Bone-In Air Fryer Chicken Breasts

These bone-in air fryer chicken breasts turn out tender and juicy inside with a perfect, crispy skin every time. Coated with a super tasty seasoning mix, these chicken breasts come out of the air fryer so flavorful and cooked just right every time. 

There is no complicated prep and the seasoning can be made ahead of time. In fact, I like to double the batch so I have some on hand. This easy air fryer chicken recipe will quickly become a regular on your dinner table. Serve with Hasselback Potatoes and Bacon Shallot Peas for a family dinner everyone will love.

Why the air Fryer works so well for Chicken Breasts

• Chicken breasts are lean, which means they can dry out quickly if overcooked. The air fryer solves that problem by circulating hot air around the chicken, cooking it evenly from all sides.
• Because the air fryer cooks more quickly than a regular oven, the chicken doesn’t have as much time to dry out. This makes chicken that is tender and juicy inside, with nicely seasoned and crispy skin.
• No need to heat a large oven, and cleanup is a breeze.

What I love about this recipe

• No breading or batter is required, the chicken is simply coated in a homemade seasoning mix.
• The skin turns out golden and crispy, yet the inside is so tender and juicy. No oil is required, making this chicken dinner recipe a healthy option.
• 5-minute meal prep time, 30 minutes cook time, great for those busy weeknight dinners.

Can you Substitute Bone-in Chicken breasts with boneless?

Absolutely, but I find bone-in chicken breasts are more flavorful and stay juicier. They are usually less expensive than boneless, skinless chicken breasts making them budget-friendly.

Cooking Tips

• Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towel, this allows for better adhesion of the seasoning mixture.
• Adding corn starch to the seasoning mixture provides for a golden crispy skin.
• Start by cooking with the skin side down and finish cooking skin side up. This helps you get that delicious, golden crispy skin.
• Use a digital meat thermometer to confirm the internal temperature of 165º F.  Cook time and temperature can vary with each model of air fryer. Do not overcook or you will have dry chicken!
• Depending on the type of air fryer, you may or may not need to preheat, check the operating manual.