Make Juicy Chicken Breasts With Your Air Fryer

Chicken breasts are notorious for drying out, but with an air fryer, you can achieve a juicy, tender, and flavourful result. The key to success is brining or marinating the chicken before cooking, and ensuring you don't overcook it.

Brining involves salting the meat and letting it rest before cooking. This process helps the chicken retain moisture and enhances its flavour. You can also add other spices and herbs to the brine for extra flavour.

Marinating the chicken in a sauce or dressing can also help keep it juicy. Italian dressing, for example, can be used as a marinade.

When cooking, ensure your air fryer is set to the right temperature—375 degrees Fahrenheit is recommended. The cooking time will depend on the size of your chicken breasts, but generally, it should take around 10 minutes.

Finally, don't overcook the chicken. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature, which should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit when the chicken is done.

With these tips, you'll be able to make juicy and tender chicken breasts in your air fryer every time.

Brining the chicken

Brining is a process of salting meat and letting it rest before cooking. During brining, the meat absorbs extra liquid and salt. The salt flavours the meat throughout, so your chicken will taste seasoned, rather than bland. The liquid also helps to keep it moist.

You can use a wet brine (a saltwater solution) or a dry brine (sprinkling the meat with salt). If you're using a wet brine, fill a large bowl with about 6 cups of lukewarm water and add 1/4 cup of kosher salt, stirring to dissolve. Place the chicken breasts in the brine and let them sit in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours.

If you're using a dry brine, simply sprinkle the chicken with salt and place it in the refrigerator uncovered for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 day.

After brining, remove the chicken from the refrigerator and let it stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Then, pat the chicken dry with paper towels before proceeding with your chosen recipe.

Using olive oil

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken

Start by patting the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. If your chicken breasts are of uneven thickness, use a meat mallet to gently pound the thicker end until both sides are levelled out to ensure even cooking.

Step 2: Brine the Chicken (Optional)

Brining is a great way to add moisture and flavour to your chicken. To brine, fill a large bowl with lukewarm water and add kosher salt, stirring to dissolve. The basic ratio is 4 tablespoons of salt per 6 cups of water. You can also add other spices to your brine for extra flavour. Submerge the chicken breasts in the brine and let them sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour. After brining, remove the chicken from the brine, pat it dry, and discard the brine.

Step 3: Coat the Chicken with Olive Oil

Place the chicken breasts in a bowl and drizzle olive oil over them, ensuring each fillet is generously coated. You can also add a small amount of olive oil directly to the air fryer basket to prevent the chicken from sticking.

Step 4: Season the Chicken

In a small bowl, combine your choice of seasonings and spices. You can use a simple blend of salt and pepper, or get creative with spices like smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, or Italian seasoning. Mix your chosen seasonings and rub them generously onto each side of the chicken breasts.

Step 5: Air Fry the Chicken

Preheat your air fryer to 360-380°F (182-193°C). Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket, leaving space between them to ensure even cooking. Cook for 4 minutes, then flip the chicken and cook for an additional 4-9 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken breasts. For smaller breasts (5-7 ounces), cook for a total of 8-10 minutes. For medium breasts (8-10 ounces), cook for 10-12 minutes. For larger breasts (11 ounces or more), cook for 14-16 minutes.

Step 6: Rest and Serve

Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 2-5 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring your chicken is juicy and tender. Enjoy your delicious, juicy air fryer chicken breast!

Spacing out the chicken breasts

When placing the chicken in the air fryer, make sure there is enough space between the breasts. The air fryer cooks the chicken by circulating hot air, so it's important to give it enough room to do so.

If you're cooking a large batch of chicken, you may need to cook it in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer.

Flipping the chicken halfway through the cooking process will also ensure even cooking and help to create a juicy chicken breast.

Checking the temperature

It's important to note that the cooking time will depend on the size of your chicken breasts. Small breasts (5 to 7 ounces) will take around 6 to 10 minutes, medium breasts (8 to 10 ounces) will take 10 to 12 minutes, and large breasts (11 ounces or more) will take 12 to 16 minutes. Always flip the chicken halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking.

Additionally, it's recommended to let the chicken rest for a few minutes after removing it from the air fryer. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring your chicken is juicy and tender.

Letting the chicken rest

During the resting period, the chicken will continue to cook due to carryover cooking, ensuring it reaches the recommended internal temperature of 165°F for cooked chicken. This prevents overcooking and helps keep the chicken juicy. It is best to use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken to ensure it is cooked thoroughly.

The resting time for the chicken can vary depending on the size of the chicken breasts and the desired doneness. For smaller breasts, a resting time of 5 to 10 minutes is usually sufficient. For larger breasts, you may need to rest them for a slightly longer period.

While the chicken is resting, you can prepare any sides or sauces to accompany your meal. This ensures that your chicken is still warm when you are ready to serve it. Resting the chicken also allows you to clean up your air fryer or prepare any other components of your dish.

Remember, the key to juicy air-fried chicken breast is to not overcook it and to let it rest after cooking. This allows the juices to redistribute and results in a tender and flavorful chicken breast that your family and friends will love.

Frequently asked questions