Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipes

Lots of air fryer chicken breast recipes to choose from for your Ninja Foodi or other brand! Using fresh or frozen chicken breast in air fryer, it’s easy to make a low carb, Keto, tasty dinner for your family now!

How long does a chicken breast take to cook in an air fryer?

That depends on the size, thickness and whether it is defrosted or still rock solid. If you love KFC but want a healthier option something like our air fryer fried chicken breast cut into large finger size pieces takes about 8 minutes. Left whole you are closer to 12 and something cut into bite size pieces like our air fryer teriyaki chicken is just a few minutes.

I mean easy chicken recipes are just so versatile right?? You can cook it whole or cut into chunks to make our fave air fryer popcorn chicken that is breaded at the beginning or “naked” is the healthiest way of all.

We have it all, from breaded and popular like our McChicken recipe, to those with less calories and no breading. You will find a few that you want to try right here. Then add them into your meal rotation!

I have a Ninja Foodi, electric air fryer, and Ninja Foodi Grill so I can air fry everything, any brand works my friends. You can even cook from frozen like air fryer orange chicken from Trader Joes. SO much better than in the oven. We have even added options if you cannot eat flour but still want really crunchy and crispy chicken skin on the outside. Use our gluten free air fryer chicken method for wings, legs or breasts.

We made this basic chicken recipe without any breading, so it’s Keto, but TONS of flavor. It comes out with a bit of crispy yum on the outside but tender like you love it on the inside. Sauces like our air fryer mustard chicken goes from good to out of this world.

With a very short cook time and minimal meal prep it’s the best chicken breast in the air fryer recipe you can use for a multitude of different meals. If you slice it into tenderloin sizes they cook even faster, like our air fryer Cheese It chicken tenders pieces. Or pound flat to make air fryer chicken parm recipe??!!

Ninja Foodi Option

If you are using this machine to cook Ninja Foodi chicken breast like we are talking about here you will use the lid that is attached. The air crisp button on the front is what you will need to get that crispy outside.

Using fresh or thawed chicken breasts there is no breading on this one which makes it healthier dinner choice. Smothered in spaghetti sauce and mozzarella cheese you’ll get all the Italian flavors you love in every bite. You’ll get juicy chicken every time you cook this. Add in tender noodles cooked separately and I bet your kids will love this one too.

Similar to our Parmesan Crusted Chicken Air Fryer except with that one we just go for cheese cheese and even more baked on to the top.

How Long to Cook Chicken Kaboobs

Our air fryer chicken kaboobs don’t take long since the meat is in bite sizes, about 5 minutes. These and our chicken fries in air fryer can be a meal or a great appetizer in about the same time. With bite size chicken breast pieces and no breading involved you can have a low carb dinner with this.

Skewers with protein and vegetables cooked to perfection, the outsides will have a bit of a crisp with tender insides. We serve them with air fryer tofu for the win.

Bacon Wrapped Recipes

Like our air fryer chicken cutlets or these air fryer stuffed chicken breast wrapped with BACON!! With warm cream cheese in the center with a little kick of jalapeno, you’re sure to get some OOHhhhs and AHhhhs when you serve this meal. Ingredients you’ll need to make stuffed chicken:

No Breading

Now you can use sliced chicken breast or already skinless and prepared tenders to make these. Lightly breaded chicken, it’s a great recipe when your kids love finger foods. With some light Italian breadcrumbs and some seasoning, Ninja Foodi chicken tenders are way better than frozen and bagged.

We wrapped these in bacon as well which took them over the top but you could leave that off if you dare. 😉 Here’s an air fryer chicken tenders no breading recipe too.

Want crispy but lower in carbs too? We have made almond crusted chicken pieces before too and boy are they great.

Then move on to a batch of air fryer Southern fried chicken and see what you think!! Depending on the size of your breasts you might want to cut them in half for air frying. Air fryer teriyaki chicken bowls are yummy too.

You can start super simple, like with our air fryer bbq chicken breast. Just the meat and sauce is all you need. Always check internal temperature before serving. Insides should be at a min. 165 degrees F. Air fryer boneless wings can be done the same way but quicker.

Can you stack chicken in an air fryer?

No, you won’t get the desired crispiness you want. Hot air needs to circulate around each piece of food to create that deep fried texture you want. If they overlap you will prevent portions of each piece from crisping. You want a nice brown on your air fryer pesto chicken and any other creation you have.

Air fryer whole chicken sits in there as is without anything else so no stacking here. The largest of them all it still only takes about 30 minutes to finish. Some air fryers, such as Philips, come with a grill pan to put inside the air fryer as well. Even cornish hens in air fryer turn out excellent with a dry rub.

Can aluminum foil be used in an air fryer?

Technically yes. You could also use baking paper in the air fryer basket as long as it’s weighed down by the food.  This technique is really not recommended though because air fryers works by providing a constant air flow around the cooking cavity. If you have it blocked by something like foil or baking paper, the foods won’t get as crispy.

Can you put battered food in an air fryer?

Since you are cooking with dry heat it cannot solidify and crisp the wet batter in the way that hot oil can so NO. Instead, dip meat into some egg, then a plate with bread crumbs and place inside your basket. check out our air fryer chicken katsu as a good example of this

The next best step is to spray coated food with olive oil spray to help crisp the outsides. That’s your best bet vs using a wet tempura batter or otherwise. Want something fast? Try a batch of frozen chicken tenders in air fryer as a meal or snack.

What’s the best thing to cook in an air fryer?

That answer would depend on whom you asked. For us we love air fryer vegetables to snack on. Many times I have both machines going at the same time to make everything crispy and delicious. Ok, my Instant Pot is usually going too. Making a few barbecue basted air fryer chicken leg quarters or air fryer sesame chicken while Ninja Foodi rice is cooking in another pot is perfect if you ask us.

Air fryer dinner recipes is where it’s at in 2024 I tell you. My oven hasn’t seen much of anything in a few years now, seriously. Have any left? Make air fryer chicken cordon bleu with it and/or refer to our leftover chicken breast recipes post!

And we have instructions for reheating chicken in air fryer here too. Want to move on to the best air fryer chicken wings recipe or air fryer hot wings now?? You should!!