Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Breast

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A foolproof Air Fryer Chicken breast recipe that works every time! Pair this juicy chicken with salad, couscous, these twiced baked potatoes in air fryer, or a vegetable side dish like broccolini.

This is my go-to recipe for making chicken in the air fryer. It’s tender and juicy, easy to make, and downright delicious. Plus, it’s ready in less than 20 minutes!

air fryer chicken sliced and on a white plate

This is the BEST Air Fried Chicken Breast

I might be biased, but this is the best air fryer chicken recipe out there. Why? Because it’s juicy and the most flavorful chicken. Oh, and because it’s SO easy to make!

To be honest, I don’t even follow the measurements in the recipe, I just sprinkle each seasoning on the chicken. If you’ve got a heavy hand when it comes to sprinkling seasonings, stick to the recipe measurements!

I pretty much just sprinkle everything to taste and always make sure I’m only using a small amount of smoked paprika, because it can be overpowering.

Cooking chicken breasts in the air fryer is SO easy, I’ll probably never make them another way.

Ingredients needed for Air Frying Chicken

The best thing about this recipe is that the ingredient list is made up of mostly pantry staples!

  • Boneless chicken breasts
  • Paprika
  • Smoked paprika
  • Onion powder
  • Garlic powder
  • Italian seasoning (you can also use parsley and/or oregano)
  • Salt and pepper

Sometimes I like to switch up the seasoning I’m using. I usually play around with swapping out the Italian seasoning for parsley, oregano, or the 21 Seasoning Salute from Trader Joe’s. You can also try adding the Umami Seasoning here too, it’s so good!

spice mixture in a small bowl with a wooden spoon

How to Air Fry Chicken Breast

1. Prepare the seasoning. Combine paprika, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Rub a thin layer of olive oil over both sides of the chicken and sprinkle the seasoning.

wooden spoon with seasoning for chicken

2. Cook the chicken. Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket and cook at 390F for 12 minutes. Flip the chicken halfway through.

two chicken breasts seasoned

3. Remove the chicken from the air fryer basket, slice and serve!

two cooked chicken breasts in an air fryer basket

side note – I have no idea what was going on with that baby chicken breast! I swear it didn’t look like that from what I could see through the package. HA!

Also, a meat thermometer is your best friend here. If you don’t have one, you can find them at a pretty low price online. They make cooking meat and seafood so much easier!

sliced air fryer chicken on a white plate with salad

I like to serve this chicken with a simple little gem salad or fried green tomatoes.

Tips for Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Breast

If you have the time and want to make the juiciest chicken ever, you can brine the chicken breasts before you cook them.

Wait, but how do I brine chicken?

Fill a large bowl with 6 cups of lukewarm water and add 1/4 cup kosher salt, stir until the salt has dissolved. Add the chicken breasts to the water and let them sit in the refrigerator, at least 1 to 1 1/2 hours to brine. Remove the chicken breasts from the water, pat dry with paper towels and discard the water.

If you don’t have an hour to spare, no worries, your chicken will still be juicy and delicious!

What to serve with Chicken in the Air Fryer

The best thing about this chicken is that it’s extremely versatile and you can pretty much serve anything with it. I usually serve it with an easy to make salad, but you can also serve it with a grain like rice or quinoa, or a starch like pasta.

sliced air fryer chicken on a plate with salad and a glass of water

Some of my favorite sides to serve with Air Fried Chicken Breast

How to store Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Transfer leftover chicken breasts to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days or the freezer for up to 3 months.

Boneless Chicken Breast Air Fryer FAQs

Can you put raw chicken in an air fryer?

Yes, as long as you cook the chicken until it’s fully done (165 F internal), it’s perfectly safe to put raw chicken (or any raw meat) in the air fryer!

How do you keep chicken breast from drying out in an air fryer?

First of all, do your best not to overcook them. If you’re not sure of how long it’s going to take in your particular air fryer, be sure to check the chicken after the shortest amount of cooking time to see if it’s done.
Another tip is to cook the chicken to about 5 degrees UNDER the recommended temperature, and then remove the chicken and keep it tented in foil so carryover cooking can do the rest of the work while also keeping it juicy and moist.

Should I put oil on chicken before air frying?

Even though you’re not deep frying the chicken, a thin layer of oil helps the seasonings stick to your chicken breasts and ensures that the chicken crisps up nicely in the air fryer.

Which Air Fryer Should I Purchase?

There are SO many air fryers on the market, it can be tough to choose. Lucky for you, I’ve tried 3 different ones and highly recommend all of them.

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5 from 19 votes

5 Spice Boneless Chicken Breast (Air Fryer)

A foolproof Air Fryer Chicken breast recipe that works every time! Pair this juicy chicken with salad, couscous, or a vegetable side dish like broccolini.
Prep Time3 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2
Calories: 210
Author: Jordan

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer to 390° F.
  • Combine the paprika, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Rub a thin layer of olive oil over both sides of the chicken and then sprinkle the seasoning over the chicken.
    wooden spoon with seasoning for chicken
  • Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket and cook at 390° F for 12 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165° F, flipping halfway through.
    two cooked chicken breasts in an air fryer basket
  • Remove the chicken from the air fryer basket, slice and serve with a salad, couscous, or broccolini.
    sliced air fryer chicken on a plate with salad and a glass of water
If you tried this recipe, please leave a review letting me know how it was!

Notes

Nutrition

Calories: 210kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 245mg
Nutrition information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator.
Tried this recipe?I’d love to see your dish, mention @jzeats or tag #jzeats!
5 from 19 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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17 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    So easy and so good!! This is now one of our go-toโ€™s. Thanks!!