How Long To Cook Chicken Breast in Air Fryer?

Air fryer chicken breasts are easy to make and take just minutes to prepare. You can make flavorful, juicy chicken breasts in your air fryer for a quick meal.

Before we begin, let’s discuss ‘How long to cook chicken breast in air fryer?’ Today, we will help you answer this question and give you a detailed guide on cooking frozen chicken breast in your air fryer. So let’s read on to see more!

How Long to Cook Chicken Breast in Air Fryer

How long to cook your chicken in the air fryer.

To cook chicken breast in an air fryer, you need to preheat the pot to 360 degrees F. Then add seasoning and drizzle with olive oil on your chicken. Then fry the chicken in the air fryer for 18 to 20 minutes.

However, the cooking time for chicken breasts in the air fryer will depend on factors, including your chicken breast size/thickness and your air fryer’s power.

• Small Breasts (from 5 to 7 ounces): Cooking time can take 7 to 10 minutes.
• Medium Breasts (from 8 to 10 ounces): Handle it from 10 to 12 minutes.
• Large Breasts (from 11 ounces or more): Handle it from 12 to 16 minutes.

You need to flip your chicken halfway through cooking to ensure it cooks evenly. 

Breast Size	Cooking Time
Small Breasts (from 5 to 7 ounces)	7 to 10 minutes
Medium Breasts (from 8 to 10 ounces)	10 to 12 minutes
Large Breasts (from 11 ounces or more)	12 to 16 minutes

How to Cook Your Chicken Breast Using an Air Fryer

You’ve got the answer to, “How long to cook chicken breast in the air fryer?” It is time to learn how to do it. You can expect it to be easy and quick to cook your chicken breast with the air fryer. 

The fact is that it’s the favorite easy and quick midweek meal of many families. You can get the job done in less than 30 minutes by following our instructions.

Chicken breasts feature low levels of saturated fat. As a result, there is no denying that it is a healthy dish. When cooking your chicken breasts in an air fryer, it is unnecessary to add too much oil to gain perfectly cooked results.

Necessary Ingredients That You Need to Prepare

Chicken Breasts

We prefer skinless, boneless chicken breasts for this project, but it is okay to utilize skin-on breasts if you need to get a more traditional roasted dish with a crispy outside.

Cooking bone-in breasts will take longer than cooking boneless ones. You should use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken breast is ready for enjoyment.

Oil

Our recipe calls for olive oil. However, you can use any oil for cooking, as long as it has a high smoke point (such as vegetable oil and avocado oil).

Seasoning

When it comes to seasoning, we prefer to utilize store-bought spices, and you can quickly and easily make one. Then here’re some that we often utilize:

• Using black pepper, kosher salt, onion powder or garlic powder, and paprika is a good idea.
• Basil pesto: We recommend the spread of one teaspoonful of basil pesto on the top of your chicken breasts.
• It is okay to use thyme, rosemary, and salt if you need to get traditional roasted breasts. It will work well for skin-on breasts.

A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Let’s start by patting your raw breast to make them dry before drizzling them with cooking oil. After that, add your seasoning, flip your chicken breasts over oil, then season the other side.

Step 2: Preheat your device to 180°C/360°F, then put your chicken breast in the basket of your air fryer. If you want to cook more than one, you must ensure they’re not touching.

If your fryer is easy to stick, we recommend brushing its basket with your oil before adding your chicken breasts.

Step 3: Cook your chicken breasts in the air fryer for about 20 mins until they get golden brown or their internal temperature reaches 74°C (or 165°F).

You may also have to flip your chicken cuts over halfway through the cooking process if your air fryer requires it (check out your owner’s manual in case you aren’t sure it is required).

Step 4: Take the chicken breasts out from your air fryer. Then, cover them with foil and allow them to rest (at least 5 mins or more).

How Can You Know When Your Chicken Breasts Cooked?

How do you know when your chicken breasts are cooked?

One of the simplest ways to tell if your chicken breasts are cooked is to stick your knife in its thickest part. If the juices run clear, your chicken breasts “may be fine” to serve.

You can slice or cut your chicken breasts before consuming them to ensure you have cooked them through  (your chicken breasts should be white the whole way without pink or translucent bits remaining). 

However, we recommend using a thermometer to check your chicken breasts’ internal temperature. For chicken breasts, it is best to ensure their internal temperature is 74°C or 165°F or higher to ensure they are safe to eat.

If you don’t have this thermometer yet, it’s time to consider buying one, as it’s the safest and easiest way to ensure that the chicken breasts are safe to eat.

Pro Tips for Best Air Fried Breasts

Pro tips for best air-fried chicken breast.

You should follow the below tips for the best results:

Size matters: We recommend picking the same size chicken breasts for even cooking when shopping. Also, know the weight of each cut to determine the correct cooking time.

Cook in a single layer: The air should circulate through the chicken breast to complete the job.

It is unnecessary to shake the basket: Although flipping can help to yield crispier results, this dry rub chicken breast is not intended to be super crispy. Hence, leaving them alone will help avoid drying them.

Allow your chicken breasts to rest: Once you have cooked them, transfer them to a sizable foil-covered platter and let them rest for at least 5 minutes, letting the juices settle and redistribute. 

How to Store Your Cooked Chicken Breasts in a Fridge?

How to store your cooked chicken breasts in the fridge.

Cooked chicken breasts can stay well for about three to four days in the fridge, and the raw ones can last up to two days. In both cases, it is better to store chicken breasts in your freezer whenever possible.

First, you should put your cooked chicken breast in a clean and dry bowl or container to avoid contamination. Next, seal the bowl with cling film.

Finally, it is always a good idea to label your storage container to track the days you have left to enjoy it. Remember to utilize your leftovers within 3 to 4 days.

Your cooked chicken breasts can stay well in the freezer for 3 to 4 months. Before storing your cooked chicken in the freezer, ensure it does not sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

FAQs

Do I Need to Use Oil to Air Fry Chicken Breasts?

We think it’s a great idea. A little olive oil will add some flavor and help the seasonings stick to your chicken, helping it crisp a bit on the outside.

Should I Marinate or Brine My Chicken Breasts?

Although it is optional, it will increase your chicken breast’s juiciness and flavor. Various marinades add tons of flavor to your chicken breasts.

Can I Cook Frozen My Chicken Breasts in An Air Fryer?

Yes, you can! Cooking frozen chicken breasts using the air fryer is an easy and quick way.

How Long to Cook Chicken Breast in Air Fryer at 380

If you set your air fryer to 380°F, you can expect to cook your chicken breast within 23 to 30 minutes.

How Long to Cook Chicken Breast in Air Fryer at 400

If you preheat your air fryer at 400°F (or 204°C), 22 to 25 minutes should be enough to prepare your chicken breast.

Is Air Fryer Chicken Healthy?

Using an air fryer is a healthier way than deep frying chicken breasts. The reason is that you won’t need to use too much oil for cooking chicken in your air fryer.

Is It Okay to Use Raw Chicken With an Air Fryer?

Of course, cooking raw meat in the air fryer is okay. Just thoroughly wash your air fryer basket with hot soapy water between uses. 

The Bottom Line

We helped you answer “How long to cook frozen chicken breast in air fryer” and showed you how to make chicken breasts in the air fryer. 

It’s great to know that this delicious chicken dish takes so little time and effort to make, does it not! Don’t forget to leave a comment below if you make it, and let us know your thoughts. Please share this post if it was helpful to you!

source https://www.annisarestaurant.com/how-long-to-cook-chicken-breast-in-air-fryer/