So, you have an air fryer and chicken breasts, but don’t feel like having air fried chicken breasts for dinner. We’ve got you. Apparently, the air fryer does more than air frying, and that’s what we’re going to share with you in today’s how-to.
Ways to Cook Chicken Breasts in the Air Fryer
- Bake
The air fryer functions like an oven with fans, so by default it bakes, grills, and roasts foods. The constant hot air, however, can dry out food very quickly, so you should cover your chicken breasts with foil before cooking.
Our suggestion is to marinate the breasts with your favorite seasonings, wrap them in foil, and cook for 20 minutes at 400°F. For bone-in chicken breasts, cook for 25 minutes at 350°F. For a golden caramel finish, brush the meat with honey or BBQ sauce then give it a quick roast for 5 minutes at 450°F.
- Stir-fry
With a baking dish that fits, you can also treat the baking dish like a pan for stir-fries. Cut the chicken into small pieces, add chopped garlic along with some oil and veg, mix it well, cook in 10 minutes at 400°F, and out comes a nice stir-fry.
- Fry
The air fryer can make some really crispy chicken parmesan or chicken nuggets. Of course the crispiness can’t compare to deep-fried foods, but in exchange for less oil used and no splashing, we think that’s fair.
Bread your nuggets or filets nicely, then add them to the frying basket and make sure there’s no overlapping. Spray them with oil and cook them for 15 minutes at 400°F.
- Make Saucy Dishes
Saucy dishes like chicken teriyaki or chicken piccata will have a beautiful golden top while being moist and flavorful on the inside.
For maximum exposure, place your marinated meat in the middle of the dish, make sure the veg (if any) are not covering the meat, then pour the sauce in. Starting from room-temperature, your dish should finish in 25 minutes at 350°F.
- Make Soups
How about a soup (or even curry) for one? Ingredients that cook quickly like onions, carrots, peas, corn, spinach, etc. are ideal for air fryer soups.
Cut your ingredients into bites that should fit your spoon, add all to the baking dish with stock and seasonings, and let it cook for 40 minutes at 350°F. Of course it’s more convenient and time-saving to use a pot, but you know, it’s a possibility.
- Steam
Apparently there are air fryers with a built-in steaming function, allowing you to steam foods. The timing and temperature should be automatically adjusted by the machine once you press ‘steam’, and it’s pretty accurate most of the time.
Most regular air fryers, however, are not built to withstand steam like these ones. It’s not recommended to add water into the frying basket.
- Poach
Want your chicken breasts oil-free but still moist and fragrant? What you need is poached chicken breasts, and yes, you can poach chicken in an air fryer.
Wrap the meat and aromatics you like (onion, celery, garlic, rosemary, etc.) in a large piece of foil. Pour about 1/4 cup water into the foil pouch, close it tightly, then air-fry for 30 minutes at 350°F.
Tips to Avoid Drying Out Chicken Breasts
If baked chicken breasts sound dry to you, you won’t find air-fried chicken breasts any more pleasant. Still, you can make them juicier by applying these tricks:
- Cover the meat with foil: foil seals in the moisture from the hot air and conducts heat so that the meat cooks more evenly.
- Marinate the meat: make it with a solution of water and seasonings and allow it to sit for at least 1 hour. The solution can simply be salt and water—other seasonings can be added right before cooking.
- Coat the chicken: a thin coating of cornstarch sprayed with oil creates a barrier that traps the moisture. A thicker coat of flour, egg, and breadcrumbs also works well.
Popular Seasoning Mixes for Chicken Breasts
It’s not difficult to have delicious chicken breasts for dinner with these seasoning mixes:
- Garlic, butter, salt, pepper, and thyme: basic ingredients in the pantry of just about any home cooks. We recommend wrapping the seasoned chicken in foil — this dish is best enjoyed with no caramelization.
- BBQ sauce (or ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and smoked paprika) and honey: this dish, on the other hand, tastes best when it’s cooked until golden brown. Brush your chicken breasts with the mixture, place into the air fryer, and cook low and slow (at 350°F for 20 minutes) for the best result.
- Teriyaki sauce: soy sauce, sugar, white vinegar, cooking wine, ginger, garlic, and 1 tsp cornstarch. Cook at 350°F for 20 minutes, and brush the sauce over the meat every 5 minutes throughout to make your chicken all caramelized and flavorful.
- Garlic powder, cumin, salt, pepper, and some paprika: This dry mix gives a Mexican vibe, turning your meat into a great taco filling. It’s best enjoyed with some fresh veggies wrapped inside tortillas.
Luna Regina
Writer, Author