The delicious Ninja Foodi chicken breast recipe is one of my favorite ways to prepare chicken! It is low-carb, gluten-free, and keto-friendly, as it contains no breading.
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❤️ Why You'll Love this Recipe
Gone are the days of papery, dried-out chicken breasts! Because the air fryer quickly bakes the outside of the chicken, the moisture locks inside. This is the easiest way to ensure juicy, chicken breasts every time.
Plus, cooking chicken breast in the air fryer is so quick and effortless...dinner will be on the table in no time. This recipe has so much flavor and is excellent for meal prep.
So what are you waiting for? Read on, to learn how to make the best air fryer chicken breast recipe!
💭 Equipment Used
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For this air fryer chicken recipe, I use my Ninja Foodi air fryer. You can use any brand of air fryer you like.
For best results, preheat your air fryer for a few minutes and add a little cooking spray before you put in your ingredients.
🧾 Ingredients Used
You only need a few simple ingredients for this juicy air fryer chicken breast recipe.
- Chicken breasts. For this recipe, I use boneless skinless chicken breasts.
- Spices: Garlic powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and salt.
- Olive oil: You can also use olive oil spray to grease the air fryer.
🔪 How To Make This Recipe
These delicious crispy chicken breasts are super easy to make. The key to making flavorful chicken breast is to brine the chicken so the flavors really sink in. Brining is the best way to prevent dry and bland chicken.
Brine the chicken breast
- Place the chicken breasts in a few cups of water (just enough to cover them), and add a few tablespoons of salt. I use a basic brine ratio of 4 tablespoons of salt to a quart of water. You can also add lemon juice to the water to give it a slightly tangy taste.
- Completely immerse the chicken breast in the water and let it soak for about 20 minutes.
- Next, drain the water from the chicken breast and pat it dry.
Air fry the chicken breast
- Preheat your air fryer to 375F. Mix all the spices in a bowl.
- Coat the chicken breasts with a little olive oil. You can also spray the chicken evenly with olive oil spray.
- Rub all sides of the chicken with the spice mix.
- Place the chicken parts in the air fryer basket and air fry for 8-10 minutes. To allow the hot air to circulate all the parts correctly, place them flat in a single layer in the basket.
- Flip and air fry for 7-8 mins, depending on how crispy you want your chicken to be.
- Use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature reaches at least 165F.
- Your juicy and flavorful chicken breasts are nice and ready!
🥫Storing and Reheating
You can store leftover chicken breast in the refrigerator for a few days. You can also freeze them in an airtight container for about a month.
To reheat air-fried chicken breasts, simply pop them in the air fryer or oven for about 4 to 5 minutes, and they will become nice and crisp again.
💭 Tips and variations
- For crispy chicken breasts - Pat the chicken parts completely dry before air frying them.
- Kick up the heat - Add black pepper or chili powder to the mix if you want the chicken breasts a little spicier. If you don't care for spicy chicken, skip the peppers altogether.
- Adjust cooking time for your chicken - You might have to increase the cooking time depending on the thickness of the chicken breast. Use a meat thermometer to ensure your chicken cooks completely (165 degrees F).
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer - You might have to cook in batches if you have a smaller air fryer.
- To save time - use this super easy chicken seasoning recipe!
🍽️ What can I eat air-fried chicken breasts with?
This juicy chicken breast goes great with veggies like broccoli, roasted cauliflower, or asparagus.
You can shred the chicken and add it to a Caesar salad. Or serve it with some miracle rice and steamed cabbage to further tantalize your tastebuds. Drizzle some keto gravy on it. Yum!
There's no limit to how you can eat air fryer chicken breasts. So let your imagination go wild!
👩🍳 Frequently asked questions
What Are Air Fried Chicken Breasts?
These delicious crispy chicken breasts are super easy to make. The key to making flavorful chicken breast is to brine the chicken so the flavors sink in. Brining is the best way to prevent dry and bland chicken.
Then, you'll coat them in a little oil and some seasonings to make sure every bite is delicious. Finally, the chicken heads to the air fryer, where it is baked to perfection.
How do I choose an air fryer?
Air fryers are well known for their quick cook time and ease of use. In addition, air frying is a healthy way to cook some of your favorite fried foods, as it requires less oil. They are amazing for meats like lamb chops, turkey wings, chicken wings, or even veggies like broccoli.
An air fryer cooks food evenly by gently removing moisture so that it leaves your food crisp and nicely browned. The low fan speed and low heat ensure appropriate dehydration.
I highly recommend the Ninja Air Fryer for its wide temperature range, among other lovely features. I love that its basket is non-stick, so your food does not get stuck when cooking. Plus, clean-up is a breeze as you can put the air fryer basket in the dishwasher.
Why is my chicken dry in the air fryer?
One thing about chicken breasts, in particular, is that they might dry out when you air-fry them. The solution is to either brine it for 30 minutes to an hour or marinate it for a few hours.
This allows the spices to soak into the chicken thoroughly. Also, much-needed moisture will seep into the chicken so that when you air fry it, it won't dry out but will be juicy and tender all around.
Do you need breading for the air fryer?
No, you don't have to add bread crumbs or flour to your chicken breasts before air frying. You can get crispy chicken breast from your air fryer without that. All you need is the know-how.
How long should I cook chicken breast in the air fryer?
Depending on the thickness and size of your chicken breasts, I recommend that you air-fry them for about 15 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway.
Always use an instant read thermometer to make sure the internal temperature reaches 165F. That will give you the juiciest air fryer chicken breast the whole family will love!
Need more air fryer recipes? Next time, try these!
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings
Also, check out these ninja foodi easy recipes!
📖 Recipe
Ninja Foodi Chicken Breast
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts 10-12oz each
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
Brine the chicken breast
- Place the chicken breast in water and salt. Use a brine ratio of 4 tablespoons of salt to a quart of water.
- Soak for about 20 minutes.
- Drain the chicken breast and pat dry.
Air fry the chicken breast
- Preheat your air fry to 375F.
- Mix the spices in a bowl.
- Coat the chicken breasts with olive oil.
- Rub all sides of the chicken with the spice mix.
- Place in the air fryer and bake for 8-10 minutes.
- Flip and bake for 7-8 mins depending on how crispy you want it.
- Use a thermometer to make sure the internal temperature reaches at least 165F.
Notes
- For delicious crispy chicken breasts, pat the chicken parts completely dry before air frying them.
- If you want the chicken breasts a little spicier, add more black pepper and other peppers to the spice mix. If you don't care for spicy chicken at all, skip the peppers altogether.
- You might have to increase the cooking time depending on the thickness of the chicken till you reach your desired level of crispiness.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer. You might have to cook in batches if you have a smaller air fryer.
- To save time, use this super easy chicken seasoning recipe!
Nutrition
Tayo Oredola is the founder of Low Carb Africa, where she shares healthy, low carb dishes with global flavors. She is passionate about teaching people how to cook drool-worthy dishes while losing weight and living their best lives. Tayo’s recipes have been featured on MSN, Women’s Health, Parade, Yahoo News, Pure Wow, Essence, and other online publications.
I just made this recipe. I love the idea of brining it to keep it moist. But it is so salty that we can’t eat it. Suggestions?
Hi Stephanie, if you follow the brining ratio and use regular table salt (not kosher salt), it should not be salty.
hello! I enjoy making some of your recipes. I would like to know if brining the chicken in this recipe is necessary. I have to watch my salt intake and wondered if I didn't brine the chicken, what else can I do to have the recipe still come out the same way in air fryer and no breading? please respond. thank you!
Hi Gloria, brining makes the chicken breast tender and juicy inside. It will still be delicious but might be a bit dry if you don't brine it. Maybe try brining using your favorite spice or herbs and leave out the salt.
Oh my goodness that was so tasty and so easy! thank you so much for the recipe