Air-Fryer Breaded Chicken: Quick, Crispy, And Delicious!

Cooking breaded chicken breast in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a tasty, crispy meal. The chicken is coated in a mixture of flour, egg and breadcrumbs, and then cooked in the air fryer for around 10-15 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breasts. The breading can be seasoned with spices such as chilli powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and salt.

Cooking time and temperature

It is recommended to preheat the air fryer before cooking. This helps to ensure even cooking and can reduce the overall cooking time. Once preheated, arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the chicken in batches.

The cooking time for breaded chicken breast in an air fryer typically ranges from 10 to 16 minutes. For the first side, cook the chicken for 4 to 8 minutes. Then, gently flip the chicken and continue cooking for an additional 6 to 8 minutes. The chicken is ready when it is crispy and golden brown, and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat reads 165°F (74°C).

It is important to note that cooking times may vary depending on the specific model of your air fryer and its temperature settings. Therefore, it is always a good idea to refer to the manufacturer's instructions and adjust the cooking time and temperature accordingly. Additionally, for even cooking and to prevent overcooking, it is recommended to flip the chicken breasts halfway through the cooking process.

How to prepare the chicken

To prepare the chicken, start by slicing the boneless skinless chicken breast into cutlets. For the chicken to cook quicker, you will need thinner strips. Drizzle with one tablespoon of oil, and distribute with your hand so that the chicken is well coated in oil.

Next, prepare the breading/coating. In a semi-shallow dish, mix breadcrumbs with all the seasonings that you’re using. This depends on your taste, but you can add chilli powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt. Seasoning the chicken is very important, the seasonings are added with the breading so if you skip this step you will end up with bland-tasting chicken.

Now, coat the chicken pieces with flour, dip them in beaten eggs and finally coat them with breadcrumbs for a more substantial and textured breading before cooking. Dry the chicken breast by patting it dry with a clean paper towel, then slice it in half lengthwise with a sharp kitchen knife, creating four chicken pieces that are even in size. Pound the chicken between some plastic wrap with a meat mallet if needed to make it more even.

Finally, cover each of the chicken breasts well with the panko mixture, and then place in the mesh basket of your air fryer, making sure to leave room between the pieces. They should not be touching. Spray the tops of the chicken with cooking spray.

How to prepare the breading

To prepare the breading, you will need to mix your chosen breading ingredients in a shallow bowl. You can use a mixture of breadcrumbs, flour, egg, and seasonings. For the seasonings, you can add chilli powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt to taste.

Once you have your breading mixture, coat each chicken breast evenly in the mixture. You can do this by dipping the chicken pieces in beaten eggs first and then coating them with the breading mixture. Make sure to cover each chicken breast well with the mixture.

After the chicken breasts are coated, you can place them in the air fryer basket, making sure to leave room between the pieces so they are not touching. Spray the tops of the chicken with cooking spray before cooking.

How to cook the chicken

To cook breaded chicken breast in an air fryer, start by slicing the boneless skinless chicken breast into cutlets. For the chicken to cook quicker, you will need thinner strips. Drizzle with one tablespoon of oil, and distribute with your hand so that the chicken is well coated in oil.

Next, prepare the breading/coating. In a semi-shallow dish, mix breadcrumbs with all the seasonings that you’re using. This depends on your taste, but you can add chilli powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt. Seasoning the chicken is very important, the seasonings are added with the breading here so if you skip this step you will end up with bland-tasting chicken.

Coat the chicken pieces with flour, dip them in beaten eggs and finally coat them with breadcrumbs for a more substantial and textured breading before cooking. Dry the chicken breast by patting it dry with a clean paper towel then slice it in half lengthwise with a sharp kitchen knife creating 4 chicken pieces that are even in size. Pound the chicken between some plastic wrap with a meat mallet if needed to make it more even.

Spray the air fryer pan with cooking spray. Then spray the outside of the breaded chicken with cooking spray. Cover each of the chicken breasts well with the panko mixture, and then place in the mesh basket of your air fryer, making sure to leave room between the pieces. They should not be touching. Preheat the air fryer and arrange the chicken in a single layer (you may need to cook two batches depending on the size of your air fryer).

Air fry on the first side for 4 minutes, flip, then continue for 2 to 5 additional minutes (until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160 to 165 degrees F). The chicken should be golden brown and crispy.

How to serve the chicken

Once your chicken is cooked, you can serve it with a variety of side dishes. Try mashed potatoes or baked potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts or roasted broccoli. You could also serve it with a salad, or some other vegetables such as carrots, peas or sweetcorn.

Frequently asked questions