Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Breast – Basic and Crispy Breaded Recipe

Skinless, boneless chicken breasts are often a challenge to cook properly in a deep fryer, skillet, or a conventional oven. The trick is to get them to the right internal temperature of 165°F without drying them out. A good way to make really juicy chicken breasts is to cook them in an air fryer. And, they take only 15 minutes!

There are hundreds of different air fryer models from a few dozen companies like Power, Nuwave, Emeril, Cuisinart, Phillips, Farberware and several others. In my research, I have discovered that not all air fryers are created equal. Temperatures and cook times do vary, as do the interior setups. Some fryers have mesh style baskets, while others have grill plates, similar to a skillet but with slits for air to circulate. My air fryer (Ninja Air Fryer AF101) has both a plate and a basket that are interchangeable or can be used together. It seems that the grill plate does retain heat well and takes a little less time to cook food than the manufacturer’s suggested cook times. So, you will need to adjust the cooking times in these recipes to meet the personality of your fryer. I suggest checking the internal temperature of the chicken at 10 minutes. A digital meat thermometer is a good investment for cooking proteins.

The recipes below are super healthy because you are not deep frying in lots of fat. It takes very little oil to coat the chicken so that a nice golden brown outer layer forms. I really love how I can save on calories and fat when cooking chicken in an air fryer.

The first recipe is easy and basic with very few ingredients. This makes for a really quick weeknight meal. If your air fryer is large enough, double the recipe so that you have leftover chicken for another meal, such as chicken salad sandwiches for lunch.

The second recipe is for crispy chicken breasts that are coated with breadcrumbs. There aren’t any eggs in the recipe, but you could use them to help the breadcrumbs to adhere better. This recipe is probably the healthiest version of “fried chicken” I have ever made. The upside is that kids really like this too. I like to serve this crispy chicken over a salad for adults. Kids like it with a dipping sauce, such as honey mustard or ranch dressing.

Basic Boneless Chicken Breasts

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
• 1 TBS extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano

Total time:20 min – Prep time:5 min – Cook time:15 min – Serves:2 people
Author: Nick

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, mix together the oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and oregano. Brush both sides of chicken breasts with oil mixture and set aside.

2. Set the air fryer to 350°F and preheat for 3 to 5 minutes.

3. Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer on the grill plate or basket. Cook for 8 minutes. Turn the chicken over and continue to cook for an additional 5 to 7 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

4. Remove the chicken to a clean cutting board and allow to rest for at least 3 minutes. Slice the breasts into 1/2 inch thick portions. Serve with your favorite sides. Mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach are good pairings.

Crispy Boneless Chicken Breasts

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
• 1 TBS extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs (can be gluten free)
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2 tsps Italian seasoning
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper

Total time: 20 min – Prep time: 5 min – Cook time: 15 min – Serves: 2 people

Directions:

1. Set the air fryer to 350°F and preheat for 3 to 5 minutes.

2. In a large bowl or baking dish, mix together the breadcrumbs, cheese, seasonings, salt, and pepper. Brush both sides of chicken breasts with oil. Coat each completely with the breadcrumb mixture, pressing it into the meat so that it sticks.

3. Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer on the grill plate or basket. Cook for 8 minutes. Turn the chicken over and continue to cook for an additional 5 to 7 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

4. Remove the chicken to a clean cutting board and allow to rest for at least 3 minutes. Slice the breasts into 1/2 inch thick portions. Serve with your favorite sides. This is really nice on top of an arugula and tomato salad, similar to Milanese style (recipe follows).

Arugula and Tomato Salad

Ingredients:

• 3 TBS extra virgin olive oil
• 1-1/2 TBS fresh lemon juice
• 1 small clove garlic, minced
• 2 tsps grated shallot
• 1 tsp honey
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 3 cups baby arugula leaves
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

Total time: 5 min – Prep time: 5 min – Serves: 2 people

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, lemon, garlic, shallots, and honey. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Place the arugula and tomatoes in a medium bowl. Add the dressing and toss to coat evenly.

3. Divide the salad onto 2 dinner plates. Top with the sliced chicken and enjoy.

Making Use of Leftover Air Fryer Chicken Breasts

I am that person who makes a lot of chicken at once so that I have plenty leftover for my lunches and quick weeknight dinners when I have had particularly busy days. I can toss leftover chicken breast into soup, over ice, or on a salad. The two recipes above are perfect for making sandwiches. Here are a couple of ideas for air fryer chicken sandwiches.

Chicken Salad Sandwich

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup good mayonnaise
• 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp Kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 2 basic air fryer boneless chicken breasts, diced
• 1 celery stalk, diced into 1/4 inch pieces
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 TBS slivered almonds
• 1 TBS flat leaf parsley, minced
• 1 tsp fresh tarragon, minced (optional)
• 8 slices whole grain bread, toasted
• 8 leaves of butter or romaine lettuce

Total time: 20 min – Prep time: 20 min – Serves: 2 to 4 people

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon, and mustard. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken, celery, scallions, almonds, parsley, and tarragon. Mix to coat everything with the dressing.

2. Place a leaf of lettuce on 4 slices of toasted bread. Add a healthy scoop of chicken salad. Place another lettuce leaf on top and another piece of toast.

3. Cut the sandwiches in half and serve with some pickles and chips.

Crispy Chicken Sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 2 crispy breaded air fryer chicken breasts, sliced into 1/4 inch portions
• 4 crusty rolls, sliced in half
• 4 TBS good mayonnaise
• 12 slices of bread and butter pickles

Total time: 10 min – Prep time: 10 min – Serves: 2 to 4 people

Directions:

1. Coat each roll with mayonnaise on both halves. Add 2 or 3 slices of chicken on the bottom half of each roll. Add 3 pickle slices. Then, place 2 or 3 more slices of the crispy chicken on top of the pickles. Top with the other half of the roll.

2. Serve these with air fryer French fries, just as you would order from a drive-thru, only healthier.