Air Fryer Bone-In Chicken Breast is coated in brown sugar and seasonings for a sweet and easy dinner idea.
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There’s nothing like cooking juicy chicken breasts in the air fryer and these cook much faster than in an oven!
I use skin on split chicken breasts with the bone in to create this deliciously sweet and caramelized brown sugar chicken recipe.
It contains absolutely no breading and these directions with work with other seasonings if you’re looking to cut back on sugar or make this recipe low fat.
In this post, I will teach you:
- How to cook air fryer bone-in chicken breasts
- About flipping chicken in the air fryer
- How to get super juicy chicken in the air fryer EVERY time!
- Ideas to serve with the chicken
- How to cook Frozen Bone-in Chicken Breasts in the air fryer
- Instructions to reheat split chicken breasts in the air fryer
How to Make Air Fryer Bone-In Chicken Breast
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Preheat your air fryer to 370 degrees.
STEP TWO: Remove the bone-in chicken from its packaging and set it aside. I use the kind with the skin on, but if yours are skinless, that’s okay too.
STEP THREE: Mix the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and red pepper flakes into a small bowl.
STEP FOUR: Baste the oil on all sides of the split chicken breasts then evenly coat the chicken with the brown sugar mixture on all sides of each breast.
I like to just pour the brown sugar mixture on top of the chicken breasts to avoid extra dishes, but you can also place the mixture into a big bowl and toss the split chicken breasts in there.
STEP FIVE: Place the bone-in chicken breasts in the air fryer and cook for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping with about 10 minutes left. Larger chicken breasts may take a few extra minutes to cook.
STEP SIX: Remove the bone-in chicken breasts from the air fryer then enjoy!
Do I Need to Flip the Chicken in the Air Fryer?
Not all chicken needs to be flipped, but this recipe does require flipping.
An air fryer has a heating device on the top of the machine and blows air around into a 360-motion. This means more heat comes from the top and blows around the rest of the food.
In this recipe, the brown sugar coating starts to caramelize on top of the chicken breasts to give them a nice sweet taste. If not flipped, one side will start to blacken while the other side doesn’t get that nice caramelized look and taste.
For some foods, like this air fryer boneless chicken breast recipe, it’s not required to flip the chicken, however, I still prefer to.
How to Get Juicy Chicken in the Air Fryer
The secret to cooking juicy chicken in the air fryer is to cook it until it JUST hits 165 degrees F at its thickest point.
The easiest way to check it is using an Instant-Read Thermometer that takes only 2-3 seconds to show the temperature. Then you can open the air fryer quickly, check both chicken breasts and close it within 10 seconds.
If you are cooking multiple air fryer bone-in chicken breasts, it’s important to check both of them each time and pull any that are done right away.
Overcooking chicken results in dry chicken and no one wants that!
If you love making chicken in the air fryer, check out these 40 other air fryer chicken recipes!
What Can I Serve with Air Fryer Split Chick Breasts?
I love to serve these with some quick air fryer vegetables and some easy homemade garlic bread.
- Air Fryer Roasted Vegetables
- Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Air Fryer Broccoli
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings
- Air Fryer Frozen Tater Tots
See a list of other easy air fryer vegetables here!
You can help with any mess from the chicken breasts by using some parchment paper rounds or even a silicone basket.
I LOVE my silicone basket. It goes right in the dishwasher after using and my air fryer basket stays clean!
How to Cook Frozen Bone-in Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer
I’ve found with thicker cuts of frozen meat preheating your air fryer is not necessary.
- Place the frozen split chicken breasts in the air fryer and turn to 350 degrees.
- Cook for 40 to 50 minutes, basting the butter and adding the brown sugar mixture to the chicken on both sides halfway through cooking.
- Flip then cook the remaining time.
- Remove the chicken breasts from the air fryer and enjoy!
How to Reheat Bone-in Chicken in the Air Fryer
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees.
- Place the leftover bone-in chicken breasts in the air fryer and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until warmed thoroughly.
- Remove from the air fryer and enjoy!
Try These Other Delicious Air Fryer Recipes!
- Air Fryer Orange Chicken
- Air Fryer Bone-in Pork Chops
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets
- Air Fryer Fried Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings – Buffalo-Style
More Recipes to Try
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Air Fryer Bone-In Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 2 bone-in chicken breasts I used split chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon oil
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 370 degrees.
- Remove the chicken from its packaging and set it aside.
- Mix the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and red pepper flakes in a bowl.
- Baste the oil on both sides of the chicken and coat them with the brown sugar mixture.
- Place the split chicken breasts in the air fryer and cook for about 25 to 30 minutes, flipping the chicken at about 10 minutes left. Cook until the thickest part reaches 165 degrees F. Thicker or larger chicken breasts may take a few minutes longer.
- Remove the chicken from the air fryer and enjoy!
Video
Notes
How to Cook Frozen Bone-in Chicken Breasts in the Air Fryer
1. Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees. 2. Cook chicken for 40-50 minutes, coating it with the oil and brown sugar mixture and flipping halfway through cooking. 3. Remove the bone-in chicken breasts from the air fryer and enjoy!How to Reheat Split Chicken Breasts in the Air Fryer
1. Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees. 2. Place leftover chicken in the air fryer and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until warmed thoroughly. 3. Remove the chicken from the air fryer and enjoy!Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
Hi 🙂 I am curious… do we place the chicken breasts skin side down for the first part of the cooking? Thanks!!
Hi Debbie, I typically cook it skin side up first, but since you’re flipping it halfway through, you can really do either side up first.
This was absolutely amazing! So tasty, sweet, juicy, wonderful. Glad I found this recipe!!!
This was excellent! I removed the skin from my bone-in breasts because I’m doing weight watchers, but the chicken was still sweet and crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Absolutely delicious. I will note that the chicken seems to cook faster than listed without the skin on–mine was done in about 20 minutes.
We wanted to BBQ our chicken breasts tonight but it is just too hot to stand over the grill. (Heat Wave in So Cal) I love my Air Fryer and make nearly everything in it. Ive definitely made boneless skinless, but these were Bone In -Skin On. So I googled recipes and yours came up. I made this tonight, I followed your directions to a “T” and this was the best “grilled like” chicken breasts we’ve ever had! I often alter recipes I find online, but since I had never made bone in/skin on in my AF, I stuck to yours. Thank you!!! This is now my “go to” for this type of chicken. note: These were unusually large chicken breasts so I cooked them for 37 minutes, turning over after 25 minutes and I used the instant read thermometer as you suggested. 👍👍👍
I am so glad you loved them! These are one of my favorite chicken recipes on the site as well!
Delicious and my new go-to recipe! I didn’t change a thing. It was tasty and juicy! Try it, you won’t be disappointed. I was too hungry and the chicken was so good I didn’t take a picture.
Hi Lisa,
So glad you enojoyed it! If it was good enough to forget to take a picture then we consider that a win!
Loved this! Used Splenda Brown Sugar and it came out juicy and beautiful skin!
Great recipe. Loved it. Any websites that have more recipes
Thank you, Theodore! My website has hundreds of air fryer recipes to choose from. Enjoy!
Hello
I have an Air Fryer setting on my Frigidaire range stove, just wondering if your Air Fryer recipes would work the same as in making in a counter top air fryer.
With the range I have an air fryer rack you place in the oven with a sheet pan on the rack below for air flow. I assume you can use your recipes at the same temperatures but I’m not totally sure of that. I’m new to the air fryer world 🙂
Thanks for all your recipes and information !!
Hi Donna, yes you can! Here is a good article I recommend reading about wall ovens with air fryers: https://www.everydayfamilycooking.com/oven-with-air-fryer/
What’s the time difference for chicken thighs? My husband likes the breast. I like the thighs.
Hi Janet, that would be a different recipe. This should help: https://www.everydayfamilycooking.com/air-fryer-bone-in-chicken-thighs/
Hello Samantha
Thank you so much for the link for ovens with air fryers. I have been looking for information and I see I’ve found the perfect place to find it.
All the info you give with your recipes is great !!
Very happy I found your site 🙂
Thanks again
Donna
Wow! One of the better air fryer chicken breasts I’ve made. Delicious. Thanks for sharing.
I’m so glad you enjoyed them, Barry!
I tried this yesterday and it was soooooooo delicious and so juicy. I was wondering if you can use the same recipe for chicken wings?
Hi Cathy, Chicken wings should cook at a different temperature. You can find my recipe for air fryer wings here.