Air Fryer Chicken: How Much Can You Cook?

Air fryers are a quick and energy-efficient way to cook chicken, with a whole chicken taking around 40 minutes to cook, and chicken breasts taking around 15 minutes. When cooking chicken in an air fryer, it's important to buy the right size of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, which should be around 7 ounces. Larger breasts will take longer to cook, so it's important to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

How long to cook chicken breasts in an air fryer

The amount of chicken you can put in an air fryer depends on the size of the fryer. However, a general rule of thumb is to ensure the chicken breasts are about 7 ounces each.

To cook chicken breasts in an air fryer, first, pound the chicken to flatten the thicker side. Then, coat the chicken in oil and season both sides. Add the chicken breasts to the air fryer and cook smooth side down for 7 minutes at 375°F (190°C). Flip the chicken over and cook for an additional 3 minutes (or more for larger chicken breasts).

• 6 to 7-ounce chicken breasts: about 10 to 11 minutes total
• 8 to 9-ounce chicken breasts: about 11 to 12 minutes total
• 10-ounce or larger chicken breasts: about 13 to 14 minutes total

It's worth noting that air fryer chicken has a juicy texture, much like roasted or baked chicken. It also takes less time to cook than other methods, with chicken breasts taking around 15 minutes in the air fryer but 20+ minutes in a regular oven.

How to season chicken breasts for an air fryer

The amount of chicken you can put in an air fryer depends on the size of your air fryer and the size of the chicken breasts. For example, 6-7oz chicken breasts will take around 10-11 minutes to cook, whereas 10oz or larger chicken breasts will take around 13-14 minutes.

To season chicken breasts for an air fryer, you should first lightly pound the chicken to flatten the thicker side. Then, coat the chicken in oil and sprinkle seasoning on both sides. Rub the seasoning into the chicken with your hands. You can use a simple mix of paprika, garlic powder, thyme, salt and pepper, or you could use oregano, but be careful not to add too much.

Once you have seasoned the chicken, add the chicken breasts to the air fryer and cook smooth side down. For 6-7oz chicken breasts, cook for 7 minutes at 375°F (190°C), then flip the chicken over and cook for an additional 3 minutes. For larger chicken breasts, cook for an additional 1-4 minutes.

If your air fryer has a preheat setting, you can preheat it to 400°F for 4 minutes before adding the chicken. This will ensure the surface of the basket is hot enough to make the chicken sizzle. You can use avocado oil, olive oil or any kind of neutral-flavoured high-heat oil.

How to cook a whole chicken in an air fryer

You can cook a whole chicken in an air fryer in around 40 minutes, which is much quicker than the hour it would take in a regular oven.

First, flatten the thicker side of the chicken by pounding it lightly. Then, coat the chicken in oil and season it with a mixture of paprika, garlic powder, thyme, salt and pepper. You can also use oregano, but be careful not to use too much.

Place the chicken in the air fryer and cook it for 7 minutes at 375°F (190°C). Flip the chicken over and cook for another 3 minutes, or longer for larger chickens. For a 6-7oz chicken breast, the total cooking time is 10-11 minutes. For an 8-9oz chicken breast, it's 11-12 minutes, and for a 10oz or larger chicken breast, it's 13-14 minutes.

You can also preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 4 minutes before cooking.

What oil to use in an air fryer

The amount of chicken you can put in an air fryer depends on the size of the chicken breasts and the size of your air fryer. For example, 6 to 7-ounce chicken breasts will take about 10 to 11 minutes to cook, 8 to 9-ounce chicken breasts will take about 11 to 12 minutes, and 10-ounce or larger chicken breasts will take about 13 to 14 minutes. A whole chicken can be cooked in an air fryer in about 40 minutes, which is much quicker than the hour it would take in a regular oven.

When it comes to what oil to use in an air fryer, it's best to use oils with a high smoke point that won't burn at high temperatures. Examples of these include avocado oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, and light or refined olive oil. You can also use vegetable oil or regular olive oil, but these have lower smoke points so may start smoking before you reach the target temperature.

It's important to choose an oil that's suitable for the recipe and the temperature you're cooking at. For example, if you're cooking at a high temperature, you'll need an oil with a high smoke point. You also want to choose an oil that will complement the flavours of your dish. Some oils, like extra virgin olive oil, have a stronger taste that can enhance the flavour of milder dishes.

When using oil in an air fryer, you don't need to add it to the air fryer itself. Instead, toss your food in a few teaspoons of oil along with your seasoning before putting it in the air fryer. This will help keep your food moist and give it a golden brown colour. For best results, coat the entire surface of the food with a thin layer of oil.

Whether to preheat an air fryer

The amount of chicken you can put in an air fryer depends on the size of your air fryer and the size of the chicken pieces. For example, a whole chicken can be cooked in an air fryer in 40 minutes, but this will take up a lot more space than chicken breasts, which take around 15 minutes.

Chicken breasts are a good option for air fryers as they cook quickly and evenly. It's important to buy the right size of boneless, skinless chicken breasts – around 7 ounces. Larger breasts will take an additional 1 to 4 minutes to cook. For example, 6 to 7-ounce chicken breasts will take about 10 to 11 minutes total, 8 to 9-ounce breasts will take about 11 to 12 minutes, and 10-ounce or larger breasts will take about 13 to 14 minutes.

When cooking chicken in an air fryer, it's a good idea to preheat the air fryer. This ensures that the surface of the basket is hot enough to create a sizzling effect when the chicken is added. Most air fryers have a preheat setting, which is usually around 400 degrees for 4 minutes.

Some people choose to leave the bottom rack in their air fryer when cooking chicken, as this can help to catch any drippings and make clean-up easier. However, this may vary depending on the model of air fryer you have.

Frequently asked questions