Air fryer boneless chicken breasts are an easy weeknight dinner that is juicy every single time. We are brining the chicken breasts in salt water and using a simple dry rub that makes for flavorful chicken breasts that cook up in less than 30 minutes! These seasoned chicken breasts are perfect for topping salads, burrito bowls, or a variety of meal prep options.
Cooking chicken breast in the air fryer is so simple and hands-off! It’s the perfect dinner when you want something hearty and filling, but also a foolproof recipe that even picky eaters will love. While I love some good
, using the air fryer wins every time, especially on busy nights!
Our favorite sides are
, , and . The seasoning on this air fryer chicken breast recipe can take on a great Mexican flavor, so pair it with some and some
and wrap it up in tacos or make a burrito bowl.
You can also take this same seasoning blend and jazz up your
in the oven or make , with this flavor combo. Want more of a barbecue sauce? Use our and cook in the air fryer instead of on the grill. In more of a beef mood? Do not miss our
🍗 Ingredients:
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts – when shopping, try to make sure they are similar in size. Fresh are always best, but if you are using frozen, thaw completely before brining.
- Olive oil – you can use any other oil that has a high smoke point such as avocado oil.
- Spices: garlic salt, ground black pepper, onion powder, paprika, and dried oregano.
- kosher salt and water – to make the brine; brining before cooking makes for juicy chicken breast and adds a little saltiness.
Optional Garnish:
Garnish the chicken with fresh parsley and serve with your favorite sides. This chicken recipe is also excellent for making chicken salad, adding to soups or stews, and other recipes that call for cooked chicken.
Equipment Needed:
Meat mallet – we are going to pound the chicken so that it cooks evenly, not to completely flatten it out. Be sure the size of the chicken breast is similar.
Variations and Substitutions:
- Turkey breast – use this same simple recipe to make turkey in the air fryer.
- Seasoning – swap our rub for your favorites such as Italian seasoning or make it spicy by adding chili powder or a dash of cayenne pepper.
- Tenders – swap the breasts for tenders. Use the same seasoning, but the cooking time may need to be reduced.
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs – use
🔪 Instructions:
PREP: Add room-temperature water and salt to a large bowl.
Step 1: Once dissolved, add the chicken and soak for at least 30 minutes.
Step 2: For standard chicken breasts, place them between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and pound gently with the thicker end of the mallet, so they are even in thickness.
Step 3: Transfer the chicken to a large bowl and drizzle with oil. Stir together the spices in a small bowl, sprinkle half over the chicken, and rub in.
Step 4: Grease the air fryer basket with a little non-stick cooking spray. Place chicken breasts in a single layer, two at a time, and air for 8 minutes at 380 degrees.
Pro Tip: If you don’t want to use a meat mallet, buy the thin sliced chicken breasts and reduce the cooking time by 2-3 minutes.
Step 5: Flip each piece of chicken, sprinkle some of the remaining seasoning on top, and cook for another 8-9 minutes or until done.
Step 6: Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the inside is 165 degrees.
SERVE: Garnish and serve with your favorite side dishes or use them to make salads or burrito bowls.
Recipe Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- Letting the chicken rest before cutting is the best way to keep it juicy.
- Before serving, use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees F.
- Do not overcook the chicken or it will be dry.
- There’s no need to rinse the chicken after brining it; you might consider using a paper towel to wipe it off, but you really just need to pat it dry.
- If you skip the brining process, increase the amount of seasoning for more flavor.
- We did side by side tests and found that brining really did make a significant difference in this recipe.
Fun Fact
Air fryers cook by convection. This means the hot air circulates around the food to heat it which explains why it’s a quicker cooking method most of the time compared to the oven.
Recipe FAQs
Keep leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before cooking.
While frozen chicken can be cooked in the air fryer, we do not recommend it for this recipe. You cannot pound or brine the chicken first, which gives us the best results.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¾ teaspoon dried oregano
Brine:
- ¼ cup kosher salt
- Water
Instructions
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Fill a large bowl with room temperature water and stir in kosher salt until it dissolves.
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Add the chicken breasts to the salt water and allow to soak for 30 minutes up to an hour or two. Remove the chicken breast from the soak and pat dry with paper towels.
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If you are using standard chicken breasts, place each breast between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound the thicker end gently with a meat mallet to flatten the chicken breast to an even thickness.
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In a large bowl, drizzle the chicken breasts with olive oil and toss to coat completely.
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Combine the spices in a small bowl and stir together. Sprinkle HALF* of the spice mixture over the chicken breasts and rub in.
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Spray air fryer with non-stick cooking spray.
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Working in batches of two chicken breasts at a time, place the chicken in the air fryer and cook at 380°F for 8 minutes.
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Flip the chicken breasts over and sprinkle some of the remaining seasoning over the top of the chicken breast to make a pretty finished presentation.
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Cook for another 8-9 minutes, until the internal temperature registers 165°F.
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Notes
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
This is a simple recipe with a huge flavor. The chicken is great warm or cold. Can be eaten by itself and has great flavors for salads, burrito bowls, etc.
The salt brine bath makes a noticeable difference in juiciness and moist chicken. It takes only 30 minutes of sitting to make this impact – well worth it, in my opinion. No need to rinse the chicken after removing it from the salt bath. This does add a tiny bit of saltiness to the chicken – the seasonings in the recipe have been adjusted accordingly. If you skip the salt bath, you may want to increase the salt level of the spice rub.
Reserving some of the seasoning and sprinkling it on top after you flip the chicken breasts over gives a nice seasoned presentation. This is optional.
