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Air Fryer Chicken Breasts

Air fryer chicken breasts made with a spice-rub that caramelizes into a golden-brown crust in 16–18 minutes. Juicy, even-thickness chicken is flipped halfway and rested before slicing for clean, flavorful bites.
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Prep Time 8 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
resting 5 minutes
Total Time 31 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken breasts
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts Pounded to even 3/4-inch thickness.
Seasoning and oil
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp cracked black pepper
Serving
  • 1 fresh parsley For serving.
  • 1 lemon wedges For serving.

Equipment

  • 1 air fryer

Method
 

Prep and season
  1. Preheat your air fryer to 390°F.
  2. Pound the chicken breasts to an even 3/4-inch thickness if needed for uniform cooking.
  3. Brush both sides of the chicken with olive oil.
  4. Mix garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and cracked black pepper, then rub the spice blend evenly over both sides of the chicken.
Air fry and finish
  1. Air fry the chicken at 390°F for 8–9 minutes, flipping halfway through.
  2. Continue air frying for 8–9 minutes total, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the outside is golden-brown and caramelized.
  3. Rest the chicken for 5 minutes before slicing, then garnish with fresh parsley and lemon wedges.

Notes

For the juiciest results, use even thickness and rely on the 165°F internal temperature rather than time alone. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days; reheat in the air fryer at 350°F until warmed through. Freezing is not recommended for best texture. For a lower-sodium option, reduce the added salt and rely on the spice blend for flavor.