How to cook chicken breast in an air fryer: The proper time, temperature for a perfect cook
Chicken breasts, the most popular type of meat consumed in the U.S., are also often fodder for criticism due to their tendency to be dry and flavorless. While we’ve all likely experienced that at one time or another, their popularity suggests that we’d all also love a way to cook chicken breasts so they’re flavorful and juicy time and again.
Enter: The air fryer. Just a few simple tricks can ensure delicious chicken breasts without a lot of fuss or mess. If you don’t already own an air fryer, the Ninja Speedi is our recommendation for its exceptional air fryer results, as well as its ability to cook multi-component meals like chicken and rice at the same time.
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The #1 tip for the best chicken breasts in an air fryer is: Don’t overcook them!
Chicken breasts should be cooked to 160°F, but if you cook them all the way to that temperature in the air fryer, carryover cooking will take them beyond that temp and cause them to dry out. Stop the cooking five degrees sooner and let carryover cooking do the rest.
An instant-read thermometer, like the Thermapen or our favorite ThermoPop by ThermoWorks, is an inexpensive and indispensable tool in determining when chicken is done to avoid it being dry and overcooked.
How to cook chicken breasts in an air fryer
Start with chicken breasts that are evenly sized and weigh about six to eight ounces each. The number that will fit in your air fryer depends on its size, but two to four chicken breasts fit in the average air fryer. Don’t crowd them.
Marinate or season the chicken breasts. This can be as simple as ¼ cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper, but any marinade or rub that includes salt will do the trick.
Let the chicken sit at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes to absorb the flavors and allow the salt to lock in moisture. You can opt for more flavor by marinating the chicken overnight in the refrigerator and letting it sit at room temperature just before cooking.
Place chicken in the air fryer basket, presentation side down, and cook for 8 minutes at 375°F. Flip the chicken over and continue cooking until the thickest part registers 155°F on an instant-read thermometer, typically about 6 to 8 minutes longer. The cooking time will vary depending on the size and thickness of your chicken.
Keep the chicken covered and let it rest for 5 minutes to allow the internal temperature to rise to 160°F before serving. This not only makes the chicken safe to eat but locks in moisture before slicing the meat.
With these tips, you’ll always have a foolproof way to cook the most popular meat in America.
More tips and tricks on cooking in an air fryer
How long should you cook bacon in an air: Here's what to know for the perfect crisp.
How to cook steak in an air fryer: Get perfect cook on a steak without the hassle
Can you put foil in an air fryer?: What about wax paper? Here's what you need to know.
The best air fryer: The top air fryer on this list is also a multicooker.
Air fryer vs. convection oven: Is there a difference?
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This article originally appeared on Reviewed: How to cook chicken breast in an air fryer: Proper time, temperature.
