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I’m obsessed with cooking the most juicy, tender, and flavorful chicken breast quickly and easily in my air fryer. My Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe is seasoned with brown sugar, paprika, and herbs, and is perfect for an easy family dinner that everyone will love!
5-Star Review
“I eat chicken several times a week due to multiple food allergies and I have to say this is the BEST recipe…Chicken was so delicious and moist, just as described! I am so appreciative of the specific measurements embedded within the instruction steps so I didn’t need to scroll back and forth. Top notch in every way! Highly recommend! Thank you!” -Dana
Easy 20-Minute Air Fryer Chicken
These chicken breasts are so simple to prep, and every time I make them, they come out perfectly tender and juicy. I’m obsessed with the seasoning rub—it’s slightly sweet, super flavorful, and honestly, just to die for. The whole thing is ready in about 20 minutes, which makes it my go-to when I need a quick, foolproof dinner that satisfies everyone at the table.
No matter how I serve them—sliced over salads, in sandwiches, or with a side of veggies—these juicy chicken breasts are always a hit. The seasoning mix is so good, I usually make a double batch just to have extra on hand for next time.
Tips for Beginners
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing it. This will allow the juices to redistribute so that it’s extra flavorful and juicy.
- Preheat the air fryer. Once preheated, you’ll get more even cooking.
- Cook at 370°F. I find this provides the juiciest and most tender meat. You can cook until the chicken reaches 160°F-163°F and let it sit for a few minutes until it reaches 165°F. The breasts are fully cooked when they are a uniform white color when sliced open.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. You want the air to circulate freely and crisp up the chicken.
- Don’t skimp on the sugar or oil. I find the sugar adds to the overall flavor of the chicken, and the oil helps the seasoning stick.
Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts* sliced thin
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tbsp ground paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning store-bought or homemade
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Video
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 370°F.
- If the chicken breasts are thick, slice the breasts in half to create thinner pieces or place the breasts between parchment paper or plastic wrap and pound them thin.2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts*
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper.2 tbsp brown sugar, ½ tbsp ground paprika, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- Rub each chicken breast with olive oil and seasoning to evenly coat.2 tbsp olive oil
- Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick spray.
- Place the chicken breasts in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 8 minutes. Flip the chicken breasts over and cook for another 7-8 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165°F.
- Remove the chicken breasts from the air fryer, slice, and serve.
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Breasts Step by Step
Prep the chicken: Preheat air fryer to 370°F. If the chicken breasts are on the thick side, slice them in half to create thinner pieces, or place them between parchment paper or plastic wrap and pound them to thin them out.
Prepare seasoning mix: In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp brown sugar, ½ tbsp ground paprika, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, and ¼ tsp ground black pepper.
Coat the chicken: Rub each chicken breast with olive oil and seasoning to evenly coat. Make sure to flip them over and rub the other side. I like to use my hands to spread the coating evenly over the chicken breast. Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick spray.
Cook chicken: Place the chicken breasts in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 8 minutes. Flip the chicken breasts over and cook for another 7-8 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165°F. The outside should start to look reddish brown and become fragrant.
Slice and serve: Remove the chicken breasts from the air fryer, let them sit for a few minutes (I like to tent them with aluminum foil), and then slice using a very sharp knife and serve. Enjoy!
Recipe Variations
- Baked vs air frying: Air frying will give you a crispier exterior in less time than traditional baked chicken.
- Bone in vs boneless: I used boneless chicken breasts, thinly sliced but if you choose to use bone-in chicken breasts they will take longer to cook.
- Change the flavor: Use a chicken seasoning, or for a more robust flavoring, try a Creole seasoning or blackened seasoning. Creamy ranch seasoning or savory chili seasoning are also good options. Or, for a Mexican-inspired flavor, use fajita seasoning or taco seasoning.
How to Store
Store leftover air fryer chicken breasts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 365°F air fryer for 7-9 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Freeze chicken breasts in an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
I like to serve these seasoned chicken breasts as a main meal with a bunch of sides, or sliced on top of a fresh salad. I like to use up any leftover summer zucchini and make crispy zucchini fries, or grab a few sweet potatoes at the grocery store and make a batch of garlic parmesan sweet potato fries. I also enjoy making asparagus almondine or air fryer ranch broccoli to serve with the chicken.
More Chicken Breast Recipes To Try
- Juicy, flavorful, hassle-free, and hands-off, this Crockpot Chicken Breast is the perfect weeknight meal.
- This oven Fried Chicken Breast bakes up perfectly crispy on the outside and tender inside without deep frying.
- This recipe for Baked Chicken Breast turns out juicy, well-seasoned, chicken breasts that are easy to make in the oven.
- These Pan Seared Chicken Breasts are baked and then pan-seared in a hot skillet to seal in their flavor and juiciness.
I eat chicken several times a week due to multiple food allergy and I have to say this is the BEST recipes and instructions page. Chicken was so delicious and moist, just as described! I am so appreciative of the specific measurements embedded within the instruction steps so I didnโt need to scroll back and forth. Top notch in every way! Highly recommend! Thank you!
Thank you Dana!
First time making this. I served it over rice and made a strawberry mango salsa over the chicken. I loved the sweetness from the brown sugar and a little bit of heat from the Italian seasoning I used. This will go into regular rotation at my house!
Sounds amazing!
Is the cook time the same for one chicken breast?
Hi Linda, it should be!
This was delicious and moist. Loved it. The chicken breast I had were huge so while they were not thawed all the way I sliced them in half. Used this recipe for 3 slices.
We just loved this recipe. No changes. It was so good!!
I donโt think Iโll ever grill chicken again! I needed a quick fix and just happened to find this recipe. Absolutely delicious!
This was great! Some of the best chicken Iโve ever made. Could you cut the sugar? I also let it marinade for a while.
You could cut the sugar, but it will change the flavor!