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Air Fryer Chicken Breasts

Air fryer chicken breasts with a golden-brown, caramelized crust and a juicy interior—ready in under 20 minutes. Even thickness pounded to 3/4-inch helps the seasoning cook evenly for crispy edges without dryness.
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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: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken and seasoning
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts Pounded to even 3/4-inch thickness.
  • 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
  • 1 Fresh parsley and lemon wedges for serving For garnish and serving.

Equipment

  • 1 air fryer

Method
 

Prep the chicken
  1. Preheat the air fryer to 390°F, heating until it reaches temperature for steady browning. You should see the cooking chamber ready to accept the chicken.
  2. Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness if needed for uniform cooking. Aim for about 3/4-inch thickness so the thicker areas don’t stay underdone.
  3. Brush both sides with olive oil. The surface should look lightly glossy.
  4. Mix together garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, then rub evenly over both sides of the chicken. The coating should look evenly distributed with visible specks of seasoning.
Air fry
  1. Air fry the chicken for 16-18 minutes at 390°F, flipping halfway through. Turn it when there’s already light golden color on the first side.
  2. Continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the outside is golden-brown. The crust should look caramelized and set with no pink near the thickest part.
Rest and serve
  1. Rest the chicken for 5 minutes before slicing. It should look juicier as steam settles and the juices redistribute.
  2. Garnish with fresh parsley and lemon wedges before serving. The green and yellow accents should add brightness right on top.

Notes

Pro tip: pound to a consistent 3/4-inch so you don’t get dry thinner edges while waiting for the thick centers. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes. Freezing is not recommended for best texture after air-frying. For a lower-sodium option, reduce salt to 1/4 tsp while keeping the spices the same.