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Air fryer chicken breasts are tender and juicy on the inside, with a slightly crispy exterior. I love how perfectly they cook in the air fryer, so I’m going to share my tips & tricks below!
How to Make It
What I love about this Air Fryer Chicken is that it’s quick and easy. I rub the chicken breasts with olive oil, poultry seasoning, and salt on both sides, and then they are ready to cook!
When cooking more than one chicken breast, it’s important to choose pieces that are relatively the same size and thickness. I’ve found that the cooking time is determined more by the thickness of the chicken, rather than the weight, so the more similar the chicken breasts, the better chance you’ll have of them being done at the same time.
Cooking Time & Temperature
In my experience, the best cooking temperature for chicken is 360ºF in a basket-style air fryer. If you have this Cuisinart model, you may want to lower it by up to 50ºF because it tends to run hotter.
To determine the cooking time, I use the thickness of the chicken breast as a starting point. You’ll need to add about 15 minutes of cooking time for every 1 inch of thickness.
For example:
- 1/2-inch thick: 9 to 10 minutes at 360ºF
- 1-inch thick: 15 minutes at 360ºF
- 1 1/2-inches thick: 22 minutes at 360ºF
- 2-inches thick: 30 minutes at 360ºF
Keep in mind that you’ll want to cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF, so these times are just a general jumping off point. If your chicken hasn’t reached the correct temperature, flip it over and cook in 5 minute intervals until it’s done.
How to Cook Frozen Chicken in the Air Fryer
Frozen chicken turns out amazingly well in the air fryer. I think I might actually like the texture better than using fresh chicken! However, the cooking time definitely needs to increase when you cook frozen chicken in the air fryer.
In my experience, you’ll need to add at least 15 minutes to the cooking time when working with frozen chicken. It’s important to use a meat thermometer, to make sure the internal temperature reaches 165ºF.
This may mean that you’ll have to check on the chicken and keep adding 5 minutes at a time until it’s cooked through. A frozen chicken breast that is roughly 1-inch thick will cook in 30 minutes at 360ºF, compared to just 15 minutes for a fresh chicken breast. That’s double the cooking time!
So, make sure you set aside plenty of time to cook chicken from frozen. I think the resulting texture is worth it.
Leftover Chicken Recipes
If you have leftover cooked chicken to use up, I recommend trying one of the following recipe ideas.
- Curried Chicken Salad
- Leftover Turkey Soup (just use chicken, instead!)
- Curry Chicken Soup (add the cooked chicken at the end)
- Chicken Vegetable Soup (add the cooked chicken at the end)
- Cauliflower Fried Rice (stir in cooked chicken for more protein)
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (about two 8 ounce breasts; 1-inch thick)
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Rub each chicken breast with 1 teaspoon of olive oil, then season both sides with poultry seasoning and salt. I typically just shake the seasonings over the entire surface area of the chicken, which turns out to be roughly 1/4 teaspoon of salt and poultry seasoning per side.
- Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer on the air fryer basket, to allow for good air circulation, and cook at 360ºF for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken over, and cook for 5 more minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165ºF. (Chicken needs about 15 minutes of cooking time per 1-inch of thickness, so adjust accordingly if using thicker chicken breasts.)
- Remove the chicken from the air fryer so that it doesn't over-cook, then let it rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes before serving warm. Leftover cooked chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Video
Notes
- 1-inch thick: 15 minutes at 360ºF
- 1 1/2-inches thick: 22 minutes at 360ºF
- 2-inches thick: 30 minutes at 360ºF
Nutrition
If you try this method, please leave a comment below letting me know how you like it! My husband thinks this is the best chicken I’ve ever cooked– so it’s now my go-to method for cooking chicken for “meal prep” when we need it. Let me know if you make any modifications, so we can all benefit from your experience, too!
More Air Fryer Recipes
If you need more ideas for using your air fryer, try one of the following tutorials!
- Crispy Air Fryer French Fries (the main reason I bought an Air Fryer!)
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer Cauliflower (addictive!)
- Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
- Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes (like home fries)
- Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes (baked or cubed)
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Reader Feedback: What’s your favorite thing to make in the air fryer?
I’ve used this recipe so much! It is easy, quick and delicious. I use the chicken as a main course and then the leftovers can go in salads or other things.
I followed your directions for frozen chicken breast to a T and it was delicious. Moist & juicy on inside & just a tiny bit crispy on outside. Seasonings were great. Thx
Maryanne
My husband said it was perfectly cooked. Fantastic flavor.
I’m so glad it was a hit! Thanks for letting me know.
Made this for dinner tonight. It was delicious and came out perfect! Was also a big hit with my husband!
OMG, I just tried this method last night and the chicken turned out so juicy! I’ll be cooking it in the air fryer from now on. Thank you for the detailed instructions about the timing by thickness. It worked out perfectly!