Air Fryer Chicken Breasts

Start with boneless, skinless chicken breasts and get a fully cooked protein in 20 minutes or less! This is a great option for easy weeknight meals or meal prep.

Course Main Course, Meal Prep

Cuisine American

Keyword Air Fryer Chicken, Air Fryer Recipes, Chicken Breast, Meal Prep

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Resting Time 5

Total Time 25

Servings servings

Calories 160kcal

Author Cara Harbstreet

Equipment

air fryer 5 to 6 quart capacity
Meat Thermometer digital, instant-read

Ingredients

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or two large chicken breasts (approximately one pound)
1 tbsp olive oil or other neutral cooking oil
1/2 tbsp All-Purpose MSG Seasoning or preferred seasoning blend, to taste

Instructions

Pat each chicken breast dry, then drizzle with the olive oil. Add the seasoning mix, sprinkling or dusting it evenly over both sides of each piece of chicken.
Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket, making sure they don't touch the sides of the basket or overlap. Set the air fryer to 375 degrees F. No need to preheat the air fryer, as this could lead to overcooked edges before the internal temperature of the chicken gets high enough. For medium to large chicken breasts, start with 13-15 minutes. If they're on the smaller side, reduce the cooking time to 10-12 minutes, and if they're extra large, increase the cooking time to 18 minutes.
Halfway through cooking, pause the air fryer and flip the chicken using a pair of tongs. Once the timer goes off, the chicken should be a beautiful golden brown with blackened bits of seasoning.
Insert the meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken breast, entering from the side. Ensure it hits a minimum of 160 degrees F, as the carryover heat will bring it up to the recommended 165 degrees F.
Once fully cooked, let the cooked chicken breasts rest, covered, on a cutting board for at least 5 minutes before slicing or chopping. Then serve and enjoy or pack into containers for meal prep or leftovers.

Notes

To cook in a conventional oven: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Follow all steps for prepping and seasoning the chicken breasts. Place on a baking sheet, lined with foil or nonstick cooking spray, or in a baking dish or casserole pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and the internal temperature reaches a minimum of 160-165 degrees F. Let the cooked chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing or serving.

Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave, or shred or chop for chilled dishes.

If freezing, seal tightly in freezer bags and label with the date. Use within 3-6 months for best results, thawing in the refrigerator the day prior before reheating.

Nutrition