Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Air Fryer Recipe

This boneless skinless Chicken breast air fryer recipe is tender and full of flavor, using a simple seasoning mix. You’ll forget about dry chicken once you try it in the air fryer.

If you’ve never cooked a boneless skinless chicken breast air fryer, you’re in for a treat! In under 30 minutes, you’ll have a chicken breast that’s tender, juicy, and cooked to perfection.

Making chicken breast in air fryer is hassle-free and straightforward. Unlike baking or pan-frying, the air fryer cooks the whole chicken breast evenly by passing hot air around it - meaning that your chicken breast will be mouthwatering every time. No dry chicken here!

The simple salt and pepper seasoning brings out the natural flavors in the meat without overpowering it. And, when you cook the boneless skinless chicken breast in the air fryer, you use only a tiny amount of olive oil, so the chicken cooks in the natural juices rather than added fat.

Ingredients

**Find the full list of ingredients along with the recipe instructions at the end of this post**

When cooking fresh chicken breast in air fryer, quality is vital. Always choose chicken breast that is plump with a pinkish hue. When you’re choosing chicken in cellophane packages, press against the meat with your finger - if it’s fresh, it will spring back into place, whereas older meat won’t.

How to make boneless skinless chicken breast in air fryer

To make this recipe for boneless chicken breast in the air fryer, follow the steps below or print the recipe down on the recipe card.

First: place the chicken breasts in a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with seasoning, salt, and pepper. Turn to coat with the seasoning.

Next: place in the air fryer basket and air fry to 380ºF for 20 minutes or until an instant meat thermometer reaches 165ºF, turning halfway through.

Finally: Remove it from the basket and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe tips

• After you’ve seasoned the chicken breast, you can store it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours. Marinating for longer will improve the flavor, and it means you can do some of the preparation in advance.
• When you air fry raw chicken, use a meat thermometer to check for a safe temperature of 165°F before serving. The air fryer model and the size of the chicken breasts will affect the cooking time (I used 8-ounce chicken breasts for this recipe).
• Be careful not to overcook the chicken breasts, as this will dry them out. Instead, use the meat thermometer to check when the meat has reached the right temperature.
• Wait to cut the chicken breasts for 10 minutes after cooking. Standing the chicken breasts allows the juice to soak in and ensures plump and tender meat.

How long to cook chicken breast in the air fryer

It takes around 20 minutes at 380°F to cook air fryer boneless skinless chicken breast. 

The time the poultry meat takes to cook will depend on the size of the chicken breast and the air fryer model that you are using. 

Always use a meat thermometer to ensure that your meat has reached a safe internal temperature of 165°F before serving and to ensure that you don’t overcook the meat.

What to serve with chicken breast

Tender and delicately flavored, air fryer skinless chicken breast is delicious on its own or as the main event in a tasty dinner!

Chicken is naturally low carb and high protein, which is why it’s so often the food of choice for people who are on a bit of a health kick!

If you want to make a low-carb dinner, serve your meat alongside this delicious instant pot mashed cauliflower - it’s the perfect low-carb alternative to mashed potatoes. Add a dash of freshness to your plate with these crunchy air fryer green beans to round off the meal!

How to store chicken breast

Store cooked chicken breast in an airtight container, or wrap tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and in the freezer for three months.

How to reheat chicken breast

It is pretty easy to reheat poultry meat in the air fryer, oven, or stovetop with the tips below.

How to reheat chicken breast in air fryer

• Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Then, lay the chicken leftovers out in a single layer and heat for around 5 minutes, making sure you flip it over halfway through.
• The time will vary depending on the size of your chicken breasts and the model of air fryer you use. So, always check your meat by using a meat thermometer to check that it has reached a temperature of 165°F. 
• You can reheat from frozen in the air fryer but allow extra cooking time.

How to reheat chicken breast in the oven

• Begin by preheating the oven to 400°F. While the oven is heating, take your leftovers out of the fridge and allow them to reach room temperature. If you are reheating frozen chicken in the oven, defrost it first.
• Place a wire rack on a baking sheet, and lay the meat out. (This allows the hot air to circulate the meat). 
• Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of the chicken breast and on your oven, so always check for an internal temperature of 165°F using a meat thermometer before serving.

How to reheat chicken breast on the stovetop

• Take a skillet, and add just enough water to cover the bottom. Heat the water over medium-high heat, and then add the chicken. 
• Turn the heat down to medium, and heat the meat until it has reached 165°F (you can check this using a meat thermometer). Heating usually takes around 6 minutes.
• If you are reheating frozen chicken, you must defrost it first.

FAQs

Can I cook frozen chicken in the air fryer?

Yes! One of the things people love about air fryers is that you can cook from frozen, making everything more straightforward. However, the method is slightly different, so check out my recipe for air fryer frozen chicken breast if you want to cook frozen chicken.

Can you cook raw chicken in the air fryer?

Absolutely! It’s completely safe to cook raw chicken in the air fryer; just follow this recipe.

Do I need to brine the chicken first?

Not for this recipe! Brining can add a lot of moisture to chicken, but because we’re using the air fryer, this isn’t needed - the meat is tender because the air fryer seals in the natural juices.

Can you put aluminum foil in the air fryer to make this recipe?

It’s safe to put aluminum foil in your air fryer (as long as you only put it in the basket), but you’ll get better results when cooking chicken breast in the air fryer if you don’t. 

Foil can block the airflow in the air fryer, so your meat won’t cook as evenly. Air fryer parchment paper is a safer option than foil. 

Can chicken breast be a little pink?

Yes, it’s safe to eat the chicken breast that’s a little pink, as long as it has reached an internal temperature of 165°F.

It’s not unusual for meat to appear a little pink even when cooked fully. Always check that your meat has reached the correct temperature by using a meat thermometer to check the temperature at the thickest part.

What temperature should chicken breast be?

When cooking a chicken breast in the air fryer, always check for an internal temperature of 165°F before serving using a meat thermometer.
Meat below 165°F is not safe to eat, and if it’s much higher, you risk the meat becoming dry.

How can you tell if chicken breast is cooked without a thermometer?

Using a meat thermometer is the most effective way to tell whether chicken breast is cooked. However, if you don’t have one, there are a few other ways to tell:

• Check the juice. Cut into the chicken breast at the thickest part, and see what color the liquid comes out. If it’s clear, then the chicken is done.
• Check the color of the meat. Generally, cooked chicken meat is white and uncooked meat will still look pink. However, the meat won’t be a uniform color once cooked, and some of the flesh might still be a little pink. Check the color of the meat at the thickest part to use this method.
• Texture. Cooked chicken meat is much firmer than raw chicken, so this is an excellent way to check it.

Why does my chicken breast always come out dry?

If chicken breast is dry, it’s because it’s overcooked. There’s a fine line between undercooked, perfectly cooked, and overcooked chicken, so getting it right can be tricky to master!

When you cook boneless chicken in an air fryer, it’s much easier to avoid overcooking, especially if you use a meat thermometer to check for the right temperature.

More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes

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• Easy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Bone in Skin on
• Healthy Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken​ Recipe
• Best Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas Recipe
• Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs Recipe

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