Air-Fried Chicken Fillet: Quick, Crispy, And Delicious!

Air fryers are a brilliant way to cook chicken fillets, producing tender, juicy, and delicious results. The key to success is to ensure your chicken breasts are of a similar size so they cook evenly and not overcooking them, as this will dry out the meat. You can use a range of seasonings and spices to flavour the chicken, from simple salt and pepper to smoked paprika, cumin, and onion powder. Some recipes also suggest adding a touch of olive oil to keep the chicken moist. Most recipes suggest cooking the chicken for around 10 minutes, but this will depend on the size of your chicken breasts and your air fryer, so it's important to keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.

Choosing the right chicken fillets

Firstly, opt for boneless and skinless chicken breasts. This type of cut is ideal for air frying as it cooks evenly and efficiently. The absence of bones and skin also means that you can easily coat the chicken with your chosen seasonings and achieve a delicious crispy texture. Aim for chicken breasts that are around 7 ounces in weight; larger breasts will take longer to cook and may dry out. If you're cooking for a family or a group, try to choose chicken breasts of similar sizes to ensure even cooking.

Secondly, consider the freshness of the chicken. While you can use frozen chicken breasts, it's best to let them defrost thoroughly before cooking. Place them in the fridge overnight or for at least 4-5 hours to defrost, and then let them come to room temperature for about 10-15 minutes before you start seasoning. This will help ensure even cooking and maintain the juiciness of the meat.

Lastly, pay attention to the packaging and storage of the chicken fillets. Look for chicken breasts that are packaged in a way that minimizes moisture. Excess moisture can affect the texture and taste of the meat. If you're buying in bulk, choose a package with individually wrapped fillets to make it easier to defrost only what you need. When storing chicken in the fridge, use airtight containers or aluminium foil to prevent moisture loss and maintain freshness.

By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to choosing the right chicken fillets for your air fryer, ensuring delicious and juicy results every time!

Preparing the chicken

Choosing the Right Chicken

Select boneless, skinless chicken breasts for your air fryer recipe. Aim for chicken breasts that are around 7 ounces in weight. If you are using frozen chicken breasts, ensure they are completely thawed and pat them dry to remove any excess moisture before proceeding.

Slicing the Chicken

For even cooking and a better coating, it is recommended to slice the chicken breasts horizontally into thin fillets. This will give you a better ratio of tasty outer coating to tender inner meat. It will also reduce the cooking time. However, you can leave the chicken breasts whole if you prefer; just adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Seasoning the Chicken

In a small bowl, mix your chosen spices and herbs. You can use a simple mix of paprika, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper, or get creative with other dried herbs such as oregano or parsley, cumin, or onion powder. You can also add a touch of brown sugar and cornstarch for caramelization and extra flavour. Drizzle olive oil or avocado oil over the chicken and ensure it is well-coated. Then, sprinkle the seasoning blend generously on both sides of the chicken and use your hands to rub it in thoroughly.

Cooking Temperature and Timing

Preheat your air fryer to the recommended temperature, typically between 360-415°F. The cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of your chicken fillets. For thinner fillets, cook for around 10 minutes, and for thicker fillets, aim for 13-14 minutes. Always ensure your chicken is cooked through by checking the internal temperature, which should reach 160-165°F.

Cooking the chicken

Now that you have gathered your ingredients and read all the tips, you are ready to season the meat. I am using my go-to basic chicken seasoning: garlic, oregano, salt and pepper.

Normally, I don't measure this when I am making it for myself. I am really good at eyeballing it. But I went ahead and measured everything out for you. I tried mixing everything together in a blend and just spooning it on. It worked out great.

You will want to season the presentation side first. This would be the smooth side of the chicken breast. Spray it with a little cooking spray, and sprinkle it with the seasoning blend.

Next, place the chicken breast seasoned side down into the air fryer basket. Then spray and season side two, which is now facing upward. Now you are ready to start cooking!

Wondering how long to air fry chicken breasts and at what temperature? I set my timer for half the estimated cook time: 10 minutes in my case. Then I cook at 360 degrees for that time. No need to preheat.

Next, I use tongs to flip over the chicken breasts. Then cook for the remaining time, 10 minutes in my case (for a total of 20 minutes cook time). See the chart in the recipe notes below for more suggested cook times!

Remove the chicken breasts from the air fryer immediately and allow them to rest for at least 5 minutes. This will allow the juices to redistribute and result in juicier chicken breasts.

Frequently asked questions

After many multiple rounds of testing, the best cook time is about 20 minutes total (flipping halfway through) at 360 degrees Fahrenheit.

No, I would not recommend frozen chicken breasts for this recipe. For best results, use fresh or fully thawed chicken breasts.

You definitely can preheat if you want to. I rarely do, and I have not had a problem. It is also worth noting that I have made this in four different air fryers, and the results are similar throughout. Tender, juicy chicken breast every time! This is probably my most used chicken recipe in our family.

You could brine the chicken if you want. I just find it unnecessary, since the recipe as written already comes out so unbelievably tender and juicy.

Yes! I am assuming this is a question because air fryers are also popular for heating up frozen (cooked) chicken tenders or chicken products you would purchase in the freezer section of a grocery store. But yes, you can also fully cook raw, plain chicken breasts in an air fryer. It is the whole basis of this particular recipe.

Preparing chicken this way in the air fryer reduces the oil, and we are not adding any breading here. It would have a similar health profile to steamed, boiled, grilled or baked chicken breast.

Serving suggestions

There are many ways to serve air-fried chicken fillets. Here are some suggestions:

Sandwiches or Wraps

You can make a chicken and avocado sandwich or wrap using keto tortillas, keto bread, or some low-calorie wraps.

Pasta

Slice the chicken and add it to a healthy pasta or serve it on the side of some high-protein or low-calorie pasta.

Pizza

Add the chicken as a protein topping to a Sicilian pizza or a cast-iron pizza.

Sides

Make the chicken the star dish and serve it with sides such as smoked mac and cheese, scalloped potatoes, curry fried rice, or roasted thyme carrots.

Salad

Serve the chicken on a bed of greens such as a low-carb broccoli salad, keto coleslaw, or a keto potato salad. It can also be added to a roasted peanut kale salad or an avocado kale Caesar salad.

Rice Bowls

Slice the chicken and serve it on a bed of rice with dips or sauces.

Tacos

Slice the chicken into thin pieces and use them as a filling for tacos.

Soups

Add the chicken to soups for some extra protein.

Reheating and Storage

Leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days or frozen for several months. When reheating, add a teaspoon of water and cover with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap to help retain moisture.

Storage and reheating

Leftover chicken fillets can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four to five days. For longer storage, cooked and cooled chicken fillets can be frozen in a ziplock bag for up to two to three months.

When reheating chicken fillets, the air fryer or oven can be used to retain crispiness. Preheat the appliance to 350°F–375°F/190°C. Place the chicken fillets in a single layer in the air fryer basket or on a baking tray. For the oven, it is recommended to cover the chicken with foil. Reheat for around 2–3 minutes in the air fryer or 3–5 minutes in the oven.

To reheat frozen chicken fillets, let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

For reheating in the microwave, add a teaspoon of water to the chicken and cover with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap. Reheat for 20–30 seconds.

Frequently asked questions