Juicy 12-Minute Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Looking for a quick weeknight dinner? This air fryer chicken breast recipe delivers juicy, perfectly seasoned results in just 12 minutes. Trust me, the last thing this air fryer chicken recipe will be is bland. I prefer using skinless chicken breasts but if you want to leave the skin on the cooking and prep is the same.

This recipe is one of my go to's. If you have kids like I do you know take out is such an easy option but this is easy air fryer recipe is healthy, fast, and nutritious. Its a set it and forget it (although you have to flip mid cook), versatile, and you can add it to salads, soups, wraps, sandwiches, rice, pasta, you name it.

Ingredients Needed

Despite being a lean meat, chicken breast can come out incredibly juicy and tender in the air fryer. The key is not overcooking it. Always cook chicken breast to 165 degrees Fahrenheit for food safety while maintaining juiciness. Using a meat thermometer is essential - I recommend an inexpensive digital thermometer from Amazon to ensure perfect results every time. Look for chicken breasts that are similar in size for even cooking. If they're too thick, consider butterflying them for faster, more even results.

Best Seasonings for Air Fryer Chicken

While you can season your chicken breast with virtually anything, here's my proven combination for flavorful results:

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

Mix these seasonings together before applying for even distribution. This blend creates a savory, herb-crusted exterior that complements the chicken perfectly. Feel free to adjust quantities to your taste preferences.

Why Use Olive Oil

Olive oil serves multiple important purposes in this recipe:

• Helps seasonings adhere to the chicken breast
• Creates a more golden-brown exterior
• Keeps the chicken moist during cooking
• Adds a subtle flavor that enhances the seasonings
• Helps achieve that coveted crispy exterior

Use about 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil per chicken breast, rubbing it evenly over the surface before applying seasonings. Choose a good quality extra virgin olive oil for the best results.

How to Prepare Chicken Breast for Air Frying

Trimming tips for chicken Breast

- If you see a little white piece on the chicken breast its the tendon.  Tendons are completely safe to eat but if you want you can remove them. Grab the tendon with a paper towel or your hand firmly and place a fork down on the chicken breast. Gently pull out the tendon, repeat for each chicken breast.

Preparing the Seasonings

- in a bowl mix the seasonings together. If you are following my recipe then this is salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning.

Temperature tips

- if the chicken breast if frozen you'll want to let the chicken thaw. It might be best to let it thaw in the fridge overnight and cook it the next day.

Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe

Recipe card with ingredients

- cutting board, chicken breasts, seasonings : 1/2 tps salt, 1/4 tps black pepper, 1/2 garlic powder, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning, meat pounder, olive oil, air fryer.

Step-by-step instructions

- to make this recipe take out the chicken and pound it so that it is all level (this helps the chicken cook evenly). next put the chicken in a bowl and add olive oil. make sure each side of the chicken is covered. next add the seasonings and make the chicken is covered on both sides. put it in the air fryer at 375 and cook chicken following the cooking times below.

Cooking time and temperature

- The cooking time will vary based on the size of your chicken breasts. 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 You do need to flip the chicken halfway through cooking to ensure it cooks evenly. (most air fryers beep half way) letting you know when its time to flip the chicken.

How to check for doneness

- using the thermometer open the air fryer basket and poke the chicken in the middle and see if its at least 165 degrees fahrenheit, if so its cooked. If its 5 or 10 degrees above 165 next time you cook you'll want to lower the cooking time because you want as close to 165 as possible to not overcook and keep its juices.

Tips for Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Brining options

- you can salt the chicken ahead of time and set it in the fridge ( even 30 minutes is good) to have a juicer cook. Just remember if you brine the chicken you wont need to add salt during the seasonings.

Thickness considerations

- if you have extra thick chicken you might want to consider cutting the breast in half (sideways, hotdog style) to have a more reliable cook.

Resting time

- if you can resist place the chicken breasts on a plate and wait 5 minutes. The cooking process will continue and soften the meat making for a better meal overall.

Common mistakes to avoid

- leaving the chicken in the air fryer after the timer has gone off will still cook the chicken most likely overcooking the chicken and making it dry. Not preheating the air fryer if yours requires it (mine doesn't).

Recipe Variations

Different seasoning options

- You can try and use a premade seasoning blend. One of my favorites is flavor gods. Sometimes i like to have mine spicy so i had crushed re pepper flakes or cayenne pepper. Just be aware of your audience when adding spicy seasonings.

Marinade suggestions

- you can try and go with a soy sauce, honey, pepper flakes,  garlic marinade. Just pound the chicken and add to a bag and let it sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes up to a day or two. 

Sauce pairings

- I'm a sucker for anything spicy so sometimes i put on some salsa verde and have it with a side a rice.

Storage and Reheating

Proper storage methods

- Store in a air tight container for up to 4 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer.

Reheating instructions

- pop in the microwave for 45-60 seconds or in the air fryer at 375 degrees for 3 minutes.

Meal prep tips

- cook 4 to 6 breasts in one big batch and refrigerate so you can have ready to go chicken that you put use in salads, soups, wraps, etc. and will have plenty of protein ready for the week you'll just need sides.

Serving Suggestions

Side dish recommendations

- One of my favorites is just to serve this with a side of rice and vegetables. Start the rice first and then pop the boneless skinless chicken breasts in the air fryer to have them both finish around the same time.

Salad pairings

- This is great with just a basic lettuce, tomato, cucumber, lemon salad. You have low calorie high protein meal that is perfect for weight loss.

Frequently Asked Questions

Time variations for different sizes

- Look above at the recommended cook times. If your chicken didn't come out perfect adjust your settings and cook the chicken again.

Frozen vs. fresh chicken

- The way to cook the chicken will depend on its temperature. If you're using frozen chicken set the air fryer to 360 and cook for 18-20 minutes, flipping once midway the cooking process.

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