Boneless, skinless chicken breast is expertly seasoned and cooked to tender, juicy perfection in your air fryer. With a delicious mix of common ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, we’ll make protein-rich delicious, lean chicken meal that’s perfect for any night of the week.
We use fresh boneless, skinless chicken breast, seasoned and marinated, then give it about 15 minutes in the air fryer. The result is a chicken breast that is so juicy and just bursting with flavor. This recipe is a hit with the kids too!
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Simple Ingredients
We start with boneless skinless chicken breasts. We’ll want to select a size that is about 6-8oz. If using large chicken breasts, slice them in half horizontally. This will produce the very best results.
We’ll be seasoning the chicken breasts with a marinade of very common ingredients, many of which you probably already have on hand – brown sugar, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, onion powder, garlic powder, crushed rosemary, lemon juice, salt and pepper. This recipe does not use any bread crumbs or breading. Instead, this blend of herbs and spices creates a marinade that results in tender and juicy boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
To brine or not to brine?
You’ve probably heard about brining meats such as chicken to make it more tender and juicy. Brining means soaking the chicken in a solution of salt, water, and other spices for a period of time. While this certainly is advantageous for many chicken recipes, we can skip the brining for this one. The fact that we’re marinating the chicken before cooking will replace the act of brining.
Season and Marinate
Mix all the ingredients together in a shallow dish, then place the chicken breasts in the mixture and let them marinate. You’ll want to let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes. But if you have more time, a couple of hours is better and overnight is best!
Cooking time
When we’re ready to make our meal, we start by preheating the the air fryer for 5 minutes at 360°(F). I always like to spray a little non-stick cooking spray on the bottom of the air fryer basket. I use cooking spray that has no propellants and says that its safe for use in air fryers. Cooking spray that’s in traditional aerosol cans can damage the finish in the air fryer basket or tray.
After the air fryer has preheated, place the marinated chicken breasts in the basket or on tray. You can brush on some additional marinade if you want. I like to add just a bit of fresh ground black pepper with just a twist or two of the pepper mill. I also like to add some additional sea salt or kosher salt. This is just personal taste but I find it adds that little extra boost of flavor. Use the air fry setting and at 360°(F) for 16-20 minutes, depending on size. Flip the chicken after 10 minutes. We want the internal temperature of the chicken to be 165°(F) when measured with an instant-read thermometer.
Let rest and serve
Once the chicken is done, carefully remove from the air fryer and place it on a plate to rest for 5 minutes. This allows the natural juices to redistribute throughout the meat, giving us a nice juicy and tender chicken breast.
Serving Suggestions
This chicken recipe is so versatile and can be served any number of ways. I like to serve it as-is, with maybe a side of white rice and some fresh vegetables. This chicken can also be sliced up and be the main protein in a big salad. I love a salad containing fresh romaine lettuce, spinach, sliced radishes, cucumbers, chick peas, sliced carrots and this chicken. It’s the perfect lunch to bring to work.
Frequently asked questions
How to store leftovers?
Answer: Simply place the leftover chicken in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
If you are meal prepping for the week, it is a good idea to portion out the cooked chicken into separate meal prep containers and refrigerate them immediately. This will help to prevent the growth of bacteria and keep the chicken fresh for longer. If you need to store the cooked chicken for longer than four days, you can freeze it for up to three months. When you’re ready to eat, simply thaw the chicken in the refrigerator overnight before reheating it.
How to reheat?
Answer: Boneless, skinless chicken breast can be reheated several ways, but for the very best results, use the oven or stovetop. You’ll need to add some moisture as well to keep it from drying out.
For the oven: place chicken in a shallow baking dish and cover with some water or chicken broth, then cover the dish with foil and place in a 350°(f) oven for about about 10 minutes.
For the stovetop: slice or shred the chicken and place into a pan with about ¼ cup water or broth. Heat through for about 5-8 minutes.
Microwave: The microwave oven would seem to be the quickest way to reheat chicken, but we have to be careful to not dry it out and get tough meat. Much like the stovetop, we recommend slicing or shredding the chicken and placing in a container with a little water or broth. The microwave in 1 minute increments until heated through.
Pairs well with…
Where do we start? This chicken breast recipe of one of our most popular recipes and goes well with SO many different side dishes. We really love Air Fryer Asparagus or Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts. Both are really easy to make and use minimal ingredients. We also love to get out Instant Pot in action and make Garlic Parmesan Potatoes with Green Beans. Or perhaps you want to start the meal with a fresh bowl of warm soup. There’s really none better than our Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Basil Soup.
Recipe
Best Damn Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 2 chicken breasts
Description
Marinated chicken breasts are cooked to tender, juicy perfection in your air fryer. Excellent for a healthy meal any day of the week.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 6-8oz each
- 3 tbs olive oil
- 3 tbs balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbs soy sauce
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 2 tbs brown sugar
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp dry crushed rosemary
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients, except chicken, in a shallow baking dish and whisk together.
- Add chicken and coat well so it’s all submerged in the mixture. Marinate for at least 30 minutes. 2 hours is better; overnight is best!
- Preheat air fryer to 360°(F) for 5 minutes.
- Add chicken breasts to air fryer and air fry at 360°(F) for 16-20 minutes, turning after 10 minutes.
- After time is complete, remove chicken and place on a plate or cutting board to rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- You can marinate chicken in a zip-top bag.
- Air frying time can vary by a minute or two depending on the size of the chicken breast and the particular air fryer. Always make sure the chicken has an internal temperature of 165° F.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 18 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Annette
Made this tonight and my husband and I loved it. Will definitely be saving this recipe. Thank you
Diana
Thank you so much for this recipe! We just made it today on our new air fryer, it was really good!!
Susan Hitt
Amazing!! I can’t wait to make these again and again! This is the third recipe I’ve made from your site and all three have been phenomenal!
RecipeTeacher
I sincerely appreciate the feedback, Susan. I’m so glad 3 of my recipes are in your family’s rotation. Very, very cool. 🙂
Belinda Suarez
Can I use frozen chicken breast if yes, what do I add?
RecipeTeacher
Hi Belinda. The best way to do chicken breasts in the air fryer is to defrost them first.
Rachel
I made this last night and it was the best air fryer chicken I’ve ever cooked. I didnt make a glaze, but next time I’m definitely going to, because the flavor of the marinade was just SO good. I marinated for about 6 hours this time. Next time I’ll try doing it overnight. I already cant wait to make this again!
Angie
I used chicken thighs for this and it was a big hit! Can’t wait to try out some more of your air fryer recipes!
Mallory
Could I use chicken tenderloin?
RecipeTeacher
You can indeed, but since they’re smaller in size, they will be done in less time. Probably a few minutes less, depending on size and how many you do. Always use an instant read thermometer to check for internal temp of 165 F.
Jaika
This was a family favorite, will definitely make again. Yumm!
Regina
Can I use red wine vinegar in place of balsamic?
RecipeTeacher
Hi Regina. Yes you can, but it will change the flavor profile a bit.
Lynn
I’m making 4 breasts
I’m doubling the marinade
But I’m not sure how long to cook
RecipeTeacher
Hi Lynn,
The cooking time should be about the same. Just keep an eye on the internal temperature with an instant read thermometer. That’s the key to getting perfectly done chicken every time.
Jaye
I did two tbsp of the balsamic and the third tbsp as white wine vinegar. It was still phenomenal! Balsamic is a little strong for my particular taste so cutting it with the white wine vinegar still allowed for the sweetness, but with a slightly more vinegary flavor.
Emily
I just made this for the 2nd time and it was even more delicious than the first! I doubled the marinade and drizzled some on top before playing. It got rave reviews from the family!
RecipeTeacher
Awesome! Just wait until the third time you make it – that’s the best one! 😉 Thanks for the feedback, Emily.