How Long to Cook Chicken Breast in Air Fryer

The other day, I was a bit worried about my weight as I have gained a lot in the last couple of months. At the same time, I was craving some juicy chicken breast with garlic sauce; just the mere thought of it made my mouth drool. However, it meant unhealthy oil fry and gaining more calories. Right then, I thought of that conventional oven lying around, as we call it, air fryer. The next challenge I faced was how long to cook chicken breast in the air fryer, and after a few uncooked or overcooked tries, I almost got the correct answer. The best duration for air frying chicken breast is 10-12 or 12-17 minutes.

Furthermore, it got me thinking: what about other chicken breast recipes? And how long does it take to cook chicken breast in an air fryer with different styles? So, I researched and got a few tried and tested time duration ranges for air frying chicken breast. So read along to learn more about how long it takes to cook chicken breast in an air fryer.

Can You Use an Air Fryer for Chicken Breast?

Once you get hold of a good air fryer and get addicted to its use, you start to wonder what you can cook in this machine. The answers will not disappoint you, as you can air fry almost anything with the correct cooking time. Among multiple healthy recipes is the chicken breast recipe which you can easily cook it. I am sure, it’d come out delicious, nutritious, and an absolute teaser for your taste buds.

How Long to Air Fry Chicken Breast?

We all have been in a situation where we are stuck between our cravings and healthy choices. No doubt there are a lot of healthy air fryer recipes, although it is not clear to us how to cook in air fryer or what air fryer temp setting is best for cooking chicken breasts.

Most people, who are not experts, get confused about how long to cook chicken breast in air fryer to make it taste crispier and more satisfying. To break this down for you, keep a time margin of 20 minutes to cook chicken. Before throwing your juicy chicken breast in the air fryer, make sure to preheat the air fryer for 2-4 minutes at 375 F.

After that, let it cook for a minimum of 6 minutes on each side. Cut the air fryer chicken 5 minutes after getting it out of the fryer.

Other than this general cooking time requirement, know that the amount of required time to air fry chicken breast depends upon the size of the chicken piece. To better understand how long to cook chicken breast in air fryer, check with the following instructions:

• Small Breasts (5 to 7 ounces): 7 to 10 minutes (on each side)
• Medium Breasts (8 to 10 ounces): 10 to 12 minutes (on each side)
• Large Breasts (11 ounces or more): 12 to 16 minutes (on each side)

How Long to Preheat Air Fryer for Chicken Breast?

While we are focused on making air fryer chicken breast taste good, every move from seasoning, sausage, and air fryer heating counts. So, it’s recommended and best to preheat air fryer for almost 5 minutes at 375 F (190°C). Cook it for 4-7 minutes on each side and let it fry until the chicken breaks and turns golden on the outside and its internal temperature at 165 F.

Temperature for Chicken Breast in Air Fryer

Mostly, domestic air fryer comes with a temperature of Celsius, not Fahrenheit. To make it simple, remember that 200 degrees (Celsius) is equivalent to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, which is definitely hot enough. However, 165° F (73°C) is best for thickest chicken breast parts. However, the best cooking temperature for chicken breast in an air fryer is based on the size and thickness of the chicken piece. A boneless and skinless chicken breast with 6 oz. or 170 grams (each piece) is best cooked in air fryer at 375 F (190 C). The preheat setting for this should be at least 6 minutes. Let it cook in air fryer for 4-7 minutes each side.

However, there can be variations in the required time to cook any other chicken recipe using this equipment. How long should you cook it depends on the following factors:

• Chicken breast and its thickness
• Air fryer size and type

Remember that the secret to a crunchier and juicier chicken breast is not overcooking it in an air fryer. The best way to find out if you overcooked it is to see if it is dry; if it is, you probably kept it longer.

Cooking Chicken Breast in Air Fryer:

• At 350°: 15 minutes are enough to cook chicken breast in an air fryer at 350°F (176°C). Ensure the center of the thickest part is at least 165°F and turn the chicken is not moderately dried up.
• At 390°: It takes 14 minutes to cook chicken breast in an air fryer at 390°F (198°C). To ensure that it is adequately cooked, check its internal temperature; it must be 165°F.
• At 375°: Cook your crunchy chicken breast for 8 minutes at 375°F (190°C). It is correctly cooked if the internal temperature of the thickest side is 155°F.
• At 200°: Your heat setting of 200°C is equivalent to 400°F, meaning it takes 8 minutes to cook chicken breast in an air fryer at 200. Before throwing the chicken into the air fryer, spray the basket with baking spray, cook it for 8 minutes, and flip it at the 4-minute mark each if needed. Check the internal temperature from the thickest side of the chicken breast; it should be 162°F.

How Long to Cook Raw Chicken in Air Fryer?

We are heading towards your next concern. Can I put raw chicken in the air fryer, and how long will it take to cook? The air fryer is an excellent appliance to healthily cook your daily meal with less oil. A chicken breast with 8 oz will take 15 minutes at 360 degrees. To get the best results:

• Turn it into even thickness by pounding it with a meat mallet.
• Wrap the top of the chicken piece with plastic wrap and pound it until it’s evenly thick.
• Cook in the air fryer for 15 minutes each.

How Long to Cook Chicken Wings in Air Fryer?

It takes a total of 16 minutes to properly cook chicken wings in the air fryer. Spread them evenly on the fryer basket and flip it halfway through cooking. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for chicken wings.

How Long to Cook Split Chicken Breast in Air Fryer?

In case you are confused about the split chicken and chicken breast. Let me clarify that first: a bone-in chicken is called a split chicken breast. By that, you can guess the time and temperature required to cook it in the air fryer differs from simply cooking chicken breast in the air fryer. For cooking, split chicken in the air fryer, and preheat it to 375°F (190°C). Flip and cook the split chicken for a total of 30 minutes at precisely 375°F.

Is it Faster to Air Fry or Bake Chicken?

Compared to the oven, the air fryer does not take long to cook chicken breast. You will eliminate at least 30 to 40 percent of cooking time by choosing to air fryer for chicken breast.

Can You Use Parchment Paper in an Air Fryer?

If you are new to this conventional oven, you might need clarification about the rule of using parchment paper for an air fryer. Don’t worry; you can use parchment paper in the air fryer when cooking chicken breast; make sure not to exceed the time limit of max. 20 minutes.

Is Parchment Paper Safe in Air Fryer?

In short, air fryers for chicken breast and parchment paper are safe to use. Parchment paper can handle the inside heat of an air fryer up to 428°F (220°C). However, the actual air temperature of any domestic air fryer is 180°C (+/- 5°C), and its dial settings range from 183°C to 220°C.

Other Things to Cook in Air Fryer

Consider an air fryer as an alternative to deep oil frying. This conventional oven can cook almost everything you prefer in oil. However, every recipe requires time; some take longer than 20 minutes, and others more than that. It’s the healthy way of cooking your crispy, crunchy food. Here are some foods that you can quickly cook on this pre-heated grill:

• Salmon
• Mince pies
• Sweetcorn fritters
• Nuggets
• Fish and vegetables
• Muffins and scones
• Doughnuts and Pizza
• Onion rings and French fries
• Brownies

Other than these options, air fryer chicken breast and chicken thighs are pretty standard food options to cook this way.

Final Verdict

So far, I have tried to share all the wisdom regarding air-fried chicken breast. It is safe, possible, delicious, and easier to cook chicken breast in an air fryer than oil or deep frying. Depending on your chicken size, it can take an estimated 10-12 or 12-17 minutes to cook chicken breast in air fryer. You need to know how long to cook chicken breast in air fryer to avoid making it dry or overcooked.