Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer

Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: paleo

Keyword: air fryer chicken breasts

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 15

Servings:

Calories: 140kcal

Author: Megan Gilmore

Once you try air-fried chicken breast, you may never try another cooking method again! It’s faster than using your oven, and this recipe delivers perfectly seasoned and juicy chicken every time.

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Ingredients

¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (about two 8 ounce breasts; 1-inch thick)
2 teaspoons olive oil

Instructions

In a small bowl, combine the paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt. Stir well. Drizzle the chicken breasts with the olive oil and rub both sides. Then season each side with half of the seasoning blend.
Arrange the seasoned chicken breasts in a single layer in the air fryer basket, allowing for good air circulation, and cook at 375°F for 15 minutes. Check on the chicken after that to see if it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F. (Chicken needs about 15 minutes of cooking time per 1-inch of thickness, so adjust accordingly if using thicker chicken breasts.) Add five more minutes of cooking time, if needed, then check again.
Remove the chicken from the air fryer to prevent overcooking, then let it rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes before serving warm. It should continue to cook as it rests, reaching a safe internal temperature of 165ºF. Leftover cooked chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Video

Notes

Nutrition information is for 4 ounces of seasoned chicken. This information is automatically calculated, so it's just an estimate and not a guarantee.

Frozen Chicken Note: If cooking frozen chicken, you'll need to add at least 15 minutes to the cooking time for a 1-inch chicken breast. Be sure to leave yourself up to double the cooking time listed above, in case it takes that long for the center of the chicken to reach 165ºF.

For fresh chicken, I use these air fryer guidelines:

1-inch thick: 15 minutes at 375ºF
1 1/2-inches thick: 22 minutes at 375ºF
2 inches thick: 30 minutes at 375ºF

But you'll always want to make sure the internal temperature reaches 165ºF before removing the chicken from the air fryer. Don't cook much past 165ºF or the chicken will be dry in texture.

Seasoning Note: You can swap the seasonings here for any other flavors you love. Try poultry seasoning or lemon pepper for a different option.

Update Note: This recipe was updated in 2025 due to changes in air fryer technology over the years. The cooking temperature was changed to 375°F from 360°F, as some air fryers no longer allow temperature adjustments in 5°F increments. I also included my own spice blend instead of relying on store-bought poultry seasoning.

Nutrition

Serving: 4oz | Calories: 140kcal | Protein: 24g | Fat: 5g | Sodium: 661mg