Juicy on the inside and a little crispy on the outside, the air fryer is our new favorite way to cook chicken breasts! Done in about 20 minutes with minimal effort, we’ll walk you through exactly how to cook chicken breasts in the air fryer.

Cooking chicken breasts in the air fryer

With minimal prep and just a few simple steps, you’ll be ready to dig into some juicy air fryer chicken breasts. Here are some of our top cooking tips:

• Pat the chicken dry to remove any excess moisture (this helps the outside get extra crispy)
• Coat the breasts with a thin layer of cooking oil
• Season the chicken with your favorite seasoning mix
• If your air fryer requires preheating, preheat to 400° Fahrenheit
• Don’t crowd the basket! make sure there is a little space between each piece of chicken so the air can circulate around it
• Cook the chicken breasts for about 20 minutes, flipping halfway (more cooking time tips below)

How long to air fry different sizes of chicken breast?

Since each chicken breast is a different size, it can be a little tricky getting a juicy, perfectly cooked chicken breast in the air fryer every time.

If you know how much your individual breasts weigh, you can follow the general cooking times below:

Times noted are for boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

• 8 oz breast 400° for 16-18 minutes
• 10 oz breast 400° for 18-20 minutes
• 12 oz breast 400° for 20-22 minutes

Remember to flip the chicken halfway through the cooking time and monitor it closely after flipping. Use a meat thermometer if you have one and remove the chicken as soon as it reaches an internal temp of 165° in the thickest section of the breast.

Tips for cooking in batches in the air fryer

If you are cooking for more than two, you’ll likely need to cook your chicken in batches. Most air fryer baskets are small and can only fit 2-3 breasts in them at a time.

In order to avoid overcooking the first batch you have two options:

1. Keep the first batch warm in the oven (set the oven at 200°)
2. Cover the first batch with tin foil while the second batch cooks

If you use the oven to keep the chicken warm, I recommend pulling it out of the air fryer when it reaches 155°. It will continue to cook in the oven while the other batch cooks.

If you are covering the chicken in foil, remove it from the air fryer when it reaches 160°. It will continue to cook in the foil as it rests.

If necessary, you can always pop the first batch back into the air fryer for a few minutes to warm it up or finish cooking to 165° if needed.

The best seasonings for chicken breasts in the air fryer

We’ve included a very simple seasoning mix for this recipe, but you can really choose any of your favorites! We prefer making our own seasoning mixes, here are some options:

• Want to make it a taco night? Try our healthy homemade taco seasoning.
• Looking for that grilled chicken flavor? Check out the easy seasoning mix in our grilled chicken drumsticks recipe.
• Interested in finding something new? Browse our post of 10 easy DIY spice blends to find your new favorite mix!

Your turn to try this easy air fryer recipe

Once you cook chicken breasts in the air fryer, you won’t go back! It’s quick, easy, and delicious. If you try it, leave a comment and rating below to let us know how it goes. Don’t forget to take a pic to share and tag us @realsimplegood so we can check it out. We love to see what you’re making!