.
- Fajita Chicken: Season the chicken with chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, and salt. Add sautéed peppers and onions before serving.
❄️Storage
Storing: Once cooled, store leftover air fryer chicken breast in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Freezing: You can also freeze boneless chicken breast cooked in the air fryer! Let the chicken cool completely, then place it in a freezer-safe bag or container and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheating: To reheat chicken breast, preheat your air fryer to 375F and cook for 3-5 minutes or until heated through. Alternatively, you can reheat it in the microwave.
❔FAQ
Why is my chicken rubbery in air fryer?
If your chicken is rubbery in air fryer, it’s likely because it was overcooked or not prepared properly. Let it rest outside of the fridge BEFORE cooking and after to redistribute the juices.
How long does it take to cook chicken breast in the air fryer at 375F?
An 8-ounce chicken breast will take about 18-20 minutes to cook at 375F. This may vary depending on how thick your chicken is and the wattage of your air fryer, so check it with a kitchen thermometer to be sure.
How do you make chicken breast juicy with an air fryer?
Coat it with oil before air frying. This will create a barrier between the chicken and the hot air, helping to keep it from drying out. You can also use butter or a marinade.
🐓More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
- Air Fryer Shredded Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Chicken Meatloaf
- Air Fryer Chicken Burger
- Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Air Fryer Shake and Bake Chicken
- Air Fryer Hibachi Chicken and Vegetables
Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Breasts
Equipment
- Air Fryer or Ninja Foodi
- Heat Safe Tongs
Ingredients
- 1 pound Chicken Breasts 8oz filets
- 2 tsp Cooking Oil avocado or olive oil
- 1 tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Garlic Powder
- ¼ tsp Black Pepper
Instructions
- Let the chicken sit outside of the fridge for 10 minutes to take the chill off.
- Trim off any excess fat, then pat dry with paper towels.
- Coat with a thin layer of cooking oil, then season with your favorite spices on both sides.
- Turn your air fryer to 375F and let it preheat for 3-5 minutes.
- Once the air fryer is preheated, place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Cook for 10 minutes, then flip and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes or until cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 165F.
- Remove chicken from the air fryer with tongs and let rest on a plate for 3-5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute.
- Serve with your favorite sides, and enjoy!
