Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe

This juicy air fryer chicken breast is crisp and golden on the outside while staying moist and tender inside. I like that it only needs chicken breast, egg white, cornstarch, and salt, so there’s no long ingredient list or marinade to prepare before cooking.

It takes just 15 minutes to cook, making it an easy air fryer chicken breast for lunch or dinner when you don’t want to spend ages in the kitchen. If you want another simple air fryer meal, try this Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Thighs Recipe. Keep reading to see how the egg white and cornstarch help keep the chicken juicy while giving the outside a golden crust.

Jump to:

• Video Tutorial
• Try This Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Breast
• Why You’ll Love It
• Ingredients
• How to Make Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Breast
• Recipe Tips
• What Can You Serve With This?
• FAQs
• Recipe

Video Tutorial

Try This Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Dry chicken breast is probably the main reason I’m careful about how I go about cooking chicken breasts. With this healthy air fryer chicken breast, the small amount of egg white and cornstarch helps hold in the moisture and the protein in, and the outside gets that lightly crisp, golden finish while air frying.

I also like that there’s no breading involved for this quick dinner. The coating is very light, so you still get a simple piece of juicy chicken that you can slice for salads, serve with vegetables and potaotes, or add to rice and pasta. Leftover chicken breasts are not a guarantee with this recipe. You will find the full recipe in the recipe card below.

Why You’ll Love It

• Juicy inside: The egg white and cornstarch help the chicken hold onto its moisture.
• Golden outside: The same light coating gives the surface a crisp, golden crust.
• Only four ingredients: There’s nothing complicated to measure or prepare, and meal prep time is minimal.
• Quick to cook: The chicken needs just 15 minutes in the air fryer, followed by a 2-minute rest.

Ingredients

• Chicken breasts: Boneless skinless chicken breasts are my go-to, and I cut them so the pieces are thinner and wider. Similar-sized pieces are helpful because they cook more evenly instead of leaving you with one piece done before another.
• Egg white: I like how little egg white is needed here. It lightly covers the chicken and helps hold in moisture while it cooks without turning this into a heavily breaded chicken breast. I also prefer using egg white instead of olive oil for this flavorful chicken recipe.
• Cornstarch: I sift the cornstarch over both sides so there aren’t thick patches in one spot. Together with the egg white, it helps give the outside that thin, golden crust.
• Salt: There aren’t lots of seasonings and spices competing with each other here, so I season the chicken with salt to taste. It keeps the flavor simple and makes it easy to pair the cooked chicken with different sauces and sides. Kosher salt works well, too. You can add some black pepper too, if you like.

How to Make Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Breast

1. Start by separating the chicken breast into two parts: the larger and smaller fillets. Set aside the smaller fillet. Then, cut each fillet lengthwise in the middle, but not all the way through, to make them thinner yet wider. You may watch our video for reference.

2. Place the fillets in a deep container, such as a food container.

3. In a small bowl, crack an egg and separate the egg white. You will only need the egg white for this recipe. Pour the egg white over the tender chicken breasts, ensuring it is evenly distributed and covers the entire surface of the fillets for even cooking.

4. Preheat the air fryer (mine’s the Instant Vortex Plus XL) to 380°F (190°C).

5. Sift the starch onto a small sieve and sprinkle the starch over the entire surface of the fillets, making sure both sides are coated.

6. Place the chicken pieces inside the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 15 minutes.

7. Halfway through the cooking process, flip the chicken fillets to the other side. Keep a close eye on the cooking progress.

8. The internal temperature for cooked chicken fillets should be 155-158°F (68-70°C). If you have a kitchen instant read thermometer, you can use it to check the temperature. The inside of the meat should have a light gray color.

9. Once cooked, remove the chicken fillets from the air fryer. Allow them to rest for 2 minutes. Serve the chicken breast with your favorite sauce and side dish.

Recipe Tips

• Check that all of your size of your chicken breasts are a similar size so they cook at roughly the same rate.
• Preheat the air fryer before adding the chicken so it starts cooking at the right temperature.
• Don’t overcrowd the basket. Cook in batches if you need more room around the fillets.
• Flip the chicken halfway through the cooking time.
• Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to make sure the chicken is fully cooked.
• Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing so the juices have time to redistribute.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It will also keep in the freezer for up to three months, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, or a freezer-safe bag.
• If you want to spruce the recipe up even more with different variations, feel free to add things like a teaspoon garlic powder, Italian seasoning, teaspoon paprika for a kick, cajun seasoning, or even onion powder.

What Can You Serve With This?

• Steamed vegetables
• Baked potatoes
• Caesar salad
• Chicken salad
• Rice or pasta

FAQs

Recipe