Make some air fryer boneless chicken breasts so you always have a protein to put in dishes. I like to use some right away, put some in the fridge, and freeze the rest. That makes dinner prep so easy when I don’t have a lot of time.

Air fried chicken breasts are delicious in a variety of dishes. From salads to sandwiches, if you have some in your fridge, you’ll always have the foundation of a great meal.

I hope you read this entire post. However, if you’re in a hurry, please either click on the jump-to-recipe button below the title or scroll to the bottom of the page. I’ve placed a printable recipe card there for your convenience.

Ever since I got my air fryer, it’s become one of my favorite appliances. It’s a healthy way to have flavorful fried foods without having to use a deep fryer.

When it comes time for meal prep, you can turn almost any dish into a quick meal. Do you want chicken soup? Then cut up some of this cooked boneless chicken breast and add it to noodles with a few seasonings.

Easy Weeknight Dinner

More often than not, I need an easy weeknight dinner. Even though I work from home, there are so many things that keep me busy, and time really gets away from me.

One of the easiest ways I know to prepare a delicious meal is to have a few prepared staples on hand. And since this air fryer boneless chicken breast recipe is so quick and easy, this is one of my favorites.

Here are some of my favorite meals to prepare with these juicy chicken breasts:

Chicken and lettuce salad – You can make this as simple or as sophisticated as you want. Serve the chicken on a bed of lettuce with some tomatoes, and you have a delicious meal.

Chicken and rice soup – Chop some of this cooked chicken and add it to a pot with cut carrots, celery, and onions. Pour in some broth, rice, and a few of your favorite seasonings. Cook until the rice is tender, and lunch or dinner is ready.

Chicken wraps – We enjoy eating chicken in either flatbread or tortillas. Simply cut the chicken into strips, add some guacamole, chopped tomatoes, McDonald’s signature sauce, and whatever else you like. Roll up the wrap and enjoy with tortilla chips. Or you can add buffalo sauce and have have a buffalo chicken wrap.

Chicken and chips – Simply slice the chicken into strips and serve it on a plate with either French fries or these delicious air fryer waffle fries. Easy peasy meal that’s loaded with deliciousness

Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Breast Ingredients

The simple ingredients I have listed below are what I use. However, you can substitute any of them for what you like.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Boneless skinless chicken breasts
• Olive oil
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Smoked paprika
• Kosher salt or Himalayan pink salt
• Black pepper

For exact measurements of each ingredient and full directions, go to the recipe card at the bottom of the page. You can even print out the card by using the “print” button.

Other ingredients I’ve tried are chili powder, Italian seasoning, tabasco sauce, and Old Bay seasoning. If you prefer chicken thighs, you can use those instead. In fact, that’s what I often do because it seems like they’re always on sale. Plus, they typically stay moist, even if you cook them a little too long.

Preparing the Chicken

There are many different ways to cook boneless skinless chicken breasts, but I’ve found this foolproof recipe to be the quickest and easiest. Depending on the size of the chicken breast, either leave it whole or cut each piece in half. This time, they were humongous, so I cut them in half.

How to Cook Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer

Put the pieces of chicken in a large bowl. This makes it easier for the next step.

Now, coat the outside of the chicken breasts in a little bit of olive oil. Or you can use olive oil spray if that makes it easier for you. You need very little oil—just enough to help the seasonings stick. The oil also helps to give you a crispy chicken breast.

In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. You only need a little bit of each dry seasoning. The measurements are in the recipe card below.

Place the chicken breasts in a single layer in the air fryer basket. It’s okay if they touch in a couple of places, but make sure there’s plenty of room for air to circulate around them. Sprinkle the dry seasoning mixture over the chicken breasts.

Cook for 9-10 minutes on 375˚ F. The cooking time may vary, depending on the thickness of the chicken and strength of the air fryer.

Check the temperature of the chicken by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken. The internal temperature of the chicken should be at least 165˚ F.

If it hasn’t reached that temperature, put the basket back into the air fryer and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. It’s good to have an instant read thermometer so you can do this quickly.

After the Chicken is Done

For the best results, after it is done, place chicken on a plate and tent the plate with aluminum foil. Let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes so the juices can settle. This gives you juicy perfection every time.

A flavorful air fryer boneless chicken breast is delicious for so many different recipes. I use leftover chicken quite often, so there’s usually some in my refrigerator or freezer.

Chicken FAQs

If you enjoy cooking with chicken, check out these frequently asked questions about chicken. It’s one of my favorite ingredients in quite a few recipes.

More Air Fryer Recipes

Once you start using your air fryer, you’ll want to cook in it as much as possible. There are so many different wonderful foods that you can cook more easily and quickly in an air fryer.

Here are some of our favorites:

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeños – The blend of flavors in this delicious appetizer will have you making these often.

Easy Air Fryer Carrots – You’ll be amazed by how air frying carrots brings out their natural sweetness.

Southern Air Fried Yellow Squash – This delicious recipe from Julia’s Simply Southern will make everyone in your family a vegetable lover.

Crunchy Ranch Chickpeas – This is a delicious snack that’s perfect for family game night or while watching your favorite TV show.

Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders – Whether you make these for the main dish or as an appetizer, you need to make enough for everyone to have seconds.

Tilapia – If you forgot to thaw something for dinner, don’t fret! You can pull tilapia from the freezer and pop it into your air fryer for a meal that’s ready in a matter of minutes! This is one of my easiest recipes!

Garlic Lemon Chicken – When you’re in the mood for a flavorful, delicious dinner, make this yummy garlic lemon chicken. It’s sure to become one of your favorite main dishes!

See this recipe shared at Meal Plan Monday and Full Plate Thursday.

Please feel free to share!