Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Juicy, tender, perfectly-seasoned chicken that's great for weeknight meals.
Cooking Summary
Ingredients: (detailed list)
- Main Ingredients: skin-on, bone-in chicken breast, salt, oil, cornstarch
- Marinade Ingredients: garlic salt, fish sauce, oyster sauce, light soy sauce, sugar, cooking wine, cornstarch, white pepper
- Dipping Sauce Ingredients: oyster sauce, light soy sauce, hoisin sauce, boiling water
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Overview
Longtime Made With Lau followers know that my dad is a huge fan of the air fryer. It's easy to use and yields perfect results for many of his favorite dishes. He's used it to cook pork, fish and today, he's tackling the most popular protein of all: chicken!
My dad's Air Fryer Chicken Breast (氣炸鍋焗雞) may just be the easiest way to get crispy, restaurant-level chicken on the table on a weeknight. It calls for a simple marinade that uses a few Chinese pantry staples, which not only gives it big flavor, but also helps seal in the delicious juices.
On air frying
Chicken breast in the air fryer is truly one of the lowest-effort dinners you can make, thanks to the small appliance's unique ability to cook quickly and evenly. It's essentially a tiny convection oven that circulates air around the food as it cooks, which produces better browning. For a deep dive into how air fryers work, check out Chris Young's Instagram video.
What to serve with air fryer chicken breast
Air fryer chicken breast is a versatile dinner main that's great with almost any kind of side dish! Enjoy it with Stir Fry Carrots, Chinese Broccoli With Oyster Sauce or Stir-Fried Bok Choy. It's also a good protein to pair with Vegetable Lo Mein or Cantonese Chow Mein.
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Why this recipe
Most air fryer chicken breast recipes online are tested only a handful of times. My dad used to make this dish multiple times a day, every day, for 60+ years and can make this in his sleep.
I know you'll love it as much as our community does! This recipe has over 72.7K views, 1.9K likes on YouTube.
Ingredients
How to make Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Make a shallow cut around the bone of the chicken breast (12 oz) and cut along it to debone.
Trim off all of the hard bones and soft cartilage and set aside. Use them for making stock!
Trim off the breast tender and save for other recipes.
You can also use boneless, skinless chicken breast to save time and skip this step.
Cut a slit through the thickest parts of the chicken on the meat (not skin) side of the breast. Lightly slice diagonally in the opposite direction across the entire breast.
Rinse the chicken in water and dry with paper towels.
In a small bowl, combine the garlic salt (1 tablespoon), fish sauce (1 tablespoon), oyster sauce (1 tablespoon), light soy sauce (1 teaspoon), sugar (3 teaspoon), cooking wine (2 teaspoon), cornstarch (1 tablespoon), and white pepper (⅓ teaspoon). Taste and adjust as needed.
Spoon the marinade onto the meat side of the chicken breast, making sure it goes into the cuts. If using skinless chicken breast, you can spoon the marinade to both sides. Allow the meat to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
In a small bowl, combine the oyster sauce (1 tablespoon), light soy sauce (1 tablespoon), hoisin sauce (1 tablespoon), and water (1 tablespoon). If desired, add chili sauce for spice. Mix until thoroughly combined.
Line the air fryer tray with aluminum foil with the shiny side facing up. Poke holes in the foil for ventilation.
Place the chicken breast on the tray, meat side up and put it into the air fryer. Set the temperature to 375°F. Cook in the air fryer for 11 to 12 minutes.
Flip chicken breasts so the skin side is up. Sprinkle on the salt (½ teaspoon) and spread on the oil (½ teaspoon) using a brush. Sprinkle on the cornstarch (½ teaspoon) and use the brush to spread it evenly across the skin.
Place the chicken back into the air fryer, cook for another 11 to 12 minutes and check the color of the skin. For crispier, darker golden brown skin, cook for an additional 3 to 5 minutes.
Remove the chicken and plate. You can cut before serving or cut it at the table.
Top 3 Mistakes
- Trusting the timer alone:
Check the thickest part of the chicken with a thermometer. Smaller breasts finish sooner, so use the recipe's doneness check rather than assuming every piece needs the full time.
- Swapping cuts without timing:
Chicken thighs can work, but they may cook faster than the breast used here. Adjust for the thickness of your actual cut instead of carrying over the timing unchanged.
- Skipping the meat marinade:
Mix the meat thoroughly with its marinade and give it the time the recipe calls for. This preparation helps the seasoning coat the pieces before the fast cooking stage begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to cook chicken breast in air fryer?
It all depends on the thickness of the chicken breast you're using, but my dad cooks the one used in this recipe for 26 minutes at 375°F. If you're using a smaller piece, it'll probably be done before then. To make sure your chicken is fully cooked through, use a food thermometer to check that the inside has reached 165°F.
Can I use chicken thigh instead of chicken breast?
Yes! Chicken breast is leaner than chicken thigh, which makes it a great option if you're looking for a less fatty cut of meat. However, chicken thigh can work too if you prefer dark meat. The cook time will also likely be faster since chicken thighs are not as thick as chicken breast.
Is it better to use high or low temperature?
It's best to use high temperature when cooking chicken breast in an air fryer, which not only ensures beautiful browning on the skin, but also helps seal in the juices.
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Made with love ❤️
We started Made With Lau to celebrate Cantonese culture and honor the legacy of our wonderful parents, Jenny and Chung Sun Lau.
Our hope is that these recipes and stories help you spread the joy, love, and nostalgia that I felt growing up.