Cody Casey
Air fryers are a great way to cook chicken, and they can be used for fresh or frozen pieces. The high-powered, countertop convection oven cooks food by blowing hot air down and around it, and it's more versatile than a regular oven. You can cook chicken breasts or thighs in an air fryer, and it's important not to overcook them. Brining or marinating the chicken before cooking can add flavour and help keep the meat moist. You can also add spices, brown sugar, and cornstarch to coat the chicken before air frying. The cooking time and temperature will depend on the size and type of chicken, but it's recommended to cook chicken breasts at around 370-390 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-20 minutes, and chicken thighs at 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit for 14-20 minutes.
Characteristics and Values Table for Cooking Raw Chicken in an Air Fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 370–390°F (187.77–198.88°C) |
| Timing | 10–20 minutes |
| Chicken Type | Boneless chicken breasts, chicken thighs, chicken wings, chicken legs, chicken thigh fillets |
| Seasoning | Salt, pepper, olive oil, ranch powder, Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, cornstarch |
| Marinade | Italian dressing, chicken thigh marinade, dry brine (salt) |
| Accessories | Meat thermometer, cake pan, cooling rack |
| Sides | Salads, wraps, sandwiches, pasta, rice bowls, green salad, avocado caesar green beans, sweet potato fries, roasted peanut kale salad, avocado kale caesar |
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What You'll Learn
Chicken breast preparation
After brining, you can coat the chicken pieces with a variety of seasonings, oils, and spices. You can also add other ingredients like brown sugar and cornstarch for extra flavour and crispness. Once the chicken is coated, place the pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring good airflow around them. Preheat the air fryer to around 370
For cooking, place the chicken in the air fryer and cook for about 10 minutes. Then, flip the chicken and cook for an additional 4-8 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breasts. The total cook time will depend on the thickness of the chicken and your desired level of doneness. It is important not to overcook the chicken to ensure it remains juicy and tender.
To check if the chicken is cooked, use an instant-read thermometer to ensure an internal temperature of 160-165 degrees Fahrenheit. Finally, let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes, tented with foil, to allow the juices to redistribute and the chicken to finish cooking.
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Marinades and brines
Marinating and brining are great ways to add flavour and moisture to your chicken.
Brining is the process of salting meat and letting it rest before cooking. The salt flavours the meat throughout, and the extra liquid helps keep it moist. You can use a wet brine (a saltwater solution) or a dry brine (sprinkling the meat with salt). A dry brine is less messy, but either will work well. Even just 30 minutes of brining can make a difference, but if you have the time, longer is better.
If you are slicing your chicken thinly, you may not need to brine it, as there is more surface area for flavour and the quick cooking time of the air fryer prevents it from drying out.
You can marinate your chicken in a simple mixture of salt, spices, and oil, or try something like Italian dressing or a spice rub. For a spicy kick, add some cayenne pepper to your marinade. You can also add brown sugar and cornstarch for extra flavour. If you have the time, try marinating your chicken overnight for maximum flavour.
Don't forget to let your chicken come to room temperature before cooking, and always ensure your chicken is cooked through.
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Cooking times and temperatures
When cooking raw chicken in an air fryer, it's important to note that the cooking time and temperature will depend on the type of chicken piece and whether it has bones or not.
For boneless chicken breasts, cook at 370–390 °F for 10 minutes on one side, then flip and cook for an additional 4–8 minutes. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 160 °F on an instant-read thermometer. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes, tented with foil, to allow the juices to redistribute and the chicken to finish cooking.
For bone-in chicken thighs, cook at 375–400 °F for 14–15 minutes on each side. The total cooking time will be around 20 minutes.
For boneless chicken thighs, cook at 385 °F for 20 minutes without flipping.
For chicken wings, cook at 400 °F for 18 minutes.
For a whole chicken weighing 1.4 kg, cook at 200 °C for 30 minutes on each side, for a total of 1 hour.
It's important to note that the cooking times may vary depending on the size and model of your air fryer, so adjust the temperatures and timings accordingly. Always ensure that your chicken is cooked thoroughly and reaches an internal temperature of at least 160–165 °F before consuming.
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Using a meat thermometer
There are two types of meat thermometers: instant-read thermometers and leave-in thermometers. Instant-read thermometers are inserted into the meat after it has been removed from the air fryer to get a temperature reading. Leave-in thermometers, on the other hand, are inserted into the meat before cooking and remain in place during the cooking process. These often have customizable alarms, so you don't need to worry about forgetting to check and overcooking your meat.
When using an instant-read stick-in thermometer, insert it into the thickest part of the meat, as this is usually the coolest part. The temperature should drop as the probe goes deeper into the meat.
If you are using a leave-in probe thermometer, place it in the thickest part of the cut of meat, and if the cut has a bone, ensure the probe is close to the bone.
Wireless thermometers are also available and can be extremely useful when cooking with an air fryer. They come with either a mobile application or a digital receiver, allowing you to monitor the temperature of your meat throughout the cooking process without having to open the air fryer and let the heat escape.
Food safety guidelines recommend cooking chicken to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. However, you can remove it from the air fryer once it reaches 160 degrees, as the residual heat will continue to cook the chicken.
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Chicken breast serving suggestions
Chicken breast is a versatile, lean meat that can be cooked in an air fryer with minimal preparation. The recommended single serving size of chicken is 3 to 4 ounces, or about 85 to 133 grams, which is roughly the size of a deck of playing cards. This serving size provides approximately 128 to 166 calories, with 26 grams of protein and 2.7 grams of fat.
- Salads: Add cooked chicken breasts to a green salad, such as a Caesar salad or a summer salad with crispy chicken schnitzel. Chicken breasts can also be cut into chunks and served in a variety of salads.
- Sandwiches and wraps: Chicken breasts can be added hot or cold to sandwiches and wraps, such as chicken fajitas or a tortilla wrap with chicken, red pepper, and black beans.
- Pasta: Combine chicken with tagliatelle and a creamy sauce, or try a chicken and bacon pasta bake.
- Rice dishes: Try a Cajun-inspired rice pot with chicken, spicy Spanish sausage, sweet peppers, and tomatoes.
- Curries: Chicken breasts can be cut into chunks and added to curries, such as a Thai curry or a chicken and chorizo paella.
- Sauces: Serve chicken breasts with a variety of sauces, such as creamy sun-dried tomato sauce, white BBQ sauce, jerk sauce, Peruvian green sauce, or lemon butter sauce.
- Sides: Chicken breasts can be served as a side dish, either whole or cut into chunks. Try breaded or stuffed chicken breasts, or chicken kiev.
- Burgers: Spiced chipotle chicken breast in a toasted brioche bun with guacamole makes a tasty burger.
- Healthy snacks: Keep nutty chicken satay strips in the fridge for a healthy snack, served with cucumber and sweet chilli sauce.
- Freezer meals: Chicken parmagiana is ideal for freezing and can be easily doubled for a family-friendly meal.
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Frequently asked questions
The best temperature to cook raw chicken in an air fryer is between 370 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
It takes around 10 minutes at 370 degrees Fahrenheit, or 6 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and then 2 to 8 more minutes.
The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 160-165 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use a meat thermometer to check this.
You can brine the chicken in advance, or marinate it in a spice blend. You can also coat the chicken in a mixture of oil and spices.
Yes, you can put raw frozen chicken in an air fryer.
