Air-Fryer Chicken With Bread Crumbs: A Quick, Crispy Treat

Air fryers are a great way to cook chicken with breadcrumbs. The air fryer's ability to cook food evenly and quickly without using excess oil makes it a perfect appliance to make crispy and tender chicken. The cooking time depends on the size and thickness of the chicken breasts, but on average, it takes around 10-12 minutes to cook chicken in an air fryer. The breadcrumbs and seasonings can be mixed and matched according to taste preferences, and the chicken can be served with potatoes, salad, or sauces.

Using breadcrumbs and oil

To start, prepare your chicken by slicing boneless, skinless chicken breasts into thin, even pieces. This will help the chicken cook faster and more evenly. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Then, brush or drizzle oil onto the chicken. You can also spritz the chicken with cooking spray or olive oil to help the breadcrumbs brown nicely.

Next, prepare your breadcrumbs by mixing them with your desired seasonings in a shallow dish. You can use regular breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs, depending on your preference for texture and flavor distribution. Seasonings like oregano, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper can be added to the breadcrumbs, or you can create your own blend to suit your taste. It is important to season the breadcrumbs well, as this is where most of the flavor will come from.

After seasoning the breadcrumbs, coat each piece of chicken thoroughly in the breadcrumb mixture. Shake off any excess breadcrumbs and place the chicken in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each piece to allow for proper air circulation.

Finally, set your air fryer to the desired temperature and time, typically between 350°F and 390°F, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the breadcrumbs are golden brown. For best results, flip the chicken halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking on both sides.

Brining the chicken

To make a basic brine solution, dissolve 2 tablespoons of salt in 2 cups of room-temperature water. You can also use a ratio of 1 tablespoon of salt to 1 cup of water, or 4 tablespoons of salt per 6 cups of water. The amount of brine you need will depend on the size of your brining container, so be sure to make enough to fully submerge the chicken. It is important to use kosher salt for brining, as table salt will make the brine too salty.

Once you have dissolved the salt in the water, you can optionally add other ingredients to your brine. For example, you could add thyme, garlic, and black peppercorns to infuse the chicken with extra flavour. If you do add other ingredients, be sure to heat the brine solution to infuse the flavours, and then let it cool down completely before brining the chicken.

After preparing the brine, give the chicken a quick rinse and carefully submerge it in the solution. Make sure the chicken is fully submerged, and cover it with a lid or a heavy plate to keep it that way. Then, place the brining container in the refrigerator and let the chicken sit for at least 30 minutes to 2 hours. For best results, leave the chicken in the brine overnight, or for up to 4-6 hours. Do not exceed this marination time, as the chicken may become oversalted.

Once the chicken has finished brining, remove it from the brine and give it a rinse under cold water to remove any excess salt. Then, pat the chicken dry with paper towels before proceeding with the rest of the recipe.

Reheating and storing

When storing chicken cooked in an air fryer, it is important to let it cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It can then be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

If you need to store the chicken for longer, wrap each piece individually in plastic wrap or foil, place it in a freezer-safe container, and store it in the freezer. It can be kept in the freezer for up to 2 months.

When reheating chicken in an air fryer, it is recommended to set the temperature to 350°F-360°F and reheat for 2-3 minutes. If you prefer your chicken to be crispier, you can increase the temperature to 400°F for the last minute of cooking. It is important to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to prevent uneven reheating. If the chicken is coated in breadcrumbs, it is recommended to place it on parchment paper in the air fryer basket to prevent sticking.

For safety, it is important to always use a food thermometer to ensure that the internal temperature of the reheated chicken reaches at least 165°F. This temperature kills any harmful bacteria. Leftovers should be refrigerated within 2 hours of reheating and should only be reheated once to minimize the risk of bacterial contamination.

Using an air fryer basket

To cook chicken with breadcrumbs in an air fryer basket, start with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Slice the chicken breasts in half horizontally to get two thin cutlets. You can also pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness. Then, season the chicken with salt and pepper, and other seasonings of your choice, such as oregano, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, or cayenne pepper. You can also add grated cheese, such as Parmesan or pecorino romano, to the breading.

Next, prepare the breading by mixing dried breadcrumbs with your chosen seasonings in a shallow dish. You can use regular breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs, depending on your preference for texture and flavour. For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free breadcrumbs. Drizzle a little oil over the chicken, which will help the breadcrumbs stick and create a crispy texture. Then, coat each piece of chicken in the breadcrumb mixture, shaking off any excess.

Once your chicken is coated, preheat your air fryer at 350°F to 390°F (180°C to 200°C). Place the chicken in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each piece to allow air to circulate. Spray the tops of the chicken with cooking spray and cook for 8 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. The cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of your chicken breasts, so use a digital thermometer to check that the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F. The crumbs should look golden brown.

You can also reheat any leftover chicken in the air fryer. Place the leftover chicken in the air fryer basket and heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until heated through and the breading becomes crispy again.

Chicken slice thickness

Thinly sliced chicken breasts are ideal for air frying because they cook faster and more evenly, resulting in juicy and tender meat. The thickness of the chicken breast will determine the cooking time and temperature. For example, thin chicken breast slices should be cooked at 400°F for 7-10 minutes, whereas thicker, unsliced chicken breasts should be cooked at 415°F for a minimum of 13 minutes.

To ensure even cooking, it is important to arrange the chicken slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if necessary. Preheating the air fryer for 3-5 minutes is recommended, and the internal temperature of the chicken should reach at least 165°F. A meat thermometer can be used to check this.

When preparing the chicken, it is best to pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels before slicing them into cutlets. The thickness of the cutlets will impact the cooking time and temperature. Thinner cutlets will cook faster and may require a lower temperature to prevent overcooking.

It is also important to consider the size of the air fryer when determining the thickness of the chicken slices. If the air fryer is on the smaller side, thicker slices may need to be cooked in batches to ensure proper airflow and even cooking.

Additionally, the type of breading or coating used can impact the cooking time and temperature. For example, when using breadcrumbs, a lower temperature of 390°F is recommended, and the cooking time is typically 10-12 minutes. On the other hand, thicker coatings or wet batters may require a longer cooking time and a higher temperature to ensure that the chicken is cooked through.

Frequently asked questions