This air fryer thinly sliced chicken breast is full of flavor from herbs and spice, and so juicy and tender. Made with just a handful of ingredients, it comes together in less than 20 minutes and is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner!
For another cooking method, do check out my baked thin sliced chicken breast recipe for another time!
Now if you ask me, the best thing about air fryer chicken recipes is not having to switch the oven on whilst it's hot out! This recipe joins my air fryer boneless skinless chicken thighs and air fryer chicken breast bites in being super simple, but packed with flavor.
We use thin sliced chicken breasts (also known as chicken cutlets or chicken escalopes without breading), season with pantry staples and air fry for crispy edges and juicy centers. Quick, easy, a good source of protein and family friendly too!
Have a peek at my air fryer chicken mini fillets for another 'smaller' cut of chicken breast that we air fry up!
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⭐ Why This Recipe is So Good
Even more flavor! As thin chicken breasts have more surface area than regular chicken breasts, they are able to be coated in lots of herbs and spice.
Quick and easy. We can cook this recipe up in less than 20 minutes for a quick dinner. Pair with my air fryer cubed potatoes and frozen vegetables in an air fryer for a hearty meal!
🐓 Ingredients
All the ingredients and their quantities are set out in the recipe card below.
Some notes on a few of them:
- Chicken - this recipe uses boneless skinless thin sliced chicken breast, which can also be called chicken cutlets or, in the UK, I've seen it called chicken escalopes (the ones without breading). If you are using regular chicken breast, you want to cut it into two pieces horizontally. This tutorial on cutting chicken is helpful.
- Olive oil - this helps coat the chicken so the seasonings stick, and gives you browning too.
- Paprika - I suggest my low histamine readers use sweet paprika (scores 0 on the SIGHI list). For others, smoked paprika can also be used, but I think you would want to reduce the quantity a little as it's more pungent.
- Parsley and oregano - both give a nice fragrant herb flavor. Thyme can also be used as a swap.
🔪 How to Make Thin Sliced Chicken Breast in Air Fryer
We make this easy weeknight dinner in just a few steps, so grab your thinly sliced chicken breast, herbs and spice and let me show you how easy it is!
All the instructions are in the recipe card below, but these step by step photos should help guide you.
Step 1: Slice chicken breast (if needed)
Personally I find it easier to buy pre-sliced thin chicken, but you can also horizontally slice boneless skinless chicken breasts into two pieces (image 1).
Step 2: Season the chicken
Pat dry the chicken with paper towel, then place in a large bowl. Drizzle on olive oil and sprinkle over the paprika, oregano, parsley, garlic powder, salt and black pepper, if using (image 2).
Step 3: Coat the chicken
Use your hands or tongs to coat the thinly sliced chicken with the herbs and spice, so they are coated evenly both sides (image 3).
Step 4: Air fry the thin chicken breasts
After preheating the air fryer, use tongs to place the chicken in the basket (it will be hot so don't use fingers!). Air fry for 8-12 minutes, flipping after about 5 minutes. Check for an internal temperature of 165F using a meat thermometer for safe cooking (image 4).
💭 Recipe Tips and Notes
- Don't overcrowd the basket. Have a little space between the sliced chicken so the air can circulate and cook them evenly.
- Adjust cook time. The cook time for thin sliced chicken breast in the air fryer will vary slightly depending on their thickness. It's also the case that different air fryers run a little hotter than others (also, if you have a dual basket air fryer like I do, one basket runs hotter than the other, so helpful lol). I suggest to check at 8 minutes, then cook for a few more minutes, if required.
- Check the temperature. Using a meat thermometer is the easiest way to ensure safe cooking, and you want a reading of 165F at the deepest point of the chicken breast.
📋 Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are the same and can also be called chicken escalopes in some countries (the raw chicken, without breading).
This is a little debated, but personally I flip my chicken to ensure it gets cooked evenly. If you are using a liner in the air fryer basket, then I definitely recommend flipping the chicken halfway through the cook time.
These thin sliced chicken breasts can be eaten hot, or left to cool and enjoyed cold with a salad.
Simply allow the chicken breast to cool completely, and transfer to a freezer-safe container. My low histamine readers may wish to read the SIGHI advice on food storage and freezing food.
🥗 How to Serve
Simple air fryer chicken recipes are so versatile, and can be enjoyed with hot or cold sides:
- For a light summer meal, follow my mum's preferred style and leave to cool, then enjoy with fresh salads such as my cucumber and celery salad or some lamb's lettuce.
- Don't want to turn the oven on? No problem, as this recipe will be delicious with my air fryer root veggies or air fryer baby carrots.
- Serve with a side of rice, quinoa or mashed potatoes to make a hearty meal.
🍽 More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
You'll find so many air fried chicken ideas here, including my air fryer stuffed chicken and air fryer chicken and veggies, as well as these tasty ideas:
I'm always in the kitchen, so come join me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to be the first to hear of new recipes! And I love to hear from you, so please do leave me a star rating and comment if you've tried the recipe!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Thinly Sliced Chicken Breast
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts or 4 thin sliced chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika* I suggest sweet paprika for low histamine readers
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper optional
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 390F / 200C for 3 minutes.
- If you are slicing the chicken breast yourself, slice horizontally with a sharp knife so you have two equal size pieces. It's usually best to slice from the thicker part of the chicken through to the thinner side.
- Pat dry the chicken with paper towel and place in a large bowl. Drizzle over the olive oil, then tip in the sweet paprika, dried oregano, dried parsley, garlic powder, salt and black pepper (if using). Use your hands or tongs to coat the spices and herbs all over the chicken pieces, both sides.
- Place the thinly sliced chicken in the air fryer basket. Use tongs as the basket will be hot! Air fry for 8-12 minutes, flipping after 5 minutes. Check with a meat thermometer for an internal temperature of 165F at their deepest point. Cook time will vary slightly depending on the thickness of the chicken, as well as how hot your air fryer runs (some seem hotter than others).
Notes
- Arrange the thin chicken breasts in the air fryer basket with a little space between them to allow the air to circulate.
- Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes after cooking.
- Nutritional information is auto-generated and should be understood to be an estimate.
- garlic, which scores 1.
- black pepper, which scores 2.
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