Air Fryer Chicken
This delightfully easy air fryer chicken is perfectly moist and laced with a savory, mouth-watering coating. It’s easy, healthy, and guaranteed to be ultra-flavorful and juicy every time. Not only excellent when paired with your favorite sides, this air fryer chicken can be transformed into a variety of different dishes.
This recipe was written for the Arizona Republic.
Why will you love this air fryer chicken?
This air fryer chicken is bound to become a weekly staple in your home. Here’s why:
- You need a few pantry staples for the entire recipe
- The savory coating for the chicken adds maximum flavor while keeping the meat moist
- The chicken is decidedly tender with no brining required
- Air fryer chicken takes less time that oven-roasted chicken
- Leftovers are versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes
- Gluten-free, low-fat and perfect for keto and Whole30 diets
Here’s what you need for this easy air fryer chicken
- Chicken. This recipe uses boneless skinless chicken breasts. You can use regular or thin-sliced chicken breasts. If desired, you may use boneless skinless chicken thighs, just note that chicken thighs take longer to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Olive oil. We use olive oil to create a thick, herby coating for the chicken. Choose a good-quality olive oil for the best flavor.
- Oregano. Dried oregano adds a subtle floral quality to the coating. If desired, you may substitute marjoram, basil, parsley, or Italian seasoning.
- Paprika. Paprika not only adds great color to the chicken, it delivers a sweet, smoky note.
- Garlic powder and onion powder. Aromatic dried garlic and onion round out the coating with great depth of flavor.
- Salt and pepper. Salt and black pepper season the chicken while enhancing the flavor of the herbs and spices. You can use your favorite salt – from pink Himalayan, to Celtic, to kosher. For the pepper, I prefer freshly ground black pepper for its robust flavor.
How long does air fryer chicken take to cook? The cooking time for air fryer chicken will depend on the size and thickness of your chicken breasts. Smaller, thinner chicken breasts will cook more quickly than larger, thicker pieces.
All chicken should cook to an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Note that chicken will continue to cook after you remove it from the air fryer, adding about 5 degrees to the internal temperature. For this reason, we remove the chicken from the air fryer when it reaches 160 degrees.
Start by cooking your chicken at 370 degrees for 10 minutes. Flip and cook for 4 to 8 more minutes, using the reference guide below.
Do you have to flip the chicken in the air fryer? For the best results, yes. Flipping the chicken after 10 minutes promotes even cooking and prevents overcooked spots.
- Small chicken breasts (about 5 to 7 ounces each): 10 minutes + 4 minutes
- Medium chicken breasts (8 to 9 ounces each): 10 minutes + 6 minutes
- Large chicken breasts (10 ounces): 10 minutes + 8 minutes
Note: If your chicken is undercooked at the suggested cooking time, return it to the air fryer and continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes until it reaches 160 degrees.
Remember the resting time. Once your chicken has reached an internal temperature of 160 degrees, let it rest, tented with foil, for 5 minutes. You can leave the chicken in the basket during this time. Resting time allows the juices to redistribute while the chicken finishes cooking.
Should you preheat your air fryer? Yes. Preheating the air fryer helps it reach a consistent internal temperature quickly. Even heat distribution inside the air fryer allows the chicken to cook uniformly, without scorching the exterior.
How many chicken breasts can you cook at the same time? This all depends on the size of your air fryer. The goal is to cook the chicken in a single layer, without the pieces touching each other. Allowing the heat to circulate around the chicken ensures that the edges are browned and caramelized.
Can you add vegetables to create a one-pot meal? Yes! Simply add your favorite veggies halfway through the first cooking time (5 minutes into cooking) and everything will be ready at the same time. Great options include zucchini, Brussels sprouts, bell peppers, broccoli florets, cauliflower florets, and asparagus.
How should you store leftover air fryer chicken?
This air fryer chicken is excellent to have on hand, so consider making a big batch so you have leftovers! To store this air fryer chicken, let it cool and then transfer it to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating or using chilled in recipes.
What should you do with leftover air fried chicken?
The possibilities are endless! Use this air fryer chicken in your favorite chicken salad, enchiladas, taco salad, chicken tortilla soup, Buffalo chicken dip, sandwiches, and wraps.
Air Fryer Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, patted dry
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, oregano, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
- Add the chicken and turn to coat. Let the chicken sit in the marinade while the air fryer preheats.
- Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees.
- Add the chicken to the air fryer basket, in a single layer, preferably not touching.
- Cook for 10 minutes.
- Flip the chicken and cook for 4 to 8 more minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees (note that larger chicken breasts and chicken thighs will take longer to cook than smaller chicken pieces).
- Remove the basket from the air fryer, tent the chicken with foil, and let stand for 5 minutes.