Air-Fried Chicken Is the Fastest, Easiest Dinner You’ll Cook All Week

Air-frying chicken gives you the ease of cooking something in the oven but with the speed of sautéing. And it’s incredibly versatile; see the note below on other spices to use on the chicken. This chicken is excellent on its own or as the base for a more elaborate meal. Use this recipe to cook chicken while preparing tortillas and toppings for a taco dinner, boiling pasta, cooking rice, or boiling potatoes. 

Frequently asked questions

How long do you cook chicken in an air fryer?

Air Fryer Chicken cooks very quickly because of the hot air circulating around the meat. Large chicken breasts will cook in about nine minutes; smaller chicken breasts will cook in as little as six or seven minutes. Keep in mind that you will need to check the temperature of the chicken breasts with a thermometer, since different brands and models of air fryers cook at varying rates. We pull the chicken out from the air fryer when it is 160°F and let it rest for at least five minutes, so the juices redistribute and the temperature of the meat goes up to 165°F, which is the temperature recommended by the USDA.

Why dry-brine the chicken?

Any time you cook a lean cut of meat like a chicken breast, you want to do whatever you can to prevent it from drying out. Dry-brining is as simple as seasoning it with salt and letting it sit, uncovered, in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook it. This step is optional — if you skip it, simply whisk the salt into the spice mixture so the chicken is still well seasoned — but it yields moist chicken and is worth the time investment.

Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen

The spices used in this recipe for Air Fryer Chicken can be swapped out if you want to incorporate other flavors in your meal. Feel free to use regular paprika if you don’t have pimentón, or a smoky chili powder instead. Curry powder, coriander, and cumin is another good combination; start with equal amounts of each, taste, and adjust the proportions to your liking. Be careful when adding any spice blends with salt; the salt used to brine the chicken is usually enough.