How to cook boneless skinless Ninja Foodi chicken breast pressure cooker and air fryer style with BBQ sauce no breading. Low carb keto dinner with a bit of crisp on the outside. Or make Ninja Foodi shredded chicken for tacos. Both are quick healthy one pot meals.
Want to make tender Ninja Foodi chicken breast for dinner? Not only is it healthy but it’s packed with flavor. Once you fall in love with this you should try our other easy Ninja Foodi recipes here on The Typical Mom blog. (participant in the Amazon program, affiliate links present)
Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
I mean this is oh so versatile! Dice it up and put it on a salad, throw it in some fettuccini alfredo or just eat it plain with air fryer vegetables with it. There are so many ways to serve it but any which way is a healthy meal everyone loves.
Use any type of sauce you like before you air crisp, teriyaki is yummy too. Just one of our favorite healthy Ninja Foodi Recipes to choose from. If you wanted to use just the pressure cooker method click on the link at the top of this page instead.
If you too are obsessed with your pressure cooker and air fryer machine, here are a few resource to start with:
- You can bookmark our Ninja air fryer recipes page, we add to that weekly.
- Here’s an air fryer cooking times chart here for your fridge.
- Be sure to save this link to Instant Pot recipes for beginners too. You can use any of those in your pot too.
- Grab a set of wooden utensils to work with. They are great so your pot doesn’t get scratched!
- Then join our Facebook group where you can share and find more ideas you’ll love. Thousands of others share easy recipe ideas.
We are basically making a version of our air fryer bbq chicken but with both functions so it is as tender as possible. Just one of our favorite Ninja Foodi chicken recipes using your favorite sauce, even teriyaki is fabulous this way.
Ingredients
- Defrosted boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Barbecue sauce, Sweet Baby Rays is probably our favorite one
- Salt and pepper if you like to season
- Garlic powder also if you want more but typically sauce is enough
- A marinade brush is very helpful to have to brush it on
Like I said, you could use a marinade beforehand if you prefer. Using sauce at the end gives it an added punch though, and keeps it moist.
Yes you can cook pressure cooker chicken and we do have a few Instant Pot recipes that feature this low fat meat choice. BUT having the ability to air crisp the outside in the same pot is a game changer. Now that we air fry everything around here we’ve been experimenting with every food imaginable.
How to Cook Chicken Breast in Ninja Foodi
- Mix 1/2 cup of your bbq sauce and water in a bowl, pour it into your pot.
- Place a trivet inside and lay your chicken breasts on the top.
- It’s kinda’ helpful to spray the rack with non stick spray so lifting them off later is easier.
- In a bowl mix together remaining barbecue sauce with seasonings and brush this over the top of your meat.
- Close pressure cook lid (one that isn’t attached), set steam valve to seal position.
- Cook time on high for 6 minutes with a 3 minute natural release time. Remember it will take approximately 10 – 15 minutes to reach pressure initially.
- Do not quick release or meat will not fully cook and won’t become as tender.
- Close air crisp lid and set to 400 degrees for 4-6 minutes or until the top is as crisp as you’d like. Time will vary depending on thickness of breasts, medium is best
- Pour out liquid in basket
- Place air fryer basket into pot with chicken inside
- You can brush additional sauce on the top for more packed on flavor.
How to Cook Frozen Chicken Breasts in Ninja Foodi
If you only have meat that is still rock hard you have two options. You can cook frozen chicken in air fryer which will make the outsides crispy. Or you can follow our Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breast with Sauce directions which will make them super tender, fall apart melt in your mouth wonderful.
Can you add breading?
If you do want to make this with a crispy crunchy coating kinda’ like KFC, try our air fryer fried chicken breast recipe. You would want to just use the lid that is attached for this since you want it to stay crispy. Just dredge in egg and press in breadcrumbs first.
How do you keep chicken from drying out?
Pressure cook on high first, then air fry the outsides just slightly to get a light crisp to it. Allow for a natural release of steam once it is done cooking. This will maintain the juiciness of the protein for sure. Let it rest once it is done. Once you’re finished cooking the chicken, leave it alone in aluminum foil for at least five minutes before you cut into it and serve. We use both functions to make Ninja Foodi chicken legs too.
What should I serve with chicken breast?
- We usually opt to make mixed air fryer zucchini with almost every meal.
- Our air fryer Hasselback potatoes are the best side dish, or appetizer really.
- The lowest caloric choice would be air fryer cabbage steaks!
Below is a printable recipe card with the entire recipe. Of course you can just bookmark this page and come back as often as you’d like because we love “seeing” you!
Ninja Foodi Chicken Breast
Equipment
- 1 ninja foodi
Ingredients
- 3 medium chicken breasts, boneless, skinless preferred
- 1/2 c water
- 3/4 c barbecue sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- In a bowl mix together bbq sauce, garlic powder and salt.
- In a separate bowl add 1/2 cup of this bbq sauce mixture + your water and whisk together. Pour this into the bottom of your Foodi pot.
- Lower down a trivet (the metal one your pot came with works perfect)
- Lay chicken breasts on rack and brush on remaining bbq sauce in your bowl on to meat.
- Close lid and steam valve and set to pressure cook high for 6 minutes. Allow to naturally release pressure when done for 3 minutes. (timing will vary depending on how thick your breasts are, always check temp when done to ensure it's done in the middle)
- Lift off pressure cooker lid and set aside.
- Lift out rack with chicken, set aside, and pour out liquid at the bottom of your pot.
- Transfer meat into your air fryer basket and lower into your pot. (you can brush on more bbq sauce now if you want it really layered on)
- Take note: if you follow the next steps to get a bit of crisp on the outside it will dry your chicken out more than if you ate it without the air crisp function. Close air crisp lid and cook at 400 degrees for 4 minutes or until internal temp when removed is 165 degrees F.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Ninja foodie 5 in 1 . How long and what. Temp for baking chicken breast
Sounds like a great recipe, but the sodium level is outrageous.
no pictures at important steps placing in pots or baskets
I just made this tonight and it was amazing!!! The chicken was so juicy and perfectly cooked!
Yay for a great dinner!
I followed the timing, and didn’t drain before crisping and turned it over crisping the bottom for the same time. I also used a simple spice blend sprinkled over the top and rubbed a little oil over it before the 2 crisping rotations and the result was delectable. I had 6 breasts to cook so I did 2 batches of 3 breasts.
Glad it was helpful
Recipe came out perfectly! It took way longer than 3 minutes to natural release… more like 12. But the cook is perfection. Outside breasts are air fry only—way over cooked so def prefer pressure then crisp method!!!
OH good!!
I would natural release for 3-5 mins and then quick release.
Tried this tonight and I used very large, organic chicken breasts. Using these timings they were over cooked. I am curious to know the total weight of your chicken before cooking if you know. So far the only thing I have been able to do reliably with chicken breasts is grilling. I will try this for pork chops or maybe chicken thighs though. Super easy recipe 🙂
I use this for pork chops instead and it’s delicious and juicy!
Oh awesome!
I did exactly this, and my chicken was sooo dry. This is getting a little frustrating!
There is always a slight difference in timing depending on how thick your breasts are, as stated, next time decrease time a few minutes and continually check it until it is to your liking.
I’m going to try this recipe. I’m a rookie with the Ninja and this has been very helpfull.
I just got a Ninja Foodi and am experimenting with new recipes. Thank you for sharing this! Is there a reason I couldn’t use the air crisping basket for the chicken in the pressure cooking mode and the. Wouldn’t have to transfer when it’s time to air fry?
Following. I wondered that too.
Yes you could use air fryer basket or rack, your choice