Ingredients
Method
- Place a piece of plastic wrap over the chicken breast and pound down on the thicker part of the chicken breast using a meat tenderizer. We want to even it out so it cooks evenly, but be careful not to over-pound it.
- Trim some of the excess fat off the chicken breast.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, kosher salt, and black pepper.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit or the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Drizzle about one tablespoon of avocado oil or olive oil over your chicken breast and rub it all over the chicken breast.
- Sprinkle the chicken rub that we just created all over the chicken breast and rub it into the meat with your fingers. Flip the chicken breast over and do the same thing on the other side.
- If cooking in the oven, transfer the chicken breast to a baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure to flip the chicken breast over halfway through the cooking time. Once it's done, remove it from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- If cooking in the air fryer, place the chicken breast into the basket and air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Check the internal temperature of your chicken and air fry for another 2 minutes if it's not at 160 degrees Fahrenheit yet. Once it's done, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- Once rested, slice the chicken breast and serve with your favorite sides.
- Conclusion:
- Both the air fryer and oven methods result in delicious and juicy chicken breast. However, the air fryer method takes less time, making it a great option for busy weeknights. Whether you choose to use the air fryer or oven, this recipe is sure to impress your taste buds!
Nutrition
Notes
Pro Tips:
Pat your chicken completely dry, then let it sit uncovered in the fridge for 30 minutes before cooking. This removes surface moisture that creates steam, which is the enemy of that golden, crispy exterior we want in both methods. For air fryer chicken, flip at exactly 8 minutes regardless of total cook time because the bottom gets 60% more heat exposure than the top due to the heating element placement – I learned this after dozens of unevenly cooked breasts. Choose chicken breasts that are 6-7 ounces and uniform thickness. Bigger breasts cook unevenly in air fryers, while smaller ones dry out in conventional ovens before developing proper color and flavor. Brush with a thin layer of oil mixed with sofrito before cooking – this Dominican technique adds flavor while helping achieve that perfect golden color that signals properly developed taste compounds in both cooking methods.
Pat your chicken completely dry, then let it sit uncovered in the fridge for 30 minutes before cooking. This removes surface moisture that creates steam, which is the enemy of that golden, crispy exterior we want in both methods. For air fryer chicken, flip at exactly 8 minutes regardless of total cook time because the bottom gets 60% more heat exposure than the top due to the heating element placement – I learned this after dozens of unevenly cooked breasts. Choose chicken breasts that are 6-7 ounces and uniform thickness. Bigger breasts cook unevenly in air fryers, while smaller ones dry out in conventional ovens before developing proper color and flavor. Brush with a thin layer of oil mixed with sofrito before cooking – this Dominican technique adds flavor while helping achieve that perfect golden color that signals properly developed taste compounds in both cooking methods.
