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Perfect Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe

air fryer chicken breast - featured image

This air fryer chicken breast recipe delivers a golden, crackly crust without any breading. Ready in under 20 minutes, it’s juicy inside, crispy outside, and made with simple pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts (68 ounces each)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • Β½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika (regular or smoked)
  • Β½ teaspoon onion powder (optional)
  • Β½ teaspoon dried thyme or oregano

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken completely dry with paper towels.
  2. In a small bowl, mix salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, and dried thyme.
  3. Drizzle olive oil over both sides of each breast and rub in evenly.
  4. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over both sides of the chicken and rub gently to adhere.
  5. Preheat the air fryer to 400Β°F (200Β°C) for 3-5 minutes.
  6. Place chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they don’t touch.
  7. Cook for 6 minutes without opening the basket.
  8. Flip each breast carefully with tongs and cook for another 5-7 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 165Β°F (74Β°C).
  9. Transfer chicken to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes.
  10. Slice against the grain into Β½-inch slices and serve immediately.

Notes

Pat the chicken very dry for maximum crispiness. Do not overcrowd the basket. Let chicken come to room temperature for 15-20 minutes before cooking for even results. Use a meat thermometer to ensure doneness without overcooking. For best texture, serve immediately after resting.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer chicken breast, crispy chicken, no breading chicken, healthy chicken recipe, quick chicken dinner