The Juiciest Air Fryer Chicken Breast (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep chicken breast from drying out in an air fryer? ›

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.

Air fry according to the size of your chicken breasts — again, 4-5oz breasts will take 10-12 minutes, 6-8oz breasts will take 13-15 minutes, and 9-120z breasts could take 16-20 minutes — or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees as measured by an instant read thermometer, flipping the chicken breasts ...

The short answer for juicy, properly cooked chicken is 150 F for at least 3 minutes for white meat and 175 F for dark meat. Read on for more information about where these numbers come from and for tips and tricks for cooking the best chicken possible.

A marinade adds both moisture and intense flavor to chicken breast. The longer you marinate, the better. Seal the chicken in your marinade for two to three hours minimum. However, overnight is ideal.

Her suggestion: Place boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a pan in a single layer, cover with a few inches of liquid (water, broth, etc.), add flavorings (spices, salt, herbs, soy sauce, etc.), then bring the liquid just barely to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat so the liquid simmers.

Why is my chicken breast rubbery? Overcooking chicken and buying woody chicken breast are two of the main causes behind rubbery chicken. You can stop this from happening by: buying “slow-growing” chicken.

Place the seasoned chicken in an approximately 4 quart Dutch oven, breast side down, cover, and place it in the preheated 250°F oven. Let it cook until it literally falls apart when you try to lift any part of it, about 4 hours. Take off the the lid, and let it sit until it's cool enough to handle.

Best Way to Cook Chicken Breasts

Those juices are your friend, so keep them in the meat. Simply cook the meat to a safe inner temperature of 165 F. For baking chicken, first, preheat the oven to 400-degrees. Lightly coat the breasts in olive oil with whatever herbs you like and then cook for about 20 to 25 minutes.

Yes, you put raw frozen chicken in the air fryer! You won't be able to brine it first or pound it to an even thickness (so the results are not *as* juicy) but if you forget to thaw your chicken, it's a great option to have on hand.

Is it better to bake or air fry chicken breast? ›

Which is better between air frying vs. oven baking? Air-frying is a healthier alternative to deep-fried foods, but oven-baking often preserves good nutrients while filtering out the bad ones, making oven-baked foods even healthier than most air-fried foods.

The most likely reason for tough chicken in the air fryer is overcooking. Be sure to cook it to only 160-degrees and then allow it to rest for 5-minutes tented with foil. Do you have to flip chicken in the air fryer? For best results, you should flip your chicken in the air fryer halfway through.

Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer on the air fryer basket, to allow for good air circulation, and cook at 360ºF for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken over, and cook for 5 more minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165ºF.

Given the fact that drumsticks and thighs are dark meat and won't dry out as easily as breasts, the range from 350 to 450 degrees is okay for baking them. 350 to 375 is generally best for breasts. The best answer to these questions? Simply check the chicken for doneness using an instant read thermometer.

Cooking tips

Bake a 4-oz. chicken breast at 350°F (177˚C) for 25 to 30 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature is 165˚F (74˚C).

Using oil

Using oil in an air fryer is perfectly fine and helps the meat to remain moist and come out looking golden brown. However, a little oil in an air fryer does go a long way. With most cuts of pork, simply rubbing some oil into the meat will be all you need. You can use either regular olive oil or a spray oil.

Adding a little bit of water can help to hydrate the food in your air fryer and prevent it from becoming too dry.

It's ok to add a small amount of water to your air fryer and can even be beneficial in some instances. The main reason for using a small amount of water is that it can help the food retain moisture while cooking and prevents burning. It can also reduce the amount of smoke if you're cooking greasy foods.

After testing a variety of temperatures, I found that 375 degrees F is the best temperature for air frying chicken. Because the air fryer uses convection heat, you do not need to set it as high as you would an oven (in a regular oven, 425 degrees F is best for baking chicken, like Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast).