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+ servings
Air Fryer Chicken Breast sliced on a board.

Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Recipe

Krista Stechman
This chicken is easy, juicy and pretty quick to make. It's air fried in 15 minutes or less and is perfect for weeknight dinners and meal prep
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Brining Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Course dinner
Cuisine american
Servings 4 people
Calories 270 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 air fryer
  • 1 large plate or small tray

Ingredients
  

Dry Brine

  • tablespoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoon brown sugar

Chicken

  • 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast I use 4, 8oz breasts
  • 1 drizzle olive oil

Seasoning Mix

  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme stemmed and chopped
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ⅛-¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • teaspoon paprika sweet

Instructions
 

Brining the Chicken Breast

  • In a small bowl mix the salt and sugar together then rub it all over all sides of the chicken breast
    dry brine rubbed on the chicken breasts
  • Place the chicken on a plate and let rest in the fridge for 1-3 hours
  • Rinse the chicken thoroughly then pat dry with a paper towel

Seasoning and Cooking the Chicken

  • In a small bowl mix the seasoning blend together
    seasoning mix mixed together
  • Drizzle a little olive oil on the chicken then rub it all over
  • Sprinkle the seasoning over both sides of the chicken breasts
  • Preheat the air fryer to 400°F
  • Add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 8 minutes, flip chicken over with tongs and cook another 7 minutes
    brined and seasoned chicken in an air fryer
  • Make sure to temp the chicken with a meat thermometer. When the chicken is 160°F remove it and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving
    juicy air fryer chicken breast sliced and whole

Notes

  • Preheat your air fryer for a few minutes before adding the chicken breasts so it's nice and hot
  • Make sure you have a meat thermometer handy. Internal temp should be 160 degrees F. It will continue to rise another 5 degrees after you remove it from the air fryer to bring it up to 165 degrees
  • Cooking times could vary depending on the size of the chicken breasts. Thin cutlets will have a quick cooking time where as a slightly thicker breast like I used will take a little longer
  • Do not stack or layer the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket. Place them in a single layer to ensure even cooking
  • Let chicken (or any meat) rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing into it. This helps keep all the moisture inside

Nutrition

Calories: 270kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 48gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 3025mgPotassium: 852mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 97IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg
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