Cooking chicken in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make juicy and flavorful chicken at home. Air fryers use super heated air and convection to circulate heat around food, cooking it fast while making it crispy on the outside. Cooking chicken in an air fryer typically takes 18-25 minutes depending on the size and cut of chicken. Below we’ll cover how long it takes to cook various cuts and sizes of chicken in an air fryer.
Factors That Affect Air Fryer Chicken Cook Times
There are a few key factors that impact how long it takes to cook chicken in an air fryer:
- Size and thickness – Smaller thinner cuts of chicken cook faster than larger thicker pieces.
- Bone-in vs boneless – Boneless chicken cooks faster than chicken on the bone.
- Temperature – Higher air fryer temperatures cook chicken faster.
- Doneness – Chicken cooked to 165°F internal temperature takes less time than chicken cooked to 175°F.
- Quantity – Cooking a large batch takes longer than a small batch.
- Preparation – Lightly breaded or battered chicken takes slightly longer than plain chicken.
Keep these factors in mind as cook times can vary. Use a food thermometer to check doneness instead of relying solely on cook time.
Chicken Breast
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are a popular choice for the air fryer. They cook up quick and become perfectly juicy and tender inside while crispy outside.
For boneless, skinless chicken breasts that are 6-8 oz each, the average air fryer cook time is:
- 2 chicken breasts: 18-22 minutes at 380°F
- 4 chicken breasts: 22-28 minutes at 380°F
For comparison, cooking 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts this size would take 24-28 minutes in a 375°F oven.
For bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts that are 8-12 oz each, the air fryer cook time is:
- 2 chicken breasts: 22-28 minutes at 370°F
- 4 chicken breasts: 28-35 minutes at 370°F
Cooking bone-in breasts takes longer due to the thickness of the meat and bones. Remove the skin before eating if desired.
Chicken Tenders
Chicken tenders are thin, tender strips of meat that cook up quickly in the air fryer. They become perfectly crispy outside while staying juicy inside.
For chicken tenders that are 2-3 oz each, the air fryer cook time is:
- 4 tenders: 14-18 minutes at 380°F
- 8 tenders: 18-22 minutes at 380°F
Flip the tenders halfway during cooking to ensure even crispiness. Cook frozen chicken tenders 1-2 minutes longer.
Chicken Wings
The air fryer does a fabulous job at making chicken wings with crispy skin and a tender, juicy interior. The small size of wings allows them to cook fast.
For chicken wings, the air fryer cook time is:
- 10-12 wings: 22-28 minutes at 400°F
- 20-24 wings: 28-35 minutes at 400°F
Flip the wings once halfway during cooking. You can coat the wings in sauce during the last few minutes if desired.
Chicken Thighs
Chicken thighs with the bone in and skin on are delicious when cooked in an air fryer. The skin becomes wonderfully crispy.
For bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs that are 6-10 oz each, the air fryer cook time is:
- 4 thighs: 28-32 minutes at 380°F
- 8 thighs: 35-40 minutes at 380°F
Flip thighs once halfway during cooking. Allow thicker, heavier thighs extra time to cook through.
Chicken Drumsticks
Chicken drumsticks have a good ratio of dark meat to bone. The air fryer cooks them up tender, juicy, and crispy.
For chicken drumsticks that are 3-5 oz each, the air fryer cook time is:
- 4 drumsticks: 22-28 minutes at 380°F
- 8 drumsticks: 28-35 minutes at 380°F
Flip drumsticks over halfway during cooking for even crispiness. Drumsticks are fully cooked once the juices run clear when pierced with a fork.
Chicken Cutlets
Chicken cutlets are thin, tender cuts of meat from the chicken breast. They cook up quickly in the air fryer into juicy, flavorful pieces.
For chicken cutlets that are 4 oz each and 1⁄4-1⁄2 inch thick, the air fryer cook time is:
- 2 cutlets: 14-18 minutes at 380°F
- 4 cutlets: 18-22 minutes at 380°F
Breading or battering the cutlets will add just 1-2 minutes to the cooking time. Flip cutlets halfway for even browning.
Chicken Kabobs
Chicken kabobs with veggies are an easy dinner to make in the air fryer. The chicken cooks up tender and juicy when threaded onto skewers.
For chicken kabobs made with 1-inch cubed chicken, the air fryer cook time is:
- 4 kabobs: 14-18 minutes at 380°F
- 8 kabobs: 22-26 minutes at 380°F
Veggies like peppers, onion, zucchini cook faster than the chicken so be sure to flip the kabobs halfway.
Tips for Cooking Chicken in an Air Fryer
Follow these tips for the best results when cooking chicken in an air fryer:
- Pat chicken dry before cooking for crisper skin
- Brush chicken with oil or spray with oil to promote browning
- Use basket inserts or stacking racks to cook larger batches
- Preheat air fryer 5 minutes before cooking
- Flip or shuffle chicken halfway during cooking
- Brush chicken with sauce last 3-5 minutes if desired
- Check internal temperature to confirm doneness
- Allow chicken to rest 5 minutes before serving
FAQs
What temperature should I cook chicken in an air fryer?
The best temperature to cook chicken in an air fryer is between 360°F and 400°F. Setting the temperature between 370-380°F will ensure chicken cooks up tender and juicy inside while becoming crispy outside.
How do you know when chicken is done in air fryer?
The best way to determine chicken doneness in an air fryer is to use a food thermometer. Chicken is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. The juices will run clear when chicken is pierced with a fork or knife.
Can you put raw chicken in an air fryer?
Yes, you can cook raw chicken directly in an air fryer with great results. Pat the chicken dry beforehand for crisper skin. Air frying raw chicken is safe when cooked to the proper 165°F internal temperature.
What is the best chicken to cook in an air fryer?
The best cuts of chicken for air frying include boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs, drumsticks, wings, tenders, kabobs, and cutlets. Leaner cuts like breast and tenderloins cook up especially juicy.
Conclusion
Cooking chicken in an air fryer is fast, easy, and results in juicy tender chicken with crispy skin when cooked properly. Adjust cook times based on the size and cut of the chicken as smaller thinner pieces cook faster. Use a food thermometer to confirm chicken reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F. Let chicken rest before serving and enjoy your quick air fried chicken dinner.