See my guide on how to use an Air Fryer.

My family can’t get enough of this Air Fryer Chicken Breast! It’s juicy, tender and coated in the most delicious mix of brown sugar and spices that caramelizes on the chicken as it cooks.

Partially sliced air fryer chicken breast served with baby potatoes and zucchini.

Hello air fryer chicken breast, thank you for making my meals so easy and so incredibly tasty!

I love this air fryer chicken recipe so much. Every time I make it, I just can’t believe how good it is. And there are so many ways to serve it (see below for my favorites!) Which means that we make this recipe a lot.

Picture this: Mouthwateringly juicy chicken that’s tender enough to cut with a fork, coated in a flavorful blend of spices that gets nice and caramelized as the chicken cooks in the air fryer. The best part? This air fryer recipe will only take you 10 minutes, tops, to prep. Then the chicken takes about 15 minutes to cook, depending on the size of your chicken breasts.

You know how sometimes when you cook chicken on the grill or in the oven, the edges get kind of dried out? That doesn’t happen with this air fryer chicken recipe. You’ll get evenly cooked, juicy chicken breasts, with every bite just as good as the next.

I’ve made this recipe a few times and it always turns out great. Our favorite air fryer chicken recipe actually! Even loved by my picky 8 year old.

Shala

Ways I’ve Served this Air Fryer Chicken Breast

One thing I love most about this air fryer chicken breast is that it is so incredibly versatile. Here are some of the many ways we’ve enjoyed it:

  • On a salad. If I’m throwing together a quick salad for lunch and want to add some chicken for protein, the air fryer is my favorite way to cook it. Most recently I’ve added it to this Spinach Salad and this Farro Salad. Air Fryer Chicken + a Healthy Salad = one of my favorite lunch (or dinner) formulas!
  • With roasted, sautéed or grilled veggies and roasted sweet potatoes or air fryer potatoes (pictured in this post). This is one of my go-to’s for a healthy dinner that my whole family will enjoy.
  • With this Pesto Pasta recipe. Just slice up the cooked chicken, serve it with the pesto pasta and devour!
  • Mixed into a pasta salad. Because leftover pasta salad makes an amazing lunch, and adding air fryer chicken for protein is delicious idea.
  • In a wrap. My favorites are this Veggie Wrap and this Buffalo Chicken Wrap.
  • In a chicken salad sandwich. The seasonings on this AF chicken add an extra boost of flavor. Yum!
Two air fryer chicken breasts on a plate with one breast partially sliced.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need to make this air fryer chicken breast recipe. Find the full printable recipe with measurements below.

  • Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: This recipe calls for two chicken breasts to serve four people. You can cook more or less chicken by scaling the recipe up or down. If you are cooking more than two breasts, you may need to cook the chicken in batches if it won’t fit in a single layer in your air fryer.
  • Olive Oil: Rubbing the chicken breasts with olive oil helps the seasonings to stick.
  • Brown Sugar: I include brown sugar in the seasoning rub for the chicken because it caramelizes as the chicken cooks, helping to keep the outside of the chicken moist. It also adds a hint of sweetness, which is delicious counterpart to the savory spices in the rub. If you prefer a no sugar recipe, you can omit the brown sugar. In this case, you may want to double the paprika for additional flavor.
  • Seasonings: For seasoning I use a variation of my all-time favorite Chicken Seasoning. Along with the brown sugar, you’ll need paprika, dried oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. You could also add 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder to the rub for a bit of heat. For a smoky flavor, use smoked paprika.

Or, Try a Marinade

My Chicken Marinade also works great with this recipe. Use it instead of the spice rub, and marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours in the fridge.

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Combine brown sugar and seasonings. Mix them together in a small bowl.

Brown sugar and seasonings added to a small mixing bowl.

Pound the chicken. I know, I know, you don’t want to. I don’t either. But this step really does make a difference! By pounding the chicken to an even thickness, you’ll both tenderize the meat and help it to cook evenly. Here’s how to do it: Place the chicken breasts in a zip-top plastic bag or between two sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap, to prevent splattering. Use a meat mallet or rolling pin to pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness.

Season the chicken breasts. Rub the chicken breasts with olive oil and then with the seasoning mixture.

Two raw chicken breasts coated with seasonings.

Air fry. Place the chicken breasts in a single layer in the air fryer. Air fry at 400° F for 8 minutes, then flip the chicken over and continue cooking until chicken is cooked through, about 5-12 more minutes. The exact cook time is going to depend on the size and thickness of your chicken breasts. Chicken should be cooked to 165° F in the center, as measured by an instant read thermometer.

Two chicken breasts coated with seasonings in air fryer basket before cooking.

Can You Cook Frozen Chicken in the Air Fryer?

Yes, you can, but you’ll sacrifice the texture and juiciness a bit. I prefer thawing frozen chicken in the fridge overnight before air frying it, but I know sometimes life gets in the way.

To air fry frozen chicken breasts, brush the chicken with olive oil and sprinkle on the seasonings. Add about 5 minutes to the cook time, using an instant read thermometer to check that the chicken reaches 165° F for food safety.

Storage Tips and Meal Prep

This is a great make ahead, meal prep recipe!

  • Refrigerator: Store the cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Freezer: Once cool, slice or chop (if desired) and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
  • To Reheat: You can reheat cooked chicken breasts in the air fryer at 350° F for about 5 minutes. Preheat the air fryer before adding the chicken. Or, reheat gently in a 350° F oven or the microwave. To keep the chicken moist when heating in the oven or microwave, add a tiny splash of water to the dish with the chicken and cover to trap in the moisture while reheating.
Partially sliced air fryer chicken breast served with baby potatoes and zucchini.
5 from 11 ratings

BEST Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Servings: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 17 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
This Air Fryer Chicken Breast is extra tender and juicy, coated with a delicious mix of seasonings. Serve it with your favorite side dishes, or slice and add to salads, sandwiches, pasta, wraps and more!
Print Recipe Leave a Review Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil

Instructions
 

  • In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, paprika, dried oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Stir or whisk until well combined.
  • Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Place chicken breasts in a zip-top bag or between two layers of parchment paper and use a meat mallet or rolling pin to pound them to an even thickness.
  • Rub the olive oil over all sides of the chicken breasts. Then rub the spice mixture on both sides of the chicken.
  • Place chicken in a single layer in the air fryer. Cook at 400° for 8 minutes, then flip chicken over and continue cooking for 5-12 more minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165° F at the thickest part of the breast. (The cook time will depend on the size of your chicken breasts.)
  • Let chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • Add 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder to the rub for a bit of heat.
  • Use smoked paprika for a smoky flavor.
  • Do you need to preheat the air fryer? I’ve made this recipe both with and without preheating. I recommend following your air fryer’s instructions. My current air fryer preheats automatically when you set the cook time, then tells you to add the food.
  • To Store: Cooked chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • To Freeze: Once cool, slice or chop (if desired) and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
  • To Reheat: You can reheat cooked chicken breasts in the air fryer at 350° F for about 5 minutes. Preheat the air fryer before adding the chicken. Or, reheat gently in a 350° F oven or the microwave. To keep the chicken moist when heating in the oven or microwave, add a tiny splash of water to the dish with the chicken and cover to trap in the moisture while reheating.
Serving: 1/2 chicken breast, Calories: 85kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 12g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 36mg, Sodium: 212mg, Potassium: 236mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 272IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 15mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is an estimate.
Cuisine: American
Course: Main Course
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