It’s essential to know the best way to cook chicken. The air fryer is a great kitchen appliance, but it can be confusing how long to cook chicken breast in air fryer. I’m here to break down exactly how long you need for both bone-in and boneless chicken breasts, as well as thighs!
You may have seen that there are many different temperatures your air fryer offers, which has made it hard for some people to know what temperature should they set their air fryer at when cooking with either bone-in or boneless skinless chicken breast.
So let me give you all the information so that you can make sure your meal turns out perfect every time! This article will cover everything from what temperature to cook chicken at in an air fryer to the cooking time for both types of chicken.
What Ingredients Need To Make a Chicken Breast in an Air Fryer?
What you need to make chicken breast in an air fryer:
- One or two boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Extra virgin olive oil or cooking spray
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Any desired seasonings (optional)
How to cook chicken breast in the air fryer
Preheat your air fryer to a temperature of 390 degrees Fahrenheit. You may need to adjust this temperature depending on your specific Air fryer with rotisserie.
- Put the chicken breasts on the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overlapping.
- Spray or brush lightly on the chicken breast with olive oil. If you are using any seasonings, you can also sprinkle them on at this time.
- Sprinkle salt and pepper over the chicken breasts to taste.
- Close the air fryer lid and cook for 12-15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (165 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Leave the chicken for a few minutes before eating it.
You may want to add on a couple of minutes for thicker chicken breasts. If your chicken breasts are thin or small in size, they may be done within 10-12 minutes. Boneless skinless chicken thighs can cook even faster than this–more like 10-12 minutes.
If you are cooking more than two-three chicken breasts, it may be best to cook them in batches rather than all together. This way, the heat can get around each piece of chicken better.
You don’t want to overcrowd the air fryer because the moisture created will not be able to escape, and it can make your food soggy!
- How to cook chicken breast in the air fryer
- Bone-In Chicken Breasts
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- Fresh or Frozen Chicken Breasts?
- What Temperature To Cook Chicken In An Air Fryer?
- Which Process Is Best For Air Fryer Chicken?
- What is the best way to reheat chicken in an air fryer?
- What is the highest temperature I can cook chicken in an air fryer?
- Can I cook whole chickens in my air fryer?
- How many chicken breasts can I cook in my air fryer at once?
- Do I need to cover my chicken while cooking in the air fryer?
- Is it possible to cook frozen chicken in an air fryer?
- Final Verdict
How Long To Cook Chicken Breast In An Air Fryer
- If you want to cook two boneless skinless chicken breasts, the cooking time is 12-15 minutes in an air fryer set at 390 degrees Fahrenheit.
- If you want to cook bone-in chicken breasts, the cooking time is 20 minutes in an air fryer set at 360 degrees Fahrenheit.
- If you want to cook chicken thighs, the cooking time is 25 minutes in an air fryer set at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- If you are using frozen chicken breasts, the cooking time is 10 minutes in an air fryer set at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Check with a food thermometer to see if your meat has touched a safe temperature. This is one of the best ways to ensure food safety. The right temperature for chickens is 165 degrees Fahrenheit
- Leave the chicken for a few minutes before serving.
- You can sprinkle any seasonings on your chicken breasts at this time if desired. Salt and pepper are always great choices!
Now that you have all the information you need be sure to give one of these methods a try the next time you’re looking to cook some chicken in your Ninja air fryer!
And if you’re looking for some additional recipes to try out in your air fryer, be sure to check out our other articles. We’ve got everything from appetizers to desserts that you can create on an air fryer!
Bone-In Chicken Breasts
When cooking bone-in chicken breasts in an air fryer, you will want to set the temperature to 360 degrees Fahrenheit and cook them for 20 minutes.
If you are using a larger chicken breast, you may have to cook it for a while. This cooking time will ensure that your chicken is cooked thoroughly and there is no pink in the middle or on the bone of your chicken.
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
When cooking boneless skinless chicken breasts in an air fryer, you will want to set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook them for 10 minutes.
This cooking time will ensure that your chicken is cooked thoroughly, but you can overcook it quickly, so make sure to check on your chicken earlier than recommended because of this!
Chicken Thighs
When cooking chicken thighs in an air fryer, you will want to set the temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and cook them for 25 minutes. If you are using a larger chicken thigh, You may have to cook for a little longer.
This cooking time will ensure that your chicken is cooked thoroughly and there is no pink in the middle or on the bone of your chicken.
Fresh or Frozen Chicken Breasts?
Do you probably wonder if it is better to cook fresh or frozen chicken breasts in your air fryer? Well, both work great! You don’t have to worry about cooking fresh chicken over the frozen.
What kind of chicken you want to use is entirely your choice. Usually, I cook fresh chicken breasts, but there have been times when I’ve cooked frozen chicken breasts, and they turned out great as well!
What Temperature To Cook Chicken In An Air Fryer?
The temperature you cook chicken at in an air fryer will vary depending on the type of chicken you are cooking.
- For bone-in chicken, the ideal temperature would be 370 degrees Fahrenheit.
- For boneless skinless chicken, the ideal temperature would be 370 degrees Fahrenheit.
Most air fryers will let you choose between settings to cook chicken at: “Dry” and “Moist.” The dry option on your Breville air fryer toaster oven is typically for cooking bone-in chicken breast, whereas the moist option is for cooking boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs.
Which Process Is Best For Air Fryer Chicken?
The two methods for cooking chicken in an air fryer are the “dry” method and the “moist” method.
Cooking bone-in chicken in the air fryer using the dry method is typically done at 370 degrees Fahrenheit and will require a cooking time of 20 to 25 minutes.
Cooking boneless skinless chicken in the air fryer using the dry method is typically done at 370 degrees Fahrenheit and will require a cooking time of 10 to 12 minutes.
The moist method is usually used for cooking boneless chicken thighs in an air fryer. The temperature you cook with the moist method will vary depending on your air fryer, but it is typically cooked at a lower temperature than the dry method. The moist method will require a cooking time of 15 to 20 minutes.
So now that you know what temperature to cook chicken at in an air fryer, which process is most useful for air fryer chicken?
That all depends on your cooking preference! Cooking bone-in chicken with the dry method typically requires a longer cooking time than the moist method. However, some may prefer leaving the skin on while cooking their chicken in the air fryer, which can be done using the dry method.
FAQ About the Cook Chicken Breast In Air Fryer
What is the best way to reheat chicken in an air fryer?
What is the highest temperature I can cook chicken in an air fryer?
Can I cook whole chickens in my air fryer?
How many chicken breasts can I cook in my air fryer at once?
Do I need to cover my chicken while cooking in the air fryer?
Is it possible to cook frozen chicken in an air fryer?
Final Verdict
Now that you know how long to cook chicken breast in air fryer, be sure to try out one of our delicious recipes! Whether you choose to use the dry or moist method, we are sure you will love the result. Happy frying!