This delicious air fryer chicken breast comes out perfectly cooked and juicy every single time. Coated in a sweet and salty maple syrup glaze, you only need 4 ingredients and it’s ready to serve in less than 30 minutes.
This quick and easy chicken breast recipe is super delicious and perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. Cooked in the air fryer, you are guaranteed the most perfect results every single time.
Brushed with maple syrup, the chicken is then rubbed in brown sugar and salt for a tasty recipe that’s bursting with flavor.
If you love your air fryer, be sure to check out my Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken Recipe.
Why you will love this air fried chicken breast!
- Healthy: Get the taste of fried chicken but without the oil fo deep frying. This chicken dinner is high in protein and low in fat.
- Less than 5 ingredients: You only need chicken breast, brown sugar, maple syrup and salt to make this recipe.
- Quick: With just 5 minutes of prep, this dish is ready to serve in less than 30 minutes.
How to air fry chicken breast
Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!
- Brush the chicken breasts with maple syrup.
- Rub over the brown sugar and salt mixture.
- Place the chicken in the pre heated air fryer.
- Flip halfway and fry until cooked through.
Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
How else can you cook this chicken?
If you don’t have an air frier but still want to try this delicious recipe, you can oven bake or pan fry it.
Oven bake: Prepare the chicken as per the recipe and then bake in a pre heated oven at 400F for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
Pan fry: Heat a tablespoon of oil in a skillet over a medium high heat and cook the chicken on both sides until cooked through.
Can you make this recipe with chicken thighs?
Yes, thighs will work well for this recipe. They will take around 17 minutes, or if the bone is in, around 24 minutes. Use an instant read thermometer to ensure that the chicken is cooked through, it should register at 165F.
What do you serve it with?
This air fried chicken breast can be served with rice, salad, veggie and potato sides. Try it with:
Recipe Notes and Tips
- You can cook 4-6 oz. frozen breasts in the air fryer without thawing first, 24 minutes total – 12 minutes on each side will completely cook the chicken.
- The unfrozen chicken breast I used in the pictures were larger from the meat/butcher section of the store. The cooking time for larger breasts will be longer at 20 minutes. I did ten minutes on each side and they were good!
- When I make chicken in the air fryer, I use 90 seconds for each pound as guide cooking time, and it has been pretty accurate. Sometimes chicken breasts are thicker cuts, and need another minute or two.
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Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 trimmed large boneless chicken breasts (10-16 oz each)
- 2 Tablespoons packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon pure maple syrup
If using smaller chicken breasts, (4-8 oz each) half the recipe:
- 1 Tablespoon packed brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat airfryer to 380 degrees for 5 minutes while preparing chicken breasts.
To prepare chicken with rub
- Use a small spoon, or pastry brush and brush the top of chicken breast with maple syrup. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and salt. Divide rub equally and press on top of each chicken breast, pressing into the syrup so it is covered evenly.
To cook chicken in airfryer:
- Place prepared chicken breast in the basket. Select chicken, making sure the temperature is 380 degrees. Cooking time is 12-15 minutes for 4-8 oz chicken breasts and 16-20 minutes for larger breasts. Be sure to turn chicken over halfway so it is cooked evenly. (I drained the juices from the tray and basted the chicken breast with it before serving. Not necessary, because the sweetness from the rub was just enough extra flavor.)
Notes
- You can cook 4-6 oz. frozen breasts in the airfryer without thawing first, 24 minutes total- 12 minutes on each side will completely cook the chicken.
- The unfrozen chicken breast I used in the pictures were larger from the meat/butcher section of the store. The cooking time for larger breasts will be longer at 20 minutes. I did ten minutes on each side and they were good!
- When I make chicken in the airfryer, I use 90 seconds for each pound as guide cooking time, and it has been pretty accurate. Sometimes chicken breasts are thicker cuts, and need another minute or two.
Suzie Henderson says
Is this (under Recipe Notes and Tips) a typo?
“When I make chicken in the air fryer, I use 90 seconds for each pound as guide cooking time, and it has been pretty accurate.”
It does not “jive” with the cooking times you suggest and implies that a whole 3 to 4 lb chicken would cook in about 6 minutes.
Becky Hardin says
Thanks for pointing that out!