Come here if you are looking for ways to give your chicken breasts a better flavor with air fryer. After trying this your chicken breasts will be juicy and crispy. Using air fryer can also make your chicken breast healthier. Now don’t waste a second, let’s have a look at my secret recipe!
Reasons Why You Will Love Air Fryer Recipes
- Cooking becomes really quick. It takes less time to prepare food in the air fryer when compared to baking it in the oven or preparing it on the stove.
- It’s very convenient and it doesn’t leave a mess. The Air fryer basket is the only thing you’ll need to wash after cooking, and you can throw it in the dishwasher anyhow.
- It’s quite healthy as you can use just 1 tablespoon of oil if you’re air frying chicken, but you will need 2 cups of oil if you’re deep-frying on the stove.
- It’s economical since you don’t need as much oil when compared to cooking on the stove. Like the oven, it consumes less electricity.
- The air fryer oven can be used to bake as well as cook a huge variety of foods.
Air Fryer Chicken Breast
The Air Fryer makes cooking chicken breast SO simple! Therefore, if you use this recipe the next time you’re in the mood for crispy fried chicken, you can have perfectly golden and crispy air-fried chicken breast ready in just 10 minutes!
The chicken is cooked to perfection; it acquires a gorgeous golden hue, and I adore how crisp and white it turns out on the inside while remaining perfectly cooked on the outside. It won’t be dry, and cooking it won’t take very long.
So what is there not to love about air frying chicken? This is genuine comfort food!
How to Bread the Chicken
You have two options to choose from:
- You could either bread the raw chicken breast in seasoned dried breadcrumbs, along with some oil that is drizzled directly over the chicken. This oil will aid in the breadcrumbs’ adhesion, and together they will give the air-fried chicken breast its lovely crispy texture.
- You could use the traditional way of breading chicken just like our mothers and grandmothers always did, by using the egg and flour method. Despite the fact that this is a good alternative as well, I prefer the breadcrumbs approach.
Regardless of the method, make sure to season the coating (flour and breadcrumbs, if using), as that is where the majority of the flavor is found.
Do I Need Oil to Air Fry My Chicken?
Yes, you need to use a little oil to help the breading adhere to the chicken and give it that wonderful crispy texture and delectable flavor. For better flavor, I advise using a little oil even if you’re air-frying chicken breast that isn’t breaded.
Usually, when I air fry chicken, I use vegetable, canola, or olive oil.
Should I Marinate Or Brine My Chicken Beforehand?
If you have time, I always advise brining the chicken in advance.
To brine the chicken with a basic brine solution, you will need to dissolve 2 tablespoons of salt in 2 cups of room temp water (not hot). The chicken will cook more evenly if it is allowed to come to room temperature with the aid of the water. Rinse the chicken with fresh water and pat it dry with paper towels after letting it soak in salted water for at least 15 minutes (up to 2 hours in the fridge if you have the time).
I do not suggest marinating the chicken for this particular recipe for breaded chicken breasts. The chicken will taste better if you marinate it before making unbreaded chicken breasts.
Does Brining Add Moisture to the Meat?
Chicken is made incredibly juicy and tender when brined before cooking. Therefore, if you can, brine the chicken before you smoke, roast, bake, grill, or air fry it. It’s a necessary step because if you don’t, the chicken will dry out when cooked over a high heat.
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts boneless and skinless, sliced into thin cutlets
- 1 tablespoon oil olive oil, canola, or vegetable oil
- ½ cup (25g) dried bread crumbs
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon dried chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
How to Cook Boneless Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer
This is the breaded version; scroll down for instructions on the unbreaded version.
Step 1. Cutlets made from the boneless, skinless chicken breast should be prepared first. You’ll require thinner strips so the chicken cooks more quickly.
Step 2. One tablespoon of oil should be drizzled over the chicken, and then it should be distributed evenly with your hands.
Step 3. Get the breading or coating ready. Combine breadcrumbs and all the seasonings you’re using in a dish that is only slightly submerged. Depending on your preferences, but I typically like to add salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder.
It’s crucial to season the chicken; otherwise, the chicken will taste bland because the seasonings are added at this point along with the breading.
Add more chili powder or dried chili flakes if you like your chicken spicy! Mix the coating.
Step 4. Apply the bread crumbs mixture to each piece of chicken. Make sure the chicken is thoroughly coated and that there aren’t any extra breadcrumbs.
Step 5. Set your air fryer to 390°F (200°C) for maximum flavor. The majority of the time, I turn it on five minutes before I start cooking. The chicken won’t dry out thanks to this.
Step 6. Place the air fryer basket with your chicken inside. You can put more or fewer pieces in at once, depending on the size of your basket. Only two pieces could fit in my 3.2-liter air fryer at once.
Step 7. 12 to 15 minutes in the air fryer. You can flip the chicken to the other side after the first 8 to 10 minutes by opening the air fryer basket. The basket may be too hot, so handle with caution when flipping the chicken; instead, use tongs. 5 more minutes of air frying.
Instead of KFC’s fried chicken, this chicken breast has a texture that is very reminiscent of schnitzel.
How Long Should You Cook Chicken in An Air Fryer?
The chicken breast should be golden and crispy after 12 to 15 minutes of cooking in the air fryer. Using a fork and knife, check a small piece of the chicken to see if the meat is thoroughly cooked.
You could also check using a kitchen thermometer. The chicken should have an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) when the thermometer is inserted in the center of the bird.
How to Make Unbreaded Chicken in the Air Fryer
Now that you don’t want to bread the chicken breast, you might be wondering how to cook it in the air fryer.
- Your boneless, skinless chicken breasts should be covered in oil. Your personal preferences will determine how you season the chicken, so use them.
- Kitchen tongs should be used to flip the seasoned chicken breasts over halfway through the air-frying process. Air-frying should take 12 to 15 minutes.
- So that the chicken doesn’t dry out after the cooking period is over, remove it from the Air Fryer right away. After five minutes of resting, serve.
Therefore, choose the unbreaded version if you want to reduce your calorie intake a little. My favorite, though, is the breaded, crispy chicken breast from the air fryer.
More Air Fryer Recipes
If you like this recipe, don’t forget to see other air fryer recipes below! Hope you can enjoy your fried chicken with the convenience of air fryer!
Wonderful Ways to Make Frozen Chicken Wings in Air Fryer
How to Make Fucking Delicious Chicken Legs with Air Fryer
