Garlic Butter Chicken in Air Fryer

Garlic Butter Chicken in the Air Fryer is made with chicken breasts infused with the rich flavors of garlic, butter, and a hint of rosemary, all perfectly crisped to perfection in your air fryer. With just a handful of ingredients, it will become a family favorite and a go-to meal for any occasion.

Looking for a tasty dish that won’t keep you glued to the kitchen? This Air Fryer Garlic Butter Chicken is about to become your new weeknight go-to recipe. It’s an easy and flavorful dinner, ready in under 30 minutes. Just like my recipe for juicy hamburger steaks or my ultra-delicious honey garlic chicken bites, this recipe brings the whole family to the table.

What To Serve With Garlic Butter Chicken?

Garlic butter chicken is so moist and flavorful. It’s perfect when paired with comfort food sides like seasoned potatoes and green beans cooked in the air fryer. This chicken is delicious when chopped and served on top of a hearty salad and is a nice accompaniment with a bowl of soup.

What You’ll Love About Air Fryer Garlic Butter Chicken

This recipe is an all-around winner. Here’s why I know you’ll love it, too:

• So Easy: Skip the mess and stress! This recipe requires almost no prep or cleanup. Perfect for busy days.
• Big Flavor: The combination of garlic, rosemary, and Old Bay seasoning creates a restaurant-worthy taste with no fancy ingredients!
• Healthy Cooking Method: Ditch the takeout guilt or the pan-fried chicken. This recipe uses your air fryer and is a healthier alternative to traditional frying while still delivering crispy, juicy chicken.

Ingredients

• Chicken Breasts – I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
• Butter – Make sure you allow your butter to soften to room temperature before you begin cooking.
• Garlic
• Fresh Rosemary – Find this in the produce section of your grocery store.
• Old Bay Seasoning

Substitutions and Additions

Chicken Breasts – Skinless and boneless chicken thighs can be used instead. They’ll cook faster so adjust your cooking time as needed.

Butter – While butter is best for this recipe, you can substitute with equal parts softened margarine or a non-dairy butter alternative if necessary.

Garlic – Fresh is best, but a teaspoon of garlic powder can work in a pinch. You can also used jarred garlic if needed.

Fresh Rosemary – Fresh thyme or Italian seasoning make good substitutes in a pinch.

Old Bay Seasoning – This versatile blend adds a touch of the familiar flavors of the Chesapeake, but feel free to experiment with your favorite poultry seasoning or other chicken seasoning blend.

Optional Additions:

• Spicy Ideas – Give your recipe a spicy kick by adding a touch of red pepper flakes or a shake of hot sauce.
• Lemon Juice – To give your chicken even more of a fresh and bright flavor, squeeze a lemon over the chicken before baking.

How to Make

This might be one of the simplest, most tasty recipes I’ve made in my air fryer. Here’s what you’ll do:

STEP ONE: Blend the butter and prep the air fryer. Add the softened butter to a small bowl, and stir in the garlic, rosemary, and old bay seasoning. Preheat the air fryer and spray the basket with nonstick cooking spray.

STEP TWO: Season the chicken. Place the chicken breasts into the air fryer. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the butter, then spread the rest evenly on the chicken breasts.

STEP THREE: Cook and baste the chicken. Cook the chicken for 20-25 minutes depending on the thickness of the chicken breasts. Air fry until the chicken hits an internal temperature of 165°F. Baste the chicken with the reserved butter halfway through the cooking time.

Tips and Recipe Notes

• For the crispiest chicken, fully preheat your air fryer for at least 5 minutes before adding the chicken.
• Don’t crowd the air fryer. Leave space between the chicken pieces to allow for proper air circulation, so all the edges get equally crispy.
• Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check for doneness. Insert it into the thickest part of the chicken and be sure it reads 165°F before you eat remove the meat from the air fryer. Start checking at around 20 minutes. If it needs more time, continue to cook for 1-2 more minutes, then check again.

How long do I air fry chicken for?

We recommend a cooking time of approximately 20-25 minutes to air fry boneless chicken breast. However, your cooking time may vary depending on the size of your chicken breasts as well as the air fryer you’re using.

Check the temperature of the chicken around the 18-20 minute mark, then air fry in in 2-minute increments after that until cooked through.

How do I preheat an air fryer?

If your air fryer has a preheat setting, you can use that to set your temperature to 400°F. If not, simply turn your air fryer temperature setting to 400°F and allow it to run for 5-7 minutes before adding your basket of chicken. It should heat up in that time.

How to Store Leftovers

Make sure you save your leftovers! They’re perfect for making wraps, salads, and sandwiches for lunch tomorrow.

IN THE FRIDGE: If you have leftover chicken, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

IN THE FREEZER: You can freeze your chicken if you can’t eat it up right away. Let the chicken cool completely, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Place it in a freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag for up to 3 months. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating or eating.

HOW TO REHEAT: Reheat leftover chicken in the air fryer at 350°F for 5-7 minutes, or until heated through. Alternatively, you can chop the chicken and reheat it in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of broth or water. This is help it not to dry out.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

This recipe is so easy, we recommend making it from scratch when you want to make it for dinner. However, if you want to use this recipe to meal prep, you can make it as directed, then portion and freeze for later.

Can this recipe be made gluten-free? Dairy-free?

This recipe is naturally gluten-free as long as you use gluten-free seasonings. Just verify with your own ingredient labels to be sure there are no hidden sources of gluten. It’s easy to make this dairy-free, too. You can replace the butter with a vegan butter substitute, or use olive oil.

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