Description
Succulent air fryer chicken breast emerges as a quick, foolproof dinner solution for busy households. Juicy meat with crispy exterior results from simple seasonings and precise cooking techniques, promising a delightful meal you can easily master at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
- 1 tsp (5 g) garlic powder
- 1 tsp (5 g) paprika
- ½ tsp (2.5 g) smoked paprika (optional, for extra smoky flavor)
- ½ tsp (2.5 g) onion powder
- ½ tsp (2.5 g) dried oregano or thyme
- ½ tsp (2.5 g) salt
- ¼ tsp (1.25 g) black pepper
Instructions
- Preparation: Pat chicken breasts completely dry to maximize seasoning absorption and achieve a crisp exterior, creating an ideal canvas for flavor.
- Seasoning Blend: Combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika in a mixing bowl, then thoroughly massage the spice mixture into each chicken breast, ensuring complete coverage.
- Preheating and Coating: Warm the air fryer to the specified temperature while lightly coating chicken with olive oil to promote golden-brown caramelization and prevent basket adhesion.
- Air Frying Process: Arrange seasoned chicken breasts in a single layer within the air fryer basket, maintaining spacing to allow optimal heat circulation and uniform cooking.
- Cooking and Temperature Monitoring: Cook chicken, rotating midway through the cycle to ensure consistent browning and even internal heating, carefully tracking temperature until reaching the safe consumption point of 74°C (165°F).
- Resting and Serving: Remove chicken from air fryer and allow a brief resting period of 3-5 minutes, enabling juice redistribution and maintaining peak moisture, then slice against the grain and plate immediately to preserve temperature and textural integrity.
Notes
- Moisture Management: Pat chicken breasts completely dry to guarantee crispy, golden-brown exterior and prevent steaming instead of crisping in the air fryer.
- Seasoning Strategy: Create a balanced spice blend and apply generously, ensuring even coating for maximum flavor penetration and consistent taste throughout the chicken.
- Oil Application Technique: Use minimal olive oil to enhance browning, prevent sticking, and help seasonings adhere without making the chicken greasy or soggy.
- Temperature Precision: Monitor internal chicken temperature carefully with a meat thermometer, aiming exactly at 74°C (165°F) to guarantee food safety without overcooking and maintaining juicy texture.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 16-18 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 39 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg