Air-Fryer Chicken Breast: Quick, Easy, And Delicious

Air fryers are a great way to cook chicken breasts, making them juicy and tender. The air fryer method takes a lot of the guesswork out for you. You will just need to check the temperature of the chicken to ensure doneness, because you don’t want to overcook it.

Ingredients:

- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts

- Olive Oil

- Salt

- Spices of your choice (e.g. paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, Italian seasoning, etc.)

Instructions:

1. Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board and cover with plastic wrap. Use a rolling pin or your palm to lightly pound the chicken to an even thickness.

2. Sprinkle salt all over the chicken and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 day.

3. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature for about 15 minutes.

4. In a small bowl, mix together your choice of spices.

5. Place the chicken in a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the chicken and toss to coat evenly.

6. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F.

7. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket and cook for 6 minutes.

8. Flip the chicken over and cook for an additional 2 to 8 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken breasts. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F.

9. Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

How to prepare the chicken breasts

Preparing the chicken breasts is a straightforward process, but there are a few key steps to ensure your chicken is juicy and tender. Firstly, you'll want to trim any fat or unwanted bits from the chicken breasts. Then, if your chicken breasts are thick, use a rolling pin or meat tenderizer to gently pound the thicker side until the breast is an even thickness throughout (about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick). This will ensure even cooking.

Next, you'll want to season your chicken. You can use a variety of seasonings, but a simple mix of salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder works well. You can also add other dried herbs such as thyme, oregano, or parsley. Mix your chosen seasonings in a small bowl, then coat the chicken breasts generously on both sides, rubbing the spices into the meat with your hands.

At this point, you can choose to brine the chicken, which will enhance its flavour and texture. Brining involves sprinkling salt over the meat and letting it rest for at least 30 minutes before cooking. If you decide to brine, make sure to pat the chicken dry with paper towels after removing it from the refrigerator.

Finally, you'll want to add a little oil to the chicken breasts. Olive oil or avocado oil works well and will help the seasonings adhere to the meat. Brush or drizzle the oil over the chicken, ensuring each piece is well coated.

The best oil to use

When it comes to the best oil to use for air frying, there are a few factors to consider: the smoke point of the oil, the food you're cooking, and the temperature you're cooking at.

Firstly, it's important to choose an oil with a high smoke point, as this will prevent the oil from burning and smoking at high temperatures. Oils with high smoke points include avocado oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, light olive oil, grapeseed oil, and refined coconut oil. These oils are better suited for high-heat cooking in an air fryer.

On the other hand, oils with low smoke points, such as flaxseed oil, walnut oil, butter, and extra virgin olive oil, are more prone to burning and smoking at lower temperatures. These oils are better suited for drizzling over finished dishes, making salad dressings, or using in low-temperature cooking.

When air frying chicken breasts, olive oil is a popular choice as it helps the seasonings adhere to the chicken and keeps it moist. Other oils that can be used include avocado oil, canola oil, and peanut oil. It's important to note that you only need a small amount of oil when air frying, as too much can make the food greasy and soggy. A light coating of oil brushed or sprayed onto the food is usually sufficient.

Additionally, when cooking with an air fryer, it's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions and guidelines for oil usage and cooking temperatures.

What temperature to cook at

The optimal temperature for cooking boneless skinless chicken breasts in an air fryer is between 360 and 415 degrees Fahrenheit.

The cooking time will vary depending on the size of the chicken breasts and the desired level of doneness, but it generally takes around 10 to 20 minutes to cook chicken breasts in an air fryer. It is important to ensure that the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid undercooking.

Some recipes suggest preheating the air fryer, while others recommend against it as it can result in the outside of the chicken cooking faster than the inside, leading to dryness.

It is also crucial to create space between the chicken breasts in the air fryer to ensure even cooking. Overcrowding the air fryer basket can lead to unevenly cooked chicken.

How long to cook for

The cooking time for boneless skinless chicken breasts in an air fryer depends on the size of the breasts and the temperature at which the air fryer is set.

For example, if you're cooking at 375°F (190°C), you'll want to cook 6 to 7-ounce chicken breasts for about 10 to 11 minutes, 8 to 9-ounce breasts for 11 to 12 minutes, and 10-ounce or larger breasts for 13 to 14 minutes.

If you're cooking at a higher temperature of 415°F, then you'll want to reduce the cooking time. For instance, one source recommends cooking thinly sliced chicken breasts for 10 minutes, and another suggests 13 minutes for larger pieces.

It's important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer model, so it's always a good idea to keep an eye on your chicken to ensure it doesn't overcook.

Additionally, it's recommended to let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes before cutting into it, as this allows the juices to redistribute and makes the chicken juicier.

How to serve

There are many ways to serve boneless skinless chicken breast cooked in an air fryer. Here are some ideas:

Salads

You can serve the chicken breasts on a bed of salad greens, such as spinach or arugula, with a variety of toppings and dressings. For example, you could make a spinach strawberry salad with balsamic poppy seed dressing or an avocado kale Caesar salad. You could also add the chicken to a simple green salad or a roasted peanut kale salad.

Sandwiches and Wraps

Chicken breasts can be sliced or shredded and used as a filling for sandwiches or wraps. For example, you could make a chicken Caesar wrap or an avocado grilled cheese sandwich with herbed goat cheese and garlic.

Pasta

Adding chicken to a pasta dish is a great way to increase the protein content. You could try tossing the chicken with Brussels sprouts pasta and brown butter or adding it to a creamy kale pasta or a mushroom gnocchi dish.

Stir Fry

Chicken can be a tasty addition to a vegetable stir fry. For example, you could make a vegetable Lo Mein or a red curry chicken stir fry with cashew sauce.

Pizza

You can use air fryer chicken breasts as a topping for pizza. For example, you could make a Buffalo chicken pizza.

Side Dishes

There are numerous side dishes that go well with air fryer chicken breasts. Here are some ideas:

• Roasted potatoes and carrots
• Mashed potatoes
• Homemade mac and cheese
• Steamed green beans
• Roasted broccoli
• Oven-baked steak fries
• Corn on the cob
• Air fryer asparagus
• Air fryer mushrooms
• Air fryer Brussels sprouts
• Air fryer zucchini fries
• Air fryer tater tots

Frequently asked questions