Air Fryer Chicken Breast (Healthy And Crispy)

This flavorful air fryer chicken breast is the easiest and tastiest air fryer breaded chicken breast recipe ever!  

Suitable for gluten free diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

It is so easy to make juicy chicken that’s incredibly flavorful right in your air fryer! These crispy breaded chicken breasts only take a few minutes to cook, and they turn out deliciously crispy and crunchy.

Since this recipe is easy to make and ready fast, it’s perfect for weeknight suppers and can be used with all of your favorite recipes. 

Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Breast

If you haven’t been making breaded chicken breast in your air fryer, you have been missing out.

In under 30 minutes, you can have crispy air fryer chicken breasts on the table and since they are pretty hands-off you have time to make a tasty vegetable side or salad to make a full dinner. 

Traditional deep-fried chicken is swimming in oil and pan-fried chicken tends to be greasy too. But this air fried chicken uses almost no oil at all, so you can feel good about serving this to your family week after week. 

And as good as this Air Fryer Fried Chicken, easy Air Fryer Orange Chicken, Air Fryer Chicken Wings , and Air Fryer Whole Chicken.

Why Make This Recipe

• Budget-Friendly – Chicken is one of the most budget-friendly meat proteins.
• Versatile – Adjust the seasoning and serve this with a variety of sides.
• Fast – Make chicken breast air fryer in under 30 minutes.
• Allergy-Friendly – Use gluten free bread crumbs to make this diet-friendly.

Ingredient Notes

• Chicken – Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut in half crosswise.
• Breadcrumbs – Use gluten free breadcrumbs to keep this gluten free. You can substitute regular bread crumbs if that’s not a concern.
• Parmesan Cheese – Look for freshly grated parmesan cheese.
• Smoked Paprika – This mild seasoning has a smoky flavor. You can use regular paprika if you prefer. 
• Seasonings – Oregano and poultry seasoning are a favorite. You may not need to add salt if your poultry seasoning is very salty. 
• Cooking Spray – Olive oil cooking spray is a great, healthy choice. You can also use a calorie-controlled cooking spray.

How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Get full ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Combine the breadcrumbs, cheese and seasonings in a bowl.
2. Spray the chicken with olive oil and coat well with the seasoning. 
3. Place the chicken into the air fryer, so it is not touching. 
4. Cook for 10 minutes, then flip the chicken and cook an additional 8-10 minutes until done, depending on the thickness of the chicken.

Note: Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer. The temperature should be 165F / 74C when inserted into the thickest part of chicken breasts.

Tips For Success

• Cut the chicken into evenly sized pieces for even cooking.
• Dry the chicken with paper towels before adding the oil and breadcrumb mixture, so you have perfectly crispy fried chicken. 
• Use your hand to gently press the breading mixture into the sides of the chicken.
• For the crispiest chicken, do not allow the chicken pieces to touch or overlap in the basket. 
• Always use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. Chicken is considered safe to eat when it reached an internal temperature of 165F / 74C.

Variations

• Swap The Cut Of Chicken – Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breast.
• Make Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets – Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces before breading and cooking. You may need to adjust the cooking time slightly as the smaller pieces of chicken will cook quicker. 
• Marinate the Chicken – Brining or marinating chicken before air frying can give it lots of moisture and flavor. A 30-minute soak in a marinade or a salt and water brine mixture is all you need. 
• Swap The Seasoning – Combine the bread crumbs with your favorite seasoning for flavorful air fryer fried chicken breast that pairs perfectly with your favorite side dish. 

Budget-Friendly Tips 

• Buy Chicken In Bulk – Purchase chicken in bulk or on sale and freeze it for later. 
• Cook Extra – Make a double batch to use for meals throughout the week.
• Make Breadcrumbs – Save leftover bread or gluten free bread. Toast it and crumble into bread crumbs rather than purchasing bread crumbs. 
• Make It A Meal – Add a few of your favorite sides to make this a full meal.
• Make If For Lunch – This chicken is tasty served over a salad for an easy lunch option. 

Prep Ahead And Storage

• Prep Ahead – Make a large batch of bread crumb mixture and store it in the freezer for later use. When ready to use it, just pour what you need into a dish for dredging. 
• Store – Leftover chicken should be cooled completely and stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days. 
• Freeze – Lay cooked, cooled air fryer chicken on a freezer tray and flash freeze for 30 minutes to an hour. Then add the breaded chicken breast into a freezer bag for a quick and easy snack at any time.

Meal Prep

• Make a double batch, so you have extra chicken for easy lunches throughout the week.
• This recipe will last for 3 days, which means you can enjoy crispy fried chicken for dinner and then for 3 more days. 
• Allow it to cool completely before covering and the coating will stay in place better.
• Reheat leftovers in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes for the crispiest coating. 

FAQs

Serving Suggestions

• This rocks with Garlicky Instant Pot Red Potatoes or Instant Pot Baby Potatoes.
• You cant go wrong with a side ofAir Fryer Sweet Potato Chips or Loaded Ranch Potato Salad.
• Alternatively serve with Smothered Green Beans and Smothered Cabbage.

More Recipes You May Like

• Air Fryer Orange Chicken.
• Air Fryer Chicken Wings.
• Air Fryer Whole Chicken.
• Easy General Tso’s Chicken.
• Chicken Tinga.
• Baked Ranch Chicken.
• Air Fryer Fried Chicken.

Weight Watchers Points

If you use a calorie-controlled cooking spray, there are 2 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

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Did you make this recipe? Then I would love to hear how it turned out. Please leave a comment and star rating below. And I really appreciate you sharing this recipe with your family and friends. Enjoy every mouthful 😊🍲 – Bintu

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