Ninja Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Learn how to cook healthy, tasty, tender and juicy chicken with this foolproof ninja foodi air fryer chicken breast recipe!

Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine American, British

Diet Diabetic, Gluten Free

Prep Time 18

Cook Time 12

Total Time 30

Servings

Calories 296kcal

Brine the chicken. First, check the label of your chicken breasts. If they have already been pre-brined in a sodium solution, please skip the next step. Fill a large bowl with 4 cups of warm water and add 3-4 tablespoons of salt. Stir to combine until most of the salt has been absorbed. Add the chicken breasts to the brining solution and let them sit in it to brine for 15-30 minutes. You can, also, brine them for a couple of hours (see notes). While the chicken is in the brine, prepare your air fryer and make the seasoning.
Brush the air fryer basket with cooking oil, and do not use aerosol sprays (see notes).
Prepare the seasoning by combining the salt, smoked paprika, dried parsley, onion powder, and garlic powder in a small bowl.
Remove the chicken breasts from the brine, rinse them with cold water, then pat them dry with paper towels. Brush the chicken breasts on each side with olive oil or melted butter and top with the prepared seasoning.
Place the seasoned chicken in the air fryer and air fry at 200°C (392°F) for a total of 12 minutes, making sure to flip each chicken breast mid-cooking. Use an internal read thermometer to check the chicken is cooked (it should show at least 165°F/ 74°C). If not cooked, air fry for a further 2-4 minutes, or until cooked through.
Once cooked, transfer the chicken to a plate and allow it to rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.

It's generally recommended not to brine chicken for too long. Brining for too long can lead to the chicken being overly salty or mushy in texture. The best duration for brining chicken breast is 15 minutes for a quick brine, or between 30 and 60 minutes for a proper brine.
The best oils for the air fryer are high smoke point oils such as avocado, sunflower, and olive oil. Aerosol sprays are known to cause chipping of the air fryer basket.