This juicy, tender, thin chicken breast air fryer recipe uses my popular all-purpose chicken seasoning for an easy dinner win!
When I’m too lazy to tenderize my chicken (read pound the heck out of it), I buy already thinly sliced chicken breast or chicken cutlets. Then I realized this is the best Air Fryer hack to come to my kitchen in a while!
Chicken cutlets or thin chicken breast is just chicken breast that has been sliced in half. I use the very popular all-purpose chicken seasoning that I always have on hand and pop them in the air fryer for a really easy dinner ready in just 10-12 minutes. It doesn’t get easier than cooking thin chicken breasts in the air fryer; they are sliced evenly, so they cook quickly and evenly every time for ultimate juiciness on the inside and crisp on the outside. By far, my favorite cut of chicken to cook in the air fryer!
How to Make Thin Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer
I use a little bit of oil to coat the breast on both sides and then season both sides of the chicken breast. Place on the air fryer basket and cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Make sure to check that they reach a temperature of 165F.
How Long to Cook Thin Chicken Breast In Air Fryer
There is a difference between cooking chicken breast that you’ve tenderized (aka pounded thin) and cooking pre-cut chicken cutlets or thinly sliced chicken breast. The chicken you get already thinly sliced will be even in thickness, whereas the chicken breast you’ve pounded thin won’t be. Also, every air fryer is slightly different. I noticed my new oven-style air fryer (vs. the basket style I had before) doesn’t cook things quite as fast, even at the same temperature.
Ingredients Swaps and Substitutions
Need to swap out an ingredient? Here are my suggestions! These haven’t all been tested, but it’s what I would do if I needed to swap an ingredient or omit it.
- For chicken substitution, I would follow these recipes where I used the same seasoning but different cooking times instead: air fryer chicken tenders without breading, air fryer chicken breast (use this recipe if you have breasts that weren’t sliced thin), and my air fryer bone-in chicken thighs.
- For seasoning substitution ideas, check out this post.
How to Freeze and Store Air Fryer Thin Chicken Breast
To store: to store your chicken breast, let it cool completely then store in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for up to three days. Use the reheat function on your air fryer, microwave it, or quickly pan-fry. Or chop it up and eat it cold in a salad!
Freezer Options
Freeze-cooked chicken: Let chicken cool completely (don’t leave it out more than 2 hours; it can also cool in the refrigerator) then store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. I like to freeze them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Then, I wrap them individually in saran wrap and place them in a freezer bag. Defrost under refrigeration and reheat to 165F in the microwave. Freezing changes the texture a bit and may dry them out a bit, so you’ll want to
Meal prep: Using chicken that has never been frozen season the chicken on both sides. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze. Once frozen, store chicken in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Air fry direction from frozen for 20-30 minutes. Make sure to keep checking the internal temperature to get to 165F so they don’t get under or overcooked.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH AIR FRYER CHICKEN BREASTS
They go with anything, but here are a few ideas!
- Bacon Roasted Green Beans
- Creamy Buttermilk Cauliflower Mash
- Cheesy Cauliflower Rice
- Perfect Roasted Broccoli
- Bacon and Peach Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
- Salad packs
- Roasted or Baked Potatoes
- Roas
MORE FUN AIR FRYER RECIPES TO TRY:
- Air Fryer Tortilla Strips
- Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
- Air Fryer Quesadilla
- Air Fryer Cauliflower Gnocchi
- Air Fryer Sweet and Spicy Dry Rub Wings
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chicken Nuggets
- Healthy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- 20 Minute Air Fryer Fish Tacos
- Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders No Breading
- Air Fryer Tumeric Cauliflower
- Air Fryer Bone-In Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Thin Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
Thin Chicken Breast Air Fryer
Equipment
- Air Fryer - Basket or Rotisserie Style
Ingredients
- 3 lbs thin sliced chicken breast
- 1-2 tbsp avocado oil
- 1/2 tbsp lemon pepper
- 1.5 tbsp garlic powder
- 1.5 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp dried parsley
- 1.5 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt* Optional if lemon pepper spice isn't salted
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer to 400F.
- Combine seasonings in a small bowl.1-2 tbsp avocado oil, 1/2 tbsp lemon pepper, 1.5 tbsp garlic powder, 1.5 tbsp onion powder, 1 tbsp dried parsley, 1.5 tbsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp salt*
- Pat dry chicken breasts (especially if defrosted from frozen). Brush each breast with avocado oil on both sides. Coat each side of the chicken breasts with the seasoning. I sprinkled it over one side, rubbed it all over, and flipped them over to repeat.3 lbs thin sliced chicken breast, 1-2 tbsp avocado oil
- Cook your chicken at 400F for 8-12 minutes. Flip the chicken halfway through, and always check the temperature to ensure the thickest part of the chicken breast has reached 165F before removing it from heat.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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