This air fryer chicken breast is so tender and flavorful and ready in no time! And it is low carb, gluten-free, and keto-friendly as it contains no breading.
Chicken breast made in the air fryer is so convenient and easy to prepare. This recipe has so much flavor and is excellent for meal prep.
Many people struggle with chicken breasts because they tend to be bland and dry if you don't prepare them properly. But I give excellent tips on how to make super flavorful chicken breast every time!
These air fryer chicken breasts with no breading will make you fall in love with this chicken part all over again!
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Which air fryer should I use?
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. And clean-up is a breeze as you can put the air fryer basket in the dishwasher.
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 air fryer chicken breast recipe.
- Chicken breasts. For this recipe, I use boneless skinless chicken breast.
- 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 it), and add a few tablespoons of salt to it. 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 it.
- 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 this easy air fryer chicken recipe 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 would become nice and crisp again. Enjoy!
Tips and variations
- 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 black pepper or chili powder to the 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.
What can I eat air-fried chicken breasts with?
This juicy chicken breast goes great with veggies like this air fryer broccoli or roasted turmeric cauliflower.
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.
There's no limit to how you can eat air fryer chicken breasts. So let your imagination go wild!
Frequently asked questions
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.
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.
Depending on the thickness and the 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 would be enough to give you crisp, tender, and juicy chicken breasts that the whole family would love.
Check out these other delicious recipes!
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Crispy Skin Baked Chicken Drumsticks
Ninja Foodi Turkey Breast (Air Fryer)
Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Breast - No Breading
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts 10-12oz each
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp 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.
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