Air Fry Chicken Breast
Juicy, perfectly seasoned air fry chicken breast made with a simple spice rub, cooked to the exact right temperature and time for consistently tender results.
Equipment
- Air fryer
- Meat thermometer
- small bowl
Ingredients
Chicken breast
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 6-8 oz each)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Side Salad
- 4 cups arugula or mixed greens
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ cucumber sliced
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
- Shaved parmesan for topping
- Olive oil and a squeeze of lemon for dressing
Instructions
Season the Chicken
- If the chicken breasts are noticeably uneven in thickness, pound them gently with a meat mallet or the bottom of a heavy pan until they're roughly the same thickness throughout, which helps them cook evenly.
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, then rub both sides with olive oil. In a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper, then sprinkle the seasoning evenly over both sides of the chicken, pressing gently so it adheres.
Air Fry the Chicken
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3–5 minutes. Place the seasoned chicken breasts in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each piece to allow the hot air to circulate evenly.
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) when checked with a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part. Exact time will vary depending on the thickness of your chicken breasts, so start checking at the 10-minute mark if yours are on the smaller side.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing or serving, which helps the juices redistribute throughout the meat rather than running out immediately when cut.
- While the chicken rests, toss the arugula, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion together in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and a squeeze of lemon, then top with shaved parmesan. Serve the sliced chicken alongside the salad.
Notes
- Not overcrowding the air fryer basket is essential for even cooking, so work in batches if your air fryer is on the smaller side rather than stacking or crowding the chicken breasts together.
- A meat thermometer is genuinely the most reliable way to know when chicken breast is done, since visual cues alone can be misleading and lead to either undercooked or overcooked results.
- Let the chicken rest for a few minutes after cooking to help keep it juicy, even if you're eager to serve it.
. - Cook times can vary somewhat between different air fryer models and brands, so it's worth doing a test run with your specific machine to dial in the exact timing that works best for you.
- Leftover air fried chicken breast keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheats nicely in the air fryer for a few minutes to help restore some of the crispy exterior.