Air-Fried Chicken Breasts: A Quick, Crispy Delight

Air fryers have become increasingly popular, and for good reason. They're a quick, easy, and healthy way to cook chicken breasts, leaving them tender and juicy on the inside and golden and crispy on the outside.

There are a few key steps to follow to ensure your chicken breasts are cooked to perfection. Firstly, you'll want to brine the chicken beforehand if you have time. Brining involves dissolving 2 tablespoons of salt in 2 cups of room-temperature water and letting the chicken sit in this solution for at least 15 minutes. This process helps to tenderise the meat and ensure it stays juicy.

Next, you'll want to season your chicken breasts. A simple combination of paprika, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper works well. You can also add other dried herbs like oregano or parsley. If you're feeling adventurous, try smoked paprika, hot paprika, Hungarian paprika, or sweet paprika for a unique twist.

Now it's time to cook the chicken in your air fryer. Set the temperature to 360-375°F and cook the chicken for around 10 minutes, flipping it halfway through. The exact cooking time will depend on the size of your chicken breasts, so keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.

Once the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160-165°F, your juicy and tender air fryer chicken breasts are ready to be enjoyed!

How to brine chicken breasts before air frying

Brining your chicken breasts before air frying is a great way to ensure your chicken is juicy and tender. Brining is the process of salting meat and letting it rest before cooking. The salt disrupts the muscle fibres, creating space for the meat to retain its natural juices. This process also allows the salt to penetrate the meat, ensuring it is well-seasoned throughout.

Wet brine vs dry brine

You can use a wet brine or a dry brine. A wet brine involves submerging your chicken in a saltwater solution, while a dry brine involves sprinkling the meat with salt and letting it rest. Some people prefer a dry brine as it is less messy, but both methods will yield juicy, well-seasoned chicken.

How to brine chicken breasts

To brine chicken breasts, start by dissolving salt in a bowl of lukewarm water. The basic ratio of salt to water for a brine is 4 tablespoons of salt per 6 cups of water. You can also add herbs and spices to your brine if desired.

Once your brine is ready, submerge your chicken breasts in the solution and let them sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 2 hours. If you brine for longer than 2 hours, your chicken may become too salty.

After brining, remove the chicken from the solution, pat it dry, and proceed with your air fryer recipe.

Air frying your chicken breasts

When you're ready to air fry your chicken breasts, start by patting them dry with paper towels if you used a wet brine. Then, season your chicken with your desired herbs and spices, and rub with olive oil to help the seasonings adhere.

Preheat your air fryer to 375-415°F, depending on your recipe and air fryer model. Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket, smooth side down, and cook for 7-10 minutes. Then, flip the chicken over and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Let your chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!

How to season chicken breasts before air frying

There are a few steps to follow to ensure your chicken breasts are seasoned to perfection before air frying.

Firstly, you'll want to decide on your seasoning blend. A simple yet tasty option is to use a combination of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. You can also add cayenne pepper for a spicy kick. Alternatively, you could use dried herbs such as thyme, oregano, or parsley, or a pre-made Italian seasoning blend.

Once you've chosen your seasoning, the next step is to prepare the chicken. Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board and cover them with plastic wrap. Using a rolling pin, meat mallet, or your palm, lightly pound the chicken to an even thickness. This step helps ensure even cooking and improves the texture of the meat.

Now it's time to season the chicken. Sprinkle your chosen seasoning blend generously over the chicken breasts, making sure to coat all sides evenly. You can use your hands to rub the spices into the meat. In addition to the dry spices, you'll also want to coat the chicken with a small amount of oil, such as olive oil or avocado oil. This helps the seasonings adhere to the meat and keeps it moist.

At this point, you can choose to let the chicken rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours, or you can cook it immediately. If you do choose to rest the chicken, let it come to room temperature for about 15 minutes before cooking.

Finally, it's time to air fry your seasoned chicken breasts. Preheat your air fryer to 360-375°F (depending on your model) and place the chicken in the basket, smooth side down. Cook for 6-7 minutes, then flip the chicken over and cook for an additional 2-8 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken breasts.

And that's it! You now have perfectly seasoned and cooked air-fried chicken breasts. Enjoy!

How long to cook chicken breasts in the air fryer

The length of time it takes to cook chicken breasts in an air fryer depends on the size of the chicken breasts.

Small chicken breasts (5 to 7 ounces) will take 7 to 10 minutes to cook. 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.

It's important to note that you should flip the chicken halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking.

If you're using frozen chicken breasts, it's best to thaw them first before cooking. However, if you forget to thaw your chicken, you can put raw frozen chicken directly into the air fryer. For frozen chicken breasts, preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit, and cook for 18 to 20 minutes, flipping once halfway through.

Additionally, it's recommended to use an instant-read thermometer to check if the chicken is cooked through. Chicken is considered safe to eat at an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Brining: Season the chicken with salt and let it rest for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Brining helps the meat absorb extra liquid and salt, resulting in more flavorful and moist chicken.
• Don't overcook the chicken: Remove the chicken from the air fryer when it reaches an internal temperature of 155 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The residual heat will continue to cook the chicken, bringing it to the safe temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Now that you know how long to cook chicken breasts in an air fryer, you can enjoy delicious, juicy, and tender chicken as part of your healthy meals!

How to use air fryer chicken breasts in meals

Now that you've cooked your chicken breasts in the air fryer, it's time to incorporate them into some tasty meals! Here are some ideas to get you started:

Salads

Air fryer chicken breast goes well with a variety of salads. Try adding it to a spinach strawberry salad with balsamic poppy seed dressing, or a simple green salad like an arugula salad. You can also pair it with a heartier salad like a chicken Caesar salad. If you're feeling creative, try making your own unique salad combination!

Pasta

For a veggie pasta dish with a protein boost, add your air fryer chicken. It would be delicious tossed with Brussels sprouts pasta in brown butter or paired with a creamy kale pasta. You could also try it with a paprika chicken pasta or a simple crustless quiche.

Sandwiches and Wraps

Air fryer chicken is versatile and can be used in sandwiches or wraps. Make a chicken Caesar wrap or add it to an avocado grilled cheese sandwich with herbed goat cheese and garlic. You can also slice or shred the chicken to add to Thai peanut wraps.

Pizza

Use your air fryer chicken to make a scrumptious buffalo chicken pizza. You can also try it with other pizza combinations to suit your taste!

Stir Fry

Vegetable Lo Mein or stir-fried rice would be delicious with some air fryer chicken added to the mix.

Sides

Serve your air fryer chicken breast with a variety of sides, such as roasted potatoes and carrots, mashed potatoes, green beans, Brussels sprouts, or air fryer asparagus.

Remember, these are just a few suggestions to get you started. Feel free to experiment and create your own delicious combinations! Enjoy your meals!

What to serve with air fryer chicken breasts

There are many options for what to serve with air fryer chicken breasts. Here are some ideas:

Salads

You can add the chicken to a Spinach Strawberry Salad with Balsamic Poppy Seed Dressing, or a simple green salad. You could also add it to a Roasted Peanut Kale Salad or an Avocado Kale Caesar Salad.

Wraps and sandwiches

Try adding the chicken to a Chicken Caesar Wrap, an Avocado Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Herbed Goat Cheese and Garlic, or a Chicken Caesar Wrap. You could also add it to Thai Peanut Wraps or a Crustless Quiche.

Pasta

Add the chicken to a veggie pasta dish, such as Brussels Sprouts Pasta with Brown Butter, or Creamy Kale Pasta. You could also add it to Mushroom Gnocchi or Paprika Chicken Pasta.

Rice

Serve the chicken with green rice, or coconut rice.

Pizza

Use the chicken to make a Buffalo Chicken Pizza.

Stir Fry

Add the chicken to a Vegetable Lo Mein.

Sides

Serve the chicken with roasted potatoes and carrots, or roasted broccoli. You could also serve it with air fryer sides such as air fryer French fries, green beans, asparagus, sweet potato fries, zucchini chips, or potato wedges.

Frequently asked questions