Follow these simple instructions for How to Air Fry Chicken Breast Fillets and you’ll have beautifully moist and juicy chicken in no time. Use as a base recipe and add your favourite seasonings/sauces or use the simply roasted chicken for sandwiches, salads or any other dish your heat desires.
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I feel like chicken breast gets a bad rep but it really isn’t the chicken’s fault! Chicken breasts can be deliciously juicy and succulent, the trick is to simply not overcook them. Of course they are a little more unforgiving than say chicken thighs. But I think the problem is simply a confidence issue and nothing more.
The benefit of air frying is that the heat is super concentrated on the chicken. And the 360 degree heat source really helps to make sure that the chicken cooks really evenly. This gives it the optimum opportunity to cook through without needing to be cooked for a super long time.
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How to Serve
A simply cooked chicken breast might be one of the most versatile foods on the planet. As an ingredient it can be thrown into creamy pasta sauce, used as a pizza topping, served warm or cold atop a delicious bowl of salad, made into sandwiches, wraps or rolls or added to soups, noodle bowls or fried rice.
Of course it can also be served freshly cooked whole or sliced as the main protein element of a meal. Try some of these suggestions:
- Top with bbq sauce, slices of cooked bacon and lots of cheese then air fry for another couple of minutes to make a quick hunters chicken dish. Serve with roasted sweet potatoes and creamy coleslaw.
- Slice and add to a buttered baguette with sage and onion stuffing and cranberry sauce. Add pigs in blankets for extra luxury!
- Season the chicken breasts with za’atar seasoning blend and serve with turkish rice, creamy hummus, air fried butternut squash and some soft flatbreads.
Ingredients
Chicken
Chicken breasts are now most often sold in the UK as “chicken breast fillets”. This is the whole chicken breast with the inner chicken fillet part removed. These are also commonly called the chicken tender or chicken mini fillet. You can now buy these separately. So I’ve written this recipe assuming we’re talking about the fillet. But you can use exactly the same instructions to cook with the mini fillet still attached.
I also find it quite difficult to find packs of chicken breasts where they are all of a consistent size. This is key to even cooking. If you are buying packs from the supermarket, it is worth sifting through what’s there to try and find the most evenly sized fillets. If you can go to a butcher or even supermarket butcher’s counter, you will likely have better luck.
Oil
Using some oil in the cooking of the chicken breasts really is key. I preach this no matter the fat content of the food being cooked but it is especially important with lean cuts like chicken breasts. It prevents the outside of the chicken from drying out and going stringy. And as a bonus, it also gives the seasoning something to stick to.
I usually stick to using a simple neutral flavoured oil like vegetable or sunflower oil. If you want to use something with more of a distinct flavour like olive oil, just make sure that the flavour complements however you intend to season and serve the chicken.
Seasoning
I’ve used a very simple mix of garlic salt and paprika for these instructions. This provides a flavour punch anyway but it is very easy to use different dry or wet seasonings as you wish. I love to use seasoning mixes that match the cuisine I’m cooking.
You can also marinade the meat but I would caution you to not start the cooking processes with lots of sauce on the chicken. This can catch and burn before the middle of this chicken is cooked. Once the chicken is mostly cooked, you can baste the chicken with the marinade as it finishes cooking. This is especially important if the marinade contains sugar.
Allergen Information
This recipe is free from egg, dairy, gluten and nuts.
Please note that this recipe may contain other allergens not referred to above and any variations suggested have not been tested unless otherwise stated. For more information regarding any dietary information provided on this website, please refer to my Nutritional Disclaimer.
How Long to Air Fry Chicken Breast Fillets
The time the chicken takes to cook will depend somewhat on the size of the breast fillets themselves. I’ve cooked 250g/9oz breasts. These feel on the larger end of average size for what we can buy here in the UK in supermarkets. It is worth weighing your chicken so you know whether you will need to reduce or increase the cooking time at all.
For my 250g/9oz breasts, I air fry them for 15 minutes before turning them over and cooking for a further 10 minutes.
With there being plenty of space for the hot air to circulate around the chicken on the rack, they will cook fully without being turned. But I feel like the internal juices redistribute when the chicken is flipped which helps to make for a fully succulent chicken breast once cooked.
How to Air Fry Chicken Breasts From Frozen
Although I do think it is perfectly fine to air fry some chicken portions like drumsticks, thighs on-the-bone and wings from frozen, I am not keep on keen on air frying chicken breast fillets from frozen.
I don’t find that you can achieve perfectly cooked insides without drying out the outside. So I do recommend fully defrosting your chicken breasts before air frying.
Leftovers – Storage & Reheating
Leftover cooked chicken breast, or even purposefully cooked for later chicken breast can be easily stored in the fridge for several days. Make sure it’s well covered, or even better, stored in an air tight container.
You can also freeze it, again make sure to wrap it well to prevent freezer burn. Defrost thoroughly before using.
You can of course eat and serve the cooked chicken cold or added to another dish. To reheat I prefer to use the microwave along with a drop of water to keep the meat succulent. I also prefer to reheat the chicken sliced rather than whole as this makes for more even reheating.
To reheat in the air fryer, wrap the chicken loosely in foil along with a very a small drop of water. Air fry until piping hot. This will effectively steam the chicken and again keep it nice and moist.
Common Air Fryer Questions – A Brief Guide to Air Frying
- What exactly is an air fryer?
- What are the benefits of using an air fryer?
- Are all air fryers the same?
- Is an air fryer always better to use than an oven?
- Do air fryers need to be pre-heated?
- What is the best temperature to air fry at?
- What setting is best to use? Air fry, bake, dehydrate, etc…
- Can food be cooked from frozen in an air fryer?
- Can I reheat food in an air fryer?
- Are air fryer liners a good idea?
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What Exactly is an Air Fryer?
Very simply, an air fryer is a small convection (fan) oven. The benefit is that the hot air is circulated all around the food being cooked which speeds up the cooking time and cooks the food more evenly.
What are the Benefits of Using an Air Fryer?
Size, time and energy usage. Air fryers are ideal for cooking smaller quantities. Heating up a space that the food just fits into requires less energy and means that the heat source is much closer to the food. Combining these two things can speed up the cooking time.
Are all air fryers the same?
Nope! The term air fryer is now used very broadly. I consider there to be 4 main types:
Basket Air Fryers
These are what I would consider to be the most common, especially in the UK. A boxy type unit has a pull out drawer/basket. Food isn’t usually visible whilst cooking.
Some larger models have two drawers so different items can be cooked at different temperatures or for different times.
This is the type that you’ll see in the images in this recipe. I mostly use a Cosori Lite 3.8L (CAF-LI401S) with a 3.8 litre capacity. The square(ish) shaped basket is 21cm x 21cm and 24cm on the diagonal. It isn’t an overly expensive or fancy model.
I’ve also recommended to several friends and family the model with a slightly larger basket. This is the Cosori 4.7L (CAF-L501) with a 4.7 litre basket. The unit is no larger than the 3.8 litre model on the outside but does have a larger internal basket capacity. I’ve since bought this version to use for some recipes where my smaller model was just too small. I’ll always note this in the recipe.
Rotary Air Fryers
Round air fryers with a paddle in the centre that rotates to move the food. This is the type I used for years – the most common is a Tefal Actifry.
Rotary types are not usually good for recipes where the food is breaded, glazed, likely to break up or in a tray/container. They do however make the best chips and roasted veg.
My 2 in 1 version like the one I’ve linked also has a rotating tray for things that could be broken up by a paddle, but the height clearance with the lid isn’t deep enough to use it to cook some items like sausage rolls. I’ve now actually retired by Actifry in favour of having my two basket type fryers.
Mini Oven Air Fryers
These usually have a glass door, shelves and overall are really quite large. You can cook quite a decent quantity of food in them so are best if regularly cooking for multiple people. They often come with extra features like a rotisserie spit or kebab skewers.
Multicookers with Air Fryer Functions
Some like Ninja 11 in 1 and some of the earlier versions with a few less functions, have an air fryer option. They mostly operate the same as a basket fryer but the basket drops in the top rather than sliding in like a drawer.
Some electric pressure cookers like Instant Pots can also air fry when used with a specific lid.
Is an air fryer always better to use than an oven?
As much as I do love air frying, the honest answer to this is no. And the more detailed answer is that it will always depend on what you’re cooking, how much of it you’re cooking and what type and size of air fryer you have.
Once you need to cook in more than 2 batches, it often makes more sense to use an oven. If you already have the oven on to cook other items, it may make more sense to throw one more item in rather than using an additional appliance.
I don’t think either method is often necessarily better than the other. The important point to note is that there is absolutely no difference in the finished product.
Do Air Fryers Need to Be Pre-Heated?
The answer to this is rather annoying – it depends. It depends entirely on your model and type of air fryer. The best advice I can offer is to check your manual and follow their guidance. My Cosori models have a preheat function. I press a button and it heats at 205c/400f for 4 minutes.
It’s also worth noting that regardless of whether you are supposed to pre-heat or not, if you are cooking in batches, it is quite likely that anything after the first batch will cook a little quicker because of the retained heat. It is best to check on them before the cooking time is completed.
What is the best temperature to Air Fry at?
It will always depend on what you are cooking and from what state. All of my air fryer recipes don’t use temperatures above 200c/390f because many of the most common fryers in the UK don’t go above this. Mine goes to 230c/450f and I use this temperature a lot but it is no help for me to share recipes which many people can’t use.
What setting is best to use? Air fry, bake, dehydrate, etc…
Not all air fryers have different settings like this. When they do it usually relates to the fan speed. The default setting to use will always be “air fry” so unless something else is specifically stated in the recipe, always use the air fry option.
There are other air fryers that have an additional heating element which cooks from underneath rather than just the top. Just as with the other settings, unless you are using a recipe which states to use a second heating element, stick with just using the top down air fry option.
Of course if and when you become more confident with air frying, using recipes and the settings of your air fryer, you can start adapting them to suit.
Can Food Be Cooked From Frozen In An Air Fryer?
Absolutely! To cook from frozen you usually will need to reduce the cooking temperature and increase the time to make sure your food is cooked right through to the middle.
It is best to check my individual recipes for cooking from frozen advice as some items are a little different. And there are occasionally exceptions to the rule.
Can I Reheat Food In An Air Fryer?
Yes. As a general rule I reheat food for roughly 1/3 of the original cooking time at the same temperature. Or at 10 degrees lower for half the time for larger items.
Are Air Fryer Liners a Good Idea?
Unless otherwise stated, I do not use liners when air frying. Basket and rotary type air fryers are designed to be used without liners. Mini oven types will generally require some kind of tray like with a regular large oven although most come with crisper racks to use.
There are many air fryer liners available including quite thick silicone ones. These will affect the cooking times and possibly temperatures of your cooking/baking. I also don’t like how cooking juices are prevented from dripping through the basket rack. This can stop food from crisping all the way around.
When I do want to collect the juices, I mostly use some foil, or occasionally a foil tray which can be washed and reused.
If you do prefer to use them, once you have got a feel for how they affect your cooking and baking, you may need to make adjustments to the recipe accordingly.
More Air Fryer Recipes
All my recipes with instructions for how to cook or bake them in the air fryer can be found in my Air Fryer Recipe Index.
Don’t forget to let me know in the comments if you try making this recipe – I want to know what you think and if you made any substitutions, how did it turn out?
Still Have Questions?
Simple! Just contact me and I will do my best to help as quickly as I am able. Head over to my Contact Me page, any of my social media channels or post a comment at the bottom of this page and I’ll see what I can do.
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The Recipe
How to Air Fry Chicken Breast Fillets
Ingredients
- 2 Chicken Breast - around 250g/9oz each
- 2 tsp Oil - see notes
- 1 tsp Seasoning - see notes
Instructions
- If your air fryer requires pre-heating, start this setting now.
- Thoroughly dry 2 Chicken Breasts.
- Use scissors or a sharp knife to trim off any remaining bits of gristle, bone or sinew that you don't want to be cooking. Little bits of fat are fine – that's just flavour!
- Drizzle over 2 tsp Oil and 1 tsp Seasoning and toss to thoroughly coat the chicken breast fillets.
- Place the breasts into the air fryer basket top (smooth) side down. Leave a little space between each so the air can circulate.
- Air fry for 15 minutes at 200c/390f. If you have smaller chicken breasts than the 250g/9oz ones I've used, you will need to reduce the cooking time by up to 5 minutes.
- Use tongs to turn the chicken right side up.
- Air fry for a further 10 minutes at 200c/390f. Again, if you are cooking significantly smaller breast fillets, you may reduce this cooking time by up to 5 minutes.
- Check the chicken is cooked through, you can see this by making a cut and checking that the meat is white in the centre of the thickest part. Do not panic and overcook the chicken – this is how you end up with dry chicken which isn't necessary at all.
- Allow to rest for at least 3 to 4 minutes before tucking in. Spoon over juices that have collected in the bottom of the air fryer for extra flavour.
Notes
- Oil – Choose your oil to match your flavouring. For example use garlic, salt and rosemary with olive oil or for a more neutral flavour, sea salt and black pepper with vegetable oil.
- Seasoning – Choose any seasoning mix, spices or dried/fresh herbs. Make sure that salt is included in the mix. You can also add a little citrus juice.
- I used vegetable oil with a 50/50 mix of garlic salt and paprika.
- The air fryer version of this recipe is tested in a Cosori Lite (CAF-LI401S) with a 3.8 litre capacity. The square(ish) shaped basket is 21cm x 21cm and 24cm on the diagonal.
- Not all models advise preheating is required. Please follow the recommended instructions for your model. Mine has a specific preheat setting which is 4 minutes at 205c.
- For this recipe, I can just fit two 500g/9oz chicken breasts in the basket at a time. This gives plenty of room to allow air to circulate. I could feasibly fit a third fillet in but the air flow would be reduced initially and the cooking time may need increasing slightly.
- As all air fryer models are a little different, you may find that you can fit more or less in at a time. Some models include stacking shelves which will increase capacity.
- Required cooking times and temperatures can also vary between models and brands. If you know that your air fryer runs a little hotter than most recipes suggest, use a lower temperature. And vice versa. Equally if you find that food cooks more quickly in your machine than instructions usually state, reduce the cooking time (or check it earlier) and vice versa.
Janet says
I used this recipe to cook some chicken breasts to serve as part of a ploughman’s style lunch and they came out perfectly.
Hazel says
This was so helpful, thanks. The chicken breasts were perfect.
Lesley says
I added some smoked paprika, garlic powder and chilli powder to the seasoning mix and they turned out perfect. Such an easy way to cook chicken breasts.
Sisley says
Yet again you’ve made using the air fryer so easy. This worked a treat.