Air Fryer Chicken (Print version)

Marinated chicken air-fried to a crispy exterior and juicy interior in about 30 minutes for an easy gluten-free dinner.

# What goes in:

→ Poultry

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 5 oz each)

→ Seasoning Blend

02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon paprika
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
07 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
08 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# Cooking steps:

01 - Pat the chicken breasts thoroughly dry with paper towels to ensure proper browning.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
03 - Add the chicken breasts to the bowl and turn to coat evenly with the seasoning mixture. Allow to sit for 5 minutes at room temperature, or transfer to the refrigerator and marinate up to 2 hours for deeper flavor.
04 - Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes.
05 - Place the seasoned chicken breasts in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd; cook in batches if needed to allow proper air circulation.
06 - Cook for 10 minutes, then flip the chicken breasts using tongs. Continue cooking for another 8 to 10 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and juices run clear.
07 - Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 3 minutes before slicing and serving.

# Tips from flavorandfeast:

01 -
  • The spice rub creates a crust that tastes like you spent hours over a grill, but your actual hands on time is barely ten minutes.
  • Cleanup is basically nothing since the air fryer basket washes clean in seconds with warm soapy water.
02 -
  • Overcrowding the basket is the single biggest mistake you can make here, because the hot air needs room to circulate or you end up with pale, rubbery chicken.
  • I once skipped the preheat step and added almost five extra minutes of cooking time with a worse result, so those three empty minutes truly matter.
03 -
  • A light spray of oil on top of each breast right before cooking gives an extra golden finish that the marinade alone does not quite achieve.
  • Letting the coated chicken sit uncovered in the fridge for thirty minutes before air frying dries the surface slightly and rewards you with an even crisper exterior.

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