Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Breasts — 💛🙌 Learn how to make perfectly “fried” chicken in your air fryer! Deliciously crispy on the outside while staying juicy, tender, and moist on the interior. EASY, ready in 15 minutes, and perfect for busy weeknights when you need to get dinner on the table FAST!
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Super Crispy Air Fried Chicken
If you’ve ever wanted to make perfectly crispy chicken without the hassle of actually frying it, this air fryer chicken breast recipe is what you need!
You and your family are going to love the lightly crispy and crunchy exterior and the perfectly moist and juicy interior of these breaded chicken breasts.
I incorporated a bit of lemon zest in the flour mixture that I dredge the chicken in before air frying it so there’s a hint of lemon flavor to it which my daughter just loves.
Best of all, this air fried chicken is fast to make. In less than 15 minutes, it’s done, making it a perfect option for busy weeknights.
This air fryer chicken recipe is practically foolproof and SO easy!
Ingredients in Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Breasts
There are only a handful of ingredients needed to make breaded chicken breasts in the air fryer:
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Pepper
- Lemon zest
- Eggs
- Panko breadcrumbs – traditional breadcrumbs will NOT work
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Crispy Chicken in an Air Fryer
Making easy, crispy chicken breasts in your air fryer is so easy. Follow these simple and straightforward steps and you’ll have finger-licking chicken:
- Combine the flour, salt, pepper, and lemon zest in a shallow bowl.
- Whisk the eggs together in another bowl.
- Add the panko to another separate bowl.
- Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, then dip it in the eggs, and then press it into the panko.
- Spray your air fryer basket with olive oil cooking spray as well as the chicken breasts. Cook it at 375F for 6 minutes and then flip it over. Spray the other side with cooking spray and cook it for another 6 to 8 minutes, or until done.
Air Frying FAQs
You can use any size chicken breasts you want for air fryer crispy chicken breasts but cooking time will vary depending on size. I tend to use large chicken breasts that I get from the butcher and then slice them in half lengthwise, creating two thinner filets.
I prefer to use boneless skinless chicken breasts, but you can experiment with thighs and with skin-on chicken. 
Here are the cook times for thin sliced chicken breasts in the air fryer (my preference), as well as smaller chicken breasts that remain unsliced.
–Medium-sized chicken breasts: Cook for about 12 to 14 minutes total, flipping once midway through.
-Smaller chicken breasts: Cook for about 10 minutes total.
-Larger or thicker chicken breasts: Cook for approximately 12 to 16 minutes.
Chicken is considered done when it reaches 165F. However the internal temperature will continue to rise as it rests so I take my chicken out when it’s 155 to 160F.
If you don’t know how to guess or judge when chicken is done, a digital cooking thermometer is essential. Chicken is done at 165F however as I mentioned, I pull mine between 155 and 160F since there is carryover cooking. 
I use a Cosori model that I’ve had for a few years. I like that the basket is larger than other models. That being said, even with an “extra large” basket, you can really only cook 2 average breasts or 2 thin-sliced breast filets (from 1 thick large chicken breast) at a time. Extra breasts will have to cook as a second round.
Air fryer crispy chicken breasts are best hot and fresh right out of your air fryer. They will be the crispiest at that point. However, if you do have extra chicken, it will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
I recommend setting the chicken breasts out at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes to warm up slightly, then cook in a 350F air fryer for about 5 to 10 minutes. You’ll want to flip the chicken halfway through. This will reheat the breaded chicken breasts and also crisp them up slightly, although they’ll never be as crispy as when you first prepared them.
When you’re getting ready to air fry your chicken, make sure you spray the basket well with cooking spray. I use olive oil cooking spray.
And spray the chicken breasts themselves. This small amount of oil really helps the chicken crisp up as well as take on a nice golden fried chicken appearance. Alternatively, you can use an olive oil mister if you have one.
What to Serve with Air Fried Crispy Chicken
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Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 2 large thick boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced in halve lengthwise (to create 4 thinner-cut breast filets; or 4 smaller breasts)*
- ½ cup ll-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Zest from 1 lemon
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 3 cups panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat a large air fryer (or similar brand and model) to 375F.
- In a shallow dish or bowl, add the flour, salt, pepper, lemon zest, and stir to combine; set aside.
- To a separate medium bowl, add the eggs and whisk to combine; set aside.
- To a separate shallow bowl or dish, add the panko breadcrumbs.
- Dredge two of the chicken breast filets in the flour mixture, dip through the eggs, and then press into the panko making sure it adheres well.
- Spray the basket of your air fryer with olive oil cooking spray (or use an olive oil mister), add the 2 breasts, and spray each of them on their exposed surface.
- Close the lid and air fry the chicken for 6 minutes.
- Open the machine, flip the chicken over using tongs, spray the exposed surface with olive oil cooking spray, cover, and cook for an additional 6 to 8 minutes, or until done. Chicken is done when the internal temp reaches 165F. Tips – I pull my chicken out at 155 to 160F because the internal temp will continue to rise due to carryover cooking, even out of or off the heat source. If you are unsure and can't "tell" when chicken is done by a visual once-over, avoid guessing and use a digital cooking thermometer.
- Repeat steps 5 through 8 with the two remaining breast filets.
- After chicken has been air fried, allow it to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing into it so the natural juices stay inside. Serve with a salad, vegetables, rice, potatoes, Beurre Blanc sauce, or your favorite side or sauce. Chicken will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days and in the freezer for up to 4 months. Note that leftover chicken will not retain the same crispy fried texture that is has when it's hot and fresh.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes:
Air Fryer Parmesan Chicken – Coated in a mixture of panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese, this “fried” chicken is perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy, tender, and moist inside!
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets — These EASY air fryer nuggets are coated in a mixture of Panko breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan, which makes them EXTRA flavorful and SO CRISPY!! Dip them in this 30-second homemade honey mustard sauce for a guaranteed family FAVORITE!!
Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken — Breaded chicken cutlets are air fried until crispy, then drizzled with spicy-sweet hot honey! This is such a QUICK and EASY air fryer chicken recipe that takes less than 30 minutes to prepare!
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Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Wings — 🧡🙌 You don’t have to deep fry chicken wings to get them extra crispy, juicy, and finger-licking good thanks to the tangy buffalo sauce! FAST, EASY, and everyone LOVES these air fried wings!
It didn’t turn out to be crispy, brown, or juicy.
Thanks for trying the recipe and air fryers, their heat output, their size, the size of your chicken all affect crispiness and how browned it will get. I am wondering if perhaps you needed to cook them a bit longer and/or increase the amount of coating mixture on the outside? Hard to say but I appreciate you giving the recipe a try.
I did increase the time That’s probably why it wasn’t as juicy as I’d like.
This was very good, tender and crispy! I baked mine in my oven – turned on speed bake (making it convection) and cooked at 425 for about 20 minutes. I did put the chicken on racks on a cookie sheet so that there was air flow below them. I used them for chicken parm. Will definitely be making again.
This was very good, tender and crispy! I baked mine in my oven – turned on speed bake (making it convection) and cooked at 425 for about 20 minutes. I did put the chicken on racks on a cookie sheet so that there was air flow below them. I used them for chicken parm. Will definitely be making again.
Thanks for the 5 star review and I’m glad that this came out great in your oven.
Just today I posted another version of this with Parmesan cheese! https://www.averiecooks.com/air-fryer-parmesan-chicken/
Made this chicken tonight and it was perfect! Healthy, crispy and delicious! Great recipe!
Made this chicken tonight and it was perfect! Healthy, crispy and delicious! Great recipe!
Thanks for the 5 star review and I am glad it was perfect!
I really enjoy your recipes but trying to navigate this site is my worst nightmare. So many adds and I have yet to find the “Find Recipe” here link to skip all the ‘stuff”. I wish there were a simpler way and I can appreciate your need for adds and sponsor links but its overwhelming.
great recipe! Last month I did chicken parmigiana for the first time in the air-fryer and was amazed by how juicy it turned out, and how fast… So I intend to make your cutlets next – really the only drawback is being able to cook just two at a time – my fryer is smaller than yours, but other than that, it is a great method!
I agree that is the only drawback to air fryers. Probably one day they will start making them with jumbo baskets!
I really enjoy your recipes but trying to navigate this site is my worst nightmare. So many adds and I have yet to find the “Find Recipe” here link to skip all the ‘stuff”. I wish there were a simpler way and I can appreciate your need for adds and sponsor links but its overwhelming.
Averie — Thanx so much for your Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Breast recipe — another one to try !
I will assume (since I don’t have a grill) that I can do the cooking of your Grilled Tandoori Chicken in my air fryer in the same way.
Chicken breasts are one of my favorites, and your recipes are wonderful and delicious !
Your loyal fan — Dennis
great