Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe
With the help of an air fryer, pretty much anything is possible. These devices are great because they do the same work as an oven but in a fraction of the time. Another plus? You don't have to waste any time preheating the device and can get to cooking right away! While fried snacks are the usual go-to in the air fryer (offering a healthy alternative to fried foods), many people also use their air fryers to cook chicken breasts and other meats.
Susan Olayinka of The Flexible Fridge curated this recipe that includes two chicken breasts and lots of spices to bring an incredible amount of flavor to the meal. She shares that her favorite part about this easy air fryer chicken breast is the taste and easy cooking method. "I love the simplicity and the spices I used. It honestly tastes like BBQ to me because it's so so flavorful," she shares.
Keep scrolling to find out how to make these quick and easy chicken breasts that can be used in a salad or as a main course.
Gather the ingredients for your air fryer chicken breasts
All you need for this recipe are two chicken breasts and a lot of spices to elevate the flavors of the chicken. In terms of spices, you will need to get paprika, dried thyme, salt, dried oregano, garlic powder, and onion powder. Hopefully, you will have a lot of these in your spice cabinet already. To round things out, get black pepper, ground cumin, and some extra virgin olive oil. It's worth noting that you will also need your air fryer, but we're sure you know that by now.
Prep the chicken
To start things off, grab a bowl that is big enough to fit the chicken in. Pat the chicken breasts dry, and place them into the mixing bowl. If you'd like to trim the breasts, you can, but Olayinka says it isn't necessary. "I don't usually trim the fat off and feel it given the breasts more taste — but readers are very welcome to do so," she shares.
Now, add the spices on top of the chicken, including paprika, dried thyme, salt, dried oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and ground cumin. At this time, you will also add in the extra virgin olive oil. Mix everything together until it's well incorporated. Olayinka uses her hands to mix but also recommends using tongs if you'd prefer not to get too messy.
Time for some air fryer prep
Once the spices are well-mixed with the chicken, it's time to get them ready for the air fryer. Get the device out and line it with parchment paper. Place the chicken breasts inside the pot and set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Set the timer for 20 minutes, and flip the chicken halfway through. If it's easier, you can set the timer for 10 minutes, flip, and then re-set the timer for another 10. Whatever works for you works for us, but the chicken will turn out better if it's flipped halfway through!
Get ready to enjoy
Once the chicken is finished cooking, carefully open the lid and remove both of the chicken breasts from the air fryer. Place them on a serving dish and get ready to enjoy this quick, easy, and delicious meal. The serving possibilities for this dish are endless! "This will serve great with sweet potato mash, rice salad, or a pasta salad," Olayinka says. Now, it's time to dig in! Don't forget to tell all your friends about this easy chicken recipe that will save a whole lot of time!
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Wash and pat dry the chicken breasts and place into a mixing bowl.
- Add to the mixing bowl paprika, dried thyme, salt, dried oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, ground cumin, and extra virgin olive oil.
- Mix together until well incorporated.
- Get the air fryer tray and line with parchment paper.
- Place the chicken breasts inside the tray and cook on 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes, turning halfway through
- After the cycle has finished, carefully open the lid, remove the chicken breasts, and place on a serving dish. Serve and enjoy.
| Calories per Serving | 430 |
| Total Fat | 29.9 g |
| Saturated Fat | 6.6 g |
| Trans Fat | 0.2 g |
| Cholesterol | 111.4 mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 2.4 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.0 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.2 g |
| Sodium | 445.0 mg |
| Protein | 36.8 g |
