Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Crispy air fryer chicken breasts with a flavorful seasoning rub—perfectly juicy and ready in 25 minutes. Easy, healthy, and pairs perfectly with any meal!
Craving something crispy, creamy, and incredibly flavorful without spending hours in the kitchen? Say hello to your new go-to meal: Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Breasts paired with a rich Creamy Tomato Blue Cheese Pasta. This dish blends crispy, perfectly breaded chicken with a luxurious, tangy blue cheese and tomato pasta sauce. It’s a flavor-packed combination that’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a casual weekend meal.
Let’s dive into how to make this flavorful feast, and trust me, it’s way easier than it sounds!
Step 1: Flatten the Chicken
Start by pounding your chicken breasts to about 3/8ths of an inch thick. This helps them cook evenly and makes the texture perfect for breading. Once flattened, pat them dry with paper towels—this helps the seasoning stick better. Season both sides of the chicken liberally with your rub and let it rest in the fridge for 20-30 minutes.
Pro Tip: If you’re short on time and need to skip a resting step, skip this one, not the one after breading!
Step 2: Seasoning Rub
For a flavorful chicken rub, you’ll need:
- Paprika
- Oregano
- Basil
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Pepper
- Cayenne
- Brown sugar
Feel free to experiment with the spices! This rub smells amazing and gives your chicken a bold, zesty flavor.
Step 3: Breading the Chicken
Now it’s time to bread your chicken! Set up three plates: one with flour, one with beaten egg, and one with breadcrumbs. After your chicken has rested, follow these steps:
- Coat each chicken breast in flour.
- Dip it in the beaten egg.
- Finally, coat it in breadcrumbs until fully covered.
Want a keto version? Use crushed pork rinds instead of breadcrumbs!
After breading, let the chicken rest at room temperature for another 20 minutes. This helps the breading stick better when it cooks.
How to Air Fry Chicken
Now comes the magic of the air fryer. Here’s what you need to do:
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Place your breaded chicken breasts in the basket, making sure not to overcrowd them (you want them crispy, not steamed!).
Air fry the chicken for about 25 minutes, flipping halfway through. It’s done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Pro Tip: If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake these instead—just know that baking might take longer and won’t give you the same crispy finish.
Can I bake the chicken instead?
You can bake the chicken breasts or even fry them in a cast iron skillet if you wish. I prefer airfrying because its a healthier option and creates the texture that I desire in breaded chicken. If you wish to bake these, you will need more oil and perhaps a longer baking time. the breading will not brown the same way it will in the airfryer but they will still taste delicious. Let me know how it goes and how you did it in the comments.
What To Serve with Air Fryer Chicken
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Breaded Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
Equipment
- Airfryer
- Airyfryer basket
- Breading Trays
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Meat mallet
Ingredients
Rub
- 1½ tbsp Light Brown Sugar
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp basil
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- ¼ tsp cayenne
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (pounded flat to 3/8ths of an inch or so)
- 1-2 cups flour (brown rice flour is what I used)
- 2-3 cups bread crumbs
- 2 large eggs (beaten)
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp basil, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper, ¼ tsp cayenne, and 1½ tbsp Light Brown Sugar.1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp basil, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper, ¼ tsp cayenne, 1½ tbsp Light Brown Sugar
- Dry flattened chicken breasts with paper towels. Sprinkle rub on both sides of the chicken. Let the chicken rest in the fridge for 20-30 minutes.
- In three seperate dishes, place 1-2 cups flour, 2-3 cups bread crumbs and 2 large eggs. First dredge the chicken breasts in flour. Then dip them in the egg, coating both sides. Last, coat the chicken in the bread crumbs, ensuring they are well covered. Place chicken in the basket of an air fryer, being sure you don't crowd them. Allow chicken to rest at room temperature for 20 minutes.
- First dredge the chicken breasts in flour, shaking off the excess. Then dip them in the egg, coating both sides well. Last, coat the chicken in the bread crumbs, ensuring they are well covered. Place chicken in the basket of an air fryer, being sure you don't crowd them. Allow chicken to rest at room temperature for 20 minutes.
- Preheat air fryer to 375℉. When preheated, spray both sides of the chicken with a small amount of olive oil. Place the chicken in the airfryer and cook for 15 minutes. Turn the chicken over and cook for an additional 10 minutes or until the chicken is at least 165℉ and the breading is browned.
- Serve the chicken hot.