Air Fryer Garlic Herb Chicken Breast
Why this recipe works
- Fast cooking: The air fryer gives chicken breast a browned surface and cooked-through centre in a short time.
- Simple flavour base: Garlic, olive oil and dried herbs coat the chicken evenly, while lemon sharpens the savoury finish.
- Easy to manage: A short ingredient list and clear visual cues make this a straightforward weeknight chicken recipe.
- Useful leftovers: The cooked chicken can be chilled, sliced and used cold or reheated for salads, wraps and quick dinners.
Get the most out of this recipe
Timing notes
- Rest before slicing: Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes so the juices settle before carving.
- Serve just after resting: For the best texture, slice the chicken soon after resting and spoon over any juices from the board.
Texture tips
- Even thickness helps: If one end of the chicken breast is much thicker, lightly flatten it so the meat cooks more evenly.
- Stop as soon as it is done: Chicken breast dries out quickly, so remove it once the thickest part is cooked through and let the rest finish it gently.
Common mistakes
- Do not crowd the basket: Arrange the chicken in a single layer so the hot air can circulate and brown the surface evenly.
- Watch the garlic: Garlic can darken quickly in the air fryer, so rub it in well rather than leaving thick clumps on the surface.
Make-ahead tips
- Good for meal prep: Cool the cooked chicken, then refrigerate it in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
- Reheat gently: Reheat in the air fryer at 180°C (355°F) until piping hot, or slice and serve cold.
- Freeze after cooking: Freeze the cooked chicken for up to 2 months, then defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry. Finely grate or crush the garlic into a bowl, then mix with the olive oil, dried oregano, dried thyme, fine sea salt and black pepper.
- Rub the garlic and herb oil all over the chicken. Leave at room temperature while you preheat the air fryer to 200°C (390°F).
- Place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Air-fry for 10 to 14 minutes, turning halfway, until browned and the thickest part is cooked through.
- Transfer to a board and rest for 5 minutes so the juices settle. Squeeze over the lemon, then slice and spoon over any juices from resting.
Recipe notes
Tips
- If one breast is much thicker than the other, lightly bash the thickest part so both pieces cook evenly.
- For the juiciest result, stop cooking as soon as the chicken is cooked through, then rely on the 5-minute rest to finish it gently.
Substitutions
- Replace Dried oregano with Dried thyme for a more thyme-forward flavour, keeping the total dried herbs the same.
- Replace Olive oil with Avocado oil for a similar high-heat option with a slightly milder flavour.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 3 days
- Cool, then refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 180°C (355°F) for 3 to 5 minutes until piping hot, or slice and eat cold; freeze for up to 2 months and defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Ratings & reviews
Liked this recipe? Share your feedback to support our cooking community.
Tried this recipe?
Choose 1–5 stars. A comment is optional.
Stay inspired
Discover new recipes, seasonal favourites and cooking inspiration every day. Follow JustRecipes on Pinterest and Spillt.
Recipe overview
- Servings: 2 servings
- Total time: 25min (10min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: Fusion
Plan your meals and get a complete grocery list automatically.
Add to meal plannerEquipment you'll need
Got ingredients left?
Find recipes using ingredients from this recipe or what you already have at home.
Find recipes with these ingredients →
Lamb Kleftiko (Slow-Roasted Lamb with Garlic, Lemon and Potatoes)
Slow-roasted Greek lamb with garlic, lemon and potatoes
Sarde a Beccafico (Sicilian-Style Stuffed Sardines)
Baked stuffed sardines with breadcrumbs, pine nuts and raisins
Pork Belly with Apple Sauce and Crackling
Roast pork belly with crackling and apple sauce
Branzino al Forno con Erbe e Limone (Whole Baked Sea Bass with Herbs and Lemon)
Whole baked sea bass with lemon, garlic and herbs
Roast Chicken with Bread Sauce and Roast Potatoes
Roast chicken with bread sauce, roast potatoes and gravy
Samak Bil Tahini (Baked Fish with Tahini Sauce)
Baked white fish in a lemony tahini sauce
Beef Pot Roast with Carrots and Potatoes
Slow-braised beef pot roast with carrots and potatoes
Laal Maas (Rajasthani Fiery Red Mutton Curry)
Fiery Rajasthani mutton curry with dried red chillies and yoghurt
Puerto Rican Pernil (Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder)
Slow-roasted pork shoulder with garlic, oregano and lime
Steak au Poivre (Pan-Fried Steak with Peppercorn Sauce)
Peppercorn-crusted steak with creamy brandy sauce
Rajas con Crema (Poblano Strips in Cream Sauce)
Roasted poblano strips simmered with sweetcorn and cream
Pollo alla Cacciatora Bianco (White Wine Braised Chicken with Olives and Capers)
White wine braised chicken with olives and capers
Air Fryer Lamb Chops
Air fryer lamb chops with olive oil, lemon, garlic, and oregano.
Air Fryer Herb Chicken Breast
Air fried chicken breasts with herbs, garlic and lemon.
Air Fryer Greek Chicken
Air fryer Greek chicken with lemon, garlic and oregano.
Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Breast
Air-fried chicken breast marinated with soy, lemon, garlic and honey.
Air Fryer Eggplant
Air fried aubergine with smoked paprika, garlic and lemon.
Air Fryer Garlic Herb Chicken Drumsticks
Air-fried drumsticks with garlic, herbs and lemon.
You might also like
Bruine Bonensoep (Dutch Brown Bean Soup with Bacon)
Thick brown bean soup with bacon and smoked sausage
Köttbullar (Swedish Meatballs with Cream Gravy)
Swedish meatballs in cream gravy with lingonberries
Poffertjes (Dutch Mini Yeast Pancakes with Butter and Icing Sugar)
Mini yeast pancakes served with butter and icing sugar
Creamy Modern Barszcz (Polish Beetroot Soup)
Smooth beetroot soup finished with sour cream
Fiesta Barbacoa Platter (Slow-Cooked Lamb with Tortillas and Salsa)
Slow-cooked shredded lamb served with tortillas, lime and salsa roja
Belgian Beer-Braised Ham with Mustard and Brown Sugar Glaze
Beer-braised ham with mustard and brown sugar glaze
Make this recipe easier next time
AdvertisementThese tools help you get better results with less effort.
Misen 8-Inch Chef Knife
- AUS-10 steel
- Balanced design
- Less traditional feel
Titanium & PP Double-Sided Cutting Board
- Separate surfaces for meat and produce
- Resists odors and stains
- Harder on knife edges than wood or plastic
OXO Good Grips Stainless Mixing Bowl Set
- Non-slip base
- Comfort grip
- Higher price
OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set
- Two useful sizes with reversible cutting surfaces
- Dishwasher safe and easy to clean
- Plastic surfaces will show knife marks over time
Enjoy cooking with JustRecipes?
Add JustRecipes as one of your preferred Google sources to discover our recipes more easily across Google Search.
Add JustRecipes to GoogleEvery recipe on JustRecipes follows the same structured editorial process. Learn how recipes are created, validated, translated, illustrated, and continuously improved across the platform. How we create recipes.
