Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Air fried chicken breast in air fryer basket.

5 from 31 votes

A foolproof air fryer chicken breast recipe featuring a smoky-sweet rub. Perfectly juicy every time, this is the ultimate protein for salads, wraps, or a quick family dinner.

Prep Time10

Cook Time12

Resting time5

Total Time27

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Difficulty: Easy

Servings: servings

Calories: 156kcal

Author: Nora from Savory Nothings

Ingredients

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 ½ teaspoons ground paprika or a mix of regular and smoked ground paprika
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon light brown sugar
¾ teaspoon salt
black pepper to taste

Instructions

Prep: 
Heat air fryer to 375°F for 5 minutes (Note 1). Spread chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound to ~0.5 to 0.75 inch thickness.
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
Season chicken: 
Rub chicken with olive oil on both sides. Combine the seasonings, brown sugar, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Rub all over the chicken.
2 teaspoons olive oil, 1 ½ teaspoons ground paprika, ¾ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon light brown sugar, ¾ teaspoon salt, black pepper
Air fry: 
Place chicken in the basket of your air fryer in a single layer (Note 2). Close, then air fry at 375°F for around 10-12 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F at the thickest part.
Rest: 
Rest the chicken for 5 minutes, then serve immediately.

Video

Notes

Note 1: Don't skip pre-heating the air fryer - it helps to sear the chicken breast instantly.
Note 2: If the chicken doesn’t fit your air fryer, air fry in batches - it needs a little space for the air to circulate.

Nutrition