Cook thin chicken breasts in your air fryer for a quick, easy, flavorful dinner. All done with 6 minutes of cooking and heavily seasoned with garlic and basil.
Jump to:
I cook chicken quite a lot, and any time I cook chicken breasts I always cut them in half. Doesn't matter if I'm grilling, searing, or air frying them - slicing them in half means they cook so much quicker.
Not only do they cook quicker, they end up juicier, since there's less risk of overcooking them.
Want to make breaded thin chicken filets instead? Check out my recipe for Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- It's quick - they cook up in just 6 minutes!
- It's easy - slice, season, and air fry!
- Lots of flavor from garlic & basil, and a high seasoning-to-chicken ratio
- No chopping required since we're using dried seasonings
- A versatile dish that you can serve with your favorite sides, on top of a salad, or slice and add to wraps or bowls
What You Need to Make It
Ingredient notes & substitutions
- Chicken: You can use whole bone-less chicken breasts that you slice in half, or pre-cut thin chicken breasts / chicken cutlets.
- Olive oil: Can be swapped for neutral cooking oil.
How to Make It
- Slice the chicken breasts in half lengthwise
- Brush with oil on all sides
- Season and place in air fryer basket
- Air fry until done, then wrap in foil and rest
Expert Tips
- Cook in a single layer and don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if needed.
- Don't overcook the chicken - air fry until done, or almost done (it will continue cooking while wrapped in foil)
- Use a meat thermometer to know when the chicken is done
- Cook chicken to an internal temperature of 165℉ (74℃).
- Don't skip the resting - this is the secret to the juiciest chicken
How Do You Keep Chicken Breast From Drying Out in an Air Fryer?
There are 3 steps to making sure your chicken breast doesn't dry out in the air fryer.
First, slice it in half, so it cooks quicker. This means less risk of overcooking it and drying it out.
Second, don't overcook it. Cook it until just done, or almost done, and then let it rest. You want it to reach 165℉ (74℃), but not much more.
Third, wrap in aluminum foil and allow to rest for 5 minutes, before eating. The chicken will keep cooking while wrapped in foil, but since you're not adding any heat it won't overcook.
Storing, Freezing & Reheating Instructions
Storing: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freezing: Freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Leftovers: You can eat leftovers hot or cold.
Reheating in the air fryer: Air fry 2 minutes until heated through.
Reheating in the microwave: Reheat leftovers in the microwave starting with 1 minute and following with 30-second increments
Sides to Serve With It
- Mashed Potato Casserole1 Hours
- Garlic Parmesan Smashed Potatoes50 Minutes
- Cheesy Mashed Potatoes35 Minutes
- Crispy Loaded Air Fryer Potato Skins1 Hours 15 Minutes
Sauces to Serve With It
- Buffalo Dipping Sauce2 Minutes
- Whipped Feta with Garlic & Basil (Tyrosalata)5 Minutes
- 2-minute Gluten Free BBQ Sauce2 Minutes
- 5-Minute Blue Cheese Sauce5 Minutes
More Quick & Easy Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
- Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Patties1 Hours
- Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters20 Minutes
- Air Fryer Orange Chicken30 Minutes
- Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks38 Minutes
Did you love this recipe? Rate it five stars!
...and let me know what you loved about it in the comments.
Recipe
Air Fryer Thin Chicken Breasts
Print RateIngredients
- 1 lb chicken breasts or thin-sliced chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoon olive oil or neutral cooking oil
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer by running it for 5 minutes at 390℉ (200℃).
- If you have whole chicken breasts, slice them in half lengthwise.1 lb chicken breasts
- Brush chicken with olive oil on all sides, then season with basil, garlic powder, salt and pepper.1 Tbsp dried basil, ½ Tbsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt, 2 Tbsp olive oil, ½ tsp ground black pepper
- Air fry 3 minutes per side at 390℉ (200℃), until cooked through, or almost cooked through.
- Wrap in aluminium foil and rest 5 minutes, then serve.
Video
Notes
- Cook in a single layer and don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if needed.
- Don't overcook the chicken - air fry until done, or almost done (it will continue cooking while wrapped in foil)
- Use a meat thermometer to know when the chicken is done
- Cook chicken to an internal temperature of 165℉ (74℃).
- Don't skip the resting - this is the secret to the juiciest chicken
- Storing: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: Freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Leftovers: You can eat leftovers hot or cold.
- Reheating in the air fryer: Air fry 2 minutes until heated through.
- Reheating in the microwave: Reheat leftovers in the microwave starting with 1 minute and following with 30-second increments
Nutrition
Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.
Comments
No Comments