This Air Fryer chicken breast recipe is ready in 20 minutes.

Chicken breasts are brushed with olive oil, perfectly seasoned, and air-fried until juicy and flavorful.

Serve them as is or use them to add to casseroles or wraps.

Air Fryer Chicken Breasts on a plate with rice and beans

You’ll Be Obsessed With Air Fryer Chicken Breast Because…

  • It uses only a handful of ingredients.
  • This recipe is so fast to prepare— about 20 minutes from start to finish.
  • It’s versatile—use the seasonings below, your favorite chicken seasoning, or any seasoning mix.
  • The results are incredibly juicy and super tender every single time.
Ingredients for air fryer chicken breast

Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Chicken breasts can weigh 5 to 10 ounces. This recipe calls for boneless, skinless chicken breasts weighing 6 to 7 ounces each. Four 6-ounce chicken breasts will weigh about 1½ pounds.

Oil helps keep the chicken moist on the outside and helps the seasonings to stick.

Seasonings in this recipe are simple—garlic powder, paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper are the only spices you need.

Seasoning Variations

Add other seasonings to the blend in the recipe, or swap the seasonings for your favorite spice mixture. Try:

How to Air Fry Chicken Breasts

These are a go-to in my kitchen because they cook faster than oven baked chicken breasts and are always juicy. This recipe is for 6-7 ounce chicken breasts, which can range in size from 5oz to 10oz. Adjust cooking time as needed.

  1. Rub chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle seasoning (recipe below).
  2. Place in the air fryer basket, allowing space around each chicken breast.
  3. Cook for 16-19 minutes, flipping after 10 minutes.

Serve air fryer chicken breasts on their own or slice them for sandwiches, salad, pasta, or use them in meal prep.

NOTE:  Appliances can vary – check the chicken a few minutes early to ensure they don’t overcook.

4 air fryer chicken breasts on a plate with green beans in the background

Tips for Juicy Chicken

  • Check for doneness a few minutes before cooking should be done by inserting a meat thermometer in the thickest part.
  • Chicken should reach 165°F but will continue to cook once removed from the air fryer, so remove it from the air fryer when it reaches 162°F.
  • Let the chicken breasts rest for 5 minutes before serving or slicing.

Storing Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container or covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. They can also be stored in the freezer for up to 4 months.

cut air fryer chicken breast with rice and green beans on a plate

Did you make these Air Fryer Chicken Breasts? Leave a rating and a comment below.

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4 air fryer chicken breasts on a plate with green beans in the background
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Air Fryer Chicken Breasts

Air Fryer Chicken Breasts are perfectly seasoned, tender & juicy!
Prep Time 4 minutes
Cook Time 16 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Author Holly Nilsson

Equipment

Mixing Bowls on white background
Mixing Bowls
a black air fryer
Air Fryer
Instant Read Thermometer on white background
Instant Read Thermometer
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Ingredients  

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts 6-7 ounces each
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Seasoning Mix (or use your favorite seasoning blend)

  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano

Instructions 

  • Preheat the air fryer to 370°F.
  • In a small bowl, combine paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and oregano.
  • Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and then rub it with olive oil. Season with the seasoning mix or your own preferred blend.
  • Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer, ensuring that they don't overlap.
  • Cook chicken for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken over and cook for an additional 6-9 minutes or until the internal temperature chicken reaches 165°F. Be sure not to overcook.
  • Once the chicken is fully cooked, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

Video

Notes

For best results, use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches 165°F. For juicy chicken breast, do not overcook.
Cook time can vary slightly based on the size/shape of chicken; the cooking times are for 6-7 oz chicken breasts. Chicken breasts can range in size from 5oz to 10oz, and appliances can vary. Adjust cook time as needed.
Other seasoning options include garlic powder, onion powder, and/or Italian seasoning, Greek seasoning blend, cajun seasoning, or lemon pepper.
If your chicken breasts fit in your basket without overlapping, you can use 4 chicken breasts. If they’re extra large, cook them in batches or just use 3 chicken breasts (seasoning will remain the same). Larger chicken breasts will need an extra minute or two of cooking time.
5 from 259 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 174 | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 132mg | Potassium: 418mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 69IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course air fryer, Chicken, Dinner, Entree, Main Course
Cuisine American
Diet Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Low Fat
sliced Air Fryer Chicken Breasts with a title
tender Air Fryer Chicken Breasts with writing
close up of plated Air Fryer Chicken Breasts with writing
Air Fryer Chicken Breasts in the fryer and plated with a title

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. I’ve been making this almost every night for a couple of weeks using blackened seasoning and it is sooo good. I’ve lost a few lbs too!5 stars

  2. I’ve been making this almost every night for a couple of weeks with blackened seasoning and it is soooo good! I’ve lost a few pounds too!5 stars

    1. If your oven has an air fryer setting, it works similarly to a regular air fryer, but you should check your oven’s instructions for the exact details. The temperatures and times might be a bit different. I hope that helps!

    1. Hi Anette, you can either thaw first and air fry as directed, or air fry from frozen and add about 8-10 minutes of cook time. Be sure to check them early and use a thermometer so they cook to an internal tmp of 165°F. Let us know how they turn out for you!

  3. Holly, your recipes look absolutely delicious, and can’t wait to try some of them! Question, can I use a wire shelf from my instant pot to add more food to the air fryer and still have air circulation so everything cooks? Do I have to add cooking time to compensate for the extra food? I realize I probably have to exchange positions of the food to equalize cooking, Thanks for replying
    Vinnie

    1. Hi Vinnie, I have never tried so I can’t say for sure. If you do try, please let us know how it turns out!

  4. I’ve made this a few times and the chicken breast is moist, as promised. Much better than the dry meat one often gets when oven baking.5 stars

  5. I love your emails. Your recipes & food prep tips are great! I like that I can click on the ” jump to recipe” & not have to scroll through to get to it. Other email/sites do not let you do that. Plus, I can pin it to my Pinterest & and save it in other ways.
    Thank you, Holly, for all of your hard work. It is much appreciated.5 stars

    1. Thank you so much for the kind words Jaye. I am so glad you are enjoying the recipes!

  6. I was looking for a recipe that would be quick, easy, and healthy and this recipe is awesome!! It came out perfectly juicy and flavorful. If I can do it anyone can – lol! Thank you for this!5 stars

  7. I made this tonight and it was DELICIOUS<3 So simple. My chicken breast was half frozen and 10 minutes on each side and PERECT!!! Thank you so much<35 stars

  8. I have made chicken breasts in the air fryer many times. This is the only method that you need!
    Just perfect! Juicy !5 stars

  9. Thanks for your great recipes. I have an oven with a built-in air fryer,do the air fryer recipes work with either oven or countertop? Thanks

    1. I have not tried using an oven air fryer so I can’t say for sure Nora. If you try it I would love to hear how it turns out!

      1. Tried it tonight in my toaster oven air frier setting. Meat turned out moist and delicious. I’ve never used a traditional air frier, but the oven method worked well! 4 stars

      2. I made this recipe tonight with my oven air fryer, and it was PERFECTION. I made sure to weigh my chicken breasts, and they were a bit bigger at around 9 oz each, so I doubled the seasoning and cooked at 370 for 10 minutes, turned them over, and air fried for another 9. My kids and I are fans – thank you!!!

      1. So good! I’ve made this several times now. Chicken is zero points on WW so I’m always looking for new ways to eat it. I’ve made air fryer chicken before but didn’t know to dry and oil the outside. The crust makes it next level and I find myself picking at the dark edges while assembling dinner to put on the table. This seasoning mix is perfect – I’m going to make a batch of it so it’s always on hand. Thanks for a great recipe!5 stars

    1. Hi Cathy, you can follow this recipe here for time and temperature but you will need to add time for frozen chicken. Just make sure to cook chicken to 165°F. If you try it I would love to hear how it turns out!