This recipe for a simple basic cooked chicken breast is as easy as it gets! The chicken breast comes out juicy and perfect every time and it's cooked in the air fryer! Great for salads, casseroles, or pasta salads!
Sometimes I like to make this same recipe but wrap the chicken in some bacon because bacon makes everything taste better. Check out this recipe for Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breasts.
Jump to:
- Why You Will love this Recipe
- Ingredients Needed
- How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
- How to season chicken breasts?Â
- Tips for Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- Chicken Breast Sizes and Cooking Times
- Recipe FAQS
- What to serve with Chicken Breasts?
- More Great Air Fryer Recipes to Try:
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe
Why You Will love this Recipe
You can cook up some air fryer chicken breasts for the week and use the chicken for Air Fryer Chicken Quesadillas, Summer Cobb Salad, or DIY Weight Watchers Burrito Bowls.
Air fryers do not heat up the whole entire house like an oven does. I rarely turn on my oven anymore to make those 3 items above and the air fryer doesn't heat up your space.
Once you master basic chicken in the air fryer you can make air fryer chicken nuggets, parmesan chicken, or the Best Air Fryer Whole Chicken.
Ingredients Needed
Chicken Breast - make sure the chicken breasts are even in size for proper cooking. Use an oven read thermometer for proper doneness
Seasoning - I have a few ideas on how you can season your chicken breast below but I like to use Dano's seasoning.
Olive oil for brushing on top of the chicken - or olive oil cooking spray
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
Step 1: Set your air fryer to 400 degrees.
Step 2: Slice your chicken breast in half and season your chicken breast with salt and pepper and then seasoning salt of choice. I like to use Trader Joe's Seasoning salt but again, use whatever you like or have on hand. Brush the chicken with olive oil.
Step 3: Place chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer and set the temperature to 400 degrees. Close the basket and set the timer at 7 minutes. After 7 minutes take the chicken out and flip and cook for another 4 minutes longer. Check for temperature doneness with an instant read thermometer.
Step 4 Take the cooked chicken breast out of the air fryer and serve it whatever way you like!
How to season chicken breasts?
There are many different ways you can flavor up this chicken. My recipe below calls for seasoning salt of choice and salt and pepper.
Some other seasonings that would be great for chicken breasts are lemon pepper seasoning, Taco Seasoning, Trader Joe’s Everything but the Bagel Seasoning, Trader Joe’s All Purpose Seasoning Salt, and Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute.
Seasoning Blend Spices: Onion powder, garlic powder, paprika
Chicken marinades will also cook in the air fryer. I'd suggest placing a sheet of parchment down before cooking so that none of the marinade drips. - Easy 3 Ingredient Chicken Marinade Recipe
Tips for Air Fryer Chicken Breast
One easy way to transform any chicken breast in the air fryer is to use a chicken brine before air frying the breasts. Find my recipe for Chicken Brine here! Chicken Brine Recipe
Use a meat thermometer to check and see if your chicken breast is properly done inside. Poke the chicken breast with a thermometer. It has to be at a temperature of 165 degrees for it to be done. Some air fryers might require longer cooking times for chicken.
Brushing your chicken with oil or using cooking spray is optional. I think spraying the chicken with oil helps with the skin drying out while cooking.
Chicken breasts are zero points on Weight Watchers if you don't add any type of oil to the chicken when cooking it in your air fryer. Prepare a few chicken breasts for the week to use on salads, pizza, casseroles, and quesadillas, or make DIY burrito bowls.
Chicken Breast Sizes and Cooking Times
Depending on the size of your chicken breast will vary for cooking times. Another good tip for making sure chicken cooks properly is to pound the breasts out so that they are all even in size. Make sure the basket isn't overcrowded with chicken either.
- Small Breasts (5 to 7 ounces): 7 to 10 minutes
- Medium Breasts (8 to 10 ounces): 10 to 12 minutes
- Large Breasts (11 ounces or more): 12 to 16 minutes
Recipe FAQS
Always store leftovers in clean, food-grade containers. The type of container doesn’t really matter. Use zip lock, glass, plastic,  whatever!  Make sure to store any leftovers in an airtight container before putting it in the freezer or refrigerator. Â
Yes, it is safe and clean to put raw chicken in the air fryer. Use a pair of tongs to transfer the chicken into the basket if you don't want to touch the chicken.
This is an optional step and is up to the person making the ready. I like adding oil to the chicken. It helps the chicken to be more juicy.
What to serve with Chicken Breasts?
Once you’ve made your chicken in the air fryer, here are some tasty ways to use it:
- Use up that leftover chicken breast on top of salads. Summer Cobb Salad, Strawberry Poppyseed Chicken Salad, or Strawberry Salad with Balsamic Dressing
- Make Chicken Quesadillas
- Add to casseroles like my Buffalo Chicken Baked Ziti or Crack Chicken Lasagna Rollups
More Great Air Fryer Recipes to Try:
If you tried this Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
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Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe
- Cook Time: 14
- Total Time: 14
- Yield: 2 1x
Description
Air Fyrer Chicken Breast - a simple basic chicken breast recipe with no breading. Comes out juicy and perfect every time! Great for salads, casseroles, or pasta salads!Â
Ingredients
1 (5 to 6 oz) chicken breast split in half lengthwise (thawed)Â
*See notes* Seasoning salt of choice Salt and Pepper
Olive oil or Olive oil spray (optional)Â
Instructions
1. Set your air fryer to 400 degrees.
2. Slice your chicken breast in half and season your chicken breast with salt and pepper and then seasoning salt of choice. I like to use Trader Joe's Seasoning salt but again, use whatever you like or have on hand. Brush the chicken with olive oil or use an olive oil spray.Â
3. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket and set the temperature to 400 degrees. Close the basket and set the timer at 7 minutes.
4. After 7 minutes take the chicken out and flip and cook for another 4 minutes longer.Â
5. Air fryer temperatures and cooking time may vary. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165 degrees.Â
Notes
My WW Personal Points: 0 Click here to see in recipe builder (will have to log in)Â
Cook time for different size chicken breastsÂ
- Small Breasts (5 to 7 ounces): 7 to 10 minutes
- Medium Breasts (8 to 10 ounces): 10 to 12 minutes
- Large Breasts (11 ounces or more): 12 to 16 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 167
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 111mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 0g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 39g
Keywords: air fryer chicken breast
Jenna says
Yes, 400 degrees will cook chicken breasts as well.
Lynda says
I have a small new air fryer that only had 400 degree settings from Alia. Can I make a chicken breast,boneless, skinless with pest, sliced Roma tomato and mozzarella cheese on top after flipping half way through cooking?
Steve says
Love this recipe. Used Serious Foodie West African Paradise rub.
★★★★★
Jenna says
Awesome thanks!
Christy says
Just received my new air fryer for Christmas but I need a bigger one! I used this recipe for the first time making boneless chicken breasts!!! They turned out juicy....Perfectly done! Thank you! I’ll be consulting your recipes much more!!!!
★★★★★
Jenna says
You can do either or. I would suggest using some kind of parchment underneath for easy cleanup.
Joan says
When can you put a sauce on chicken? While it’s cooking?
Thank You
Joan
Jenna says
If it is frozen I would just double the time and check it with a thermometer to make sure it is done.
Tom says
What about frozen chicken breast. Just compensate for the fact they are frozen?
Teri says
First time using air fryer tried this recipe. Came out good and juicy! Thanks for sharing!
★★★★★