This recipe for air fryer chicken breast and potatoes is a simple way to cook a whole meal (well, maybe add a side salad). It’s a great option for busy weeknights when you want a delicious home-cooked dinner without spending hours in the kitchen.
If you ask me, two of the absolute best foods to cook in the air fryer are chicken breast and potatoes. And even better, you can save yourself time and hassle by air frying them together!
The recipe is simple to prepare using ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, and as a bonus, you’re left with only one pan to clean when you’re done!
For some more air fryer one-pan wonders, try these recipes for air fryer chicken thighs and potatoes or air fryer pork chops and potatoes.
Scroll down for the printable recipe card, or read on for all the details.
What do you need?
Chicken breast
The recipe below uses boneless skinless chicken breast, though you can use skin-on if you prefer. However, don’t use bone-in chicken breast with this recipe, as the cooking time is much longer.
Frozen chicken breast?
Don’t use frozen chicken breast in this recipe without thawing it first. The potatoes in the air fryer may cause it to cook unevenly.
Instead, cook the potatoes for 15 minutes ahead of the chicken, then follow this recipe to air fry the frozen chicken breast, then finish the potatoes for ten minutes while the chicken rests.
Potatoes
Choose a roasting variety. Most types of red potatoes, yellow or gold should give good results. Try russet, Maris Piper, Agria, or Sebago potatoes.
The recipe below uses regular potatoes cut into 1-inch cubes, but you can use baby potatoes and cut them in half or quarters so that they are around 1 inch wide.
Seasoning
This recipe uses fine ground sea salt to season the potatoes and a chicken seasoning rub. Either use your favorite pre-made spice blend, or you can make a simple homemade mix (see the recipe card for a simple option).
Oil
I use light olive oil in this recipe, but you can substitute any other cooking oil that you would normally use in your air fryer. Choose one with a high smoke point, like corn oil, vegetable oil, or avocado oil.
Pro Tip
Choose a cooking oil with a high smoke point to reduce the chance of your air fryer smoking. Vegetable oil or avocado oil are good choices.
Equipment
You will need an air fryer with a capacity that is large enough to hold 2 pounds/ 1kg for the recipe below.
If you have a small air fryer, which doesn’t have a huge capacity, you have two options.
1. You can adjust the quantities to match your air fryer’s capacity, or
2. You can part-cook the potatoes for 15 minutes ahead of cooking the chicken, remove and cover them while the chicken cooks. Then return them to finish cooking for ten minutes once the chicken is resting.
How to air fry chicken breast and potatoes
Prepare.
Peel the potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes, and place them in a large bowl filled with cool water to soak. This helps to remove the surface starch from the potatoes, which helps to get them crispier.
Pat the chicken breasts dry, drizzle with oil, add the chicken seasoning and toss to coat.
Air fry the chicken.
Put the chicken breast into the air fryer basket, and air fry for ten minutes at 360°F/ 180°C. Note: If cooking more than one, ensure they are not touching.
Season the potatoes.
While the chicken is air frying, drain the potatoes, pat them dry (getting them really dry at this stage helps to make them extra crispy), then toss with oil and salt.
Air fry chicken and potatoes together.
When the first cooking time is up, add the potatoes to the air fryer with the chicken breasts.
Air fry them together for 15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (165°F/ 74°C all the way through). Remove chicken to a plate and cover with kitchen foil to rest for ten minutes.
Tip
Use an instant read thermometer to measure the temperature in the center of the thickest part of the meat for an accurate temperature reading.
Rest chicken, crisp potatoes.
While the chicken rests, finish cooking the potatoes. Shake the potatoes in the air fryer basket to redistribute them (or quickly flip with tongs). to ensure they cook evenly. Then air fry the potatoes on their own for a final ten minutes while the chicken rests.
Serving ideas
I normally serve chicken breast and potatoes with a side salad and a tasty dressing or sauce like sweet chili mayo, ranch dressing, or bbq sauce.
For some other easy and healthy side dish options, try:
Air Fryer Chicken Breast and Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 lb / 450 g chicken breast approx 2 medium
- 1 lb / 450 g russet potatoes [Note 1]
- 3 tablespoons oil divided
- 3 teaspoons chicken seasoning [Note 2]
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
- Peel the potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes, and soak in a bowl of cold water.
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F / 180°C.
- Pat the chicken breast dry, place in a bowl with 1 tablespoon of oil and the seasoning, and toss to coat.
- Place the chicken breast in the air fryer and cook at 360°F / 180°C for 10 minutes while you finish preparing the potatoes.
- Drain the potatoes and pat them dry. Place in a large bowl, drizzle with 2 tablespoons of oil, add the salt, and toss to coat.
- When the air fryer cooking time is up, add the potatoes to the air fryer basket, rearranging it so that the chicken is on top.
- Air fry chicken and potatoes together for 15 minutes.
- When the cook time is up check the internal temperature of the chicken to ensure it has reached 165°F / 74°C [Note 3].
- Remove the chicken breasts to a plate and cover with kitchen foil to rest for ten minutes.
- Shake the air fryer basket to redistribute the potatoes [Note 4], then air fry the potatoes for a final 10 minutes while the chicken rests.
- Serve air-fried chicken and potatoes with a side salad, and enjoy!
Notes
- Choose a roasting variety, such as Russet, Yukon Gold, Maris Piper, Agria, or Sebago potatoes.
- Or make a simple homemade mix from: 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon salt.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to test the temperature in the center of the thickest part.
- Or use tongs to quickly flip them if you have a tray type air fryer.
Storing and reheating
Store any leftovers in an air tight container in the refrigerator and use within 3 days. To reheat, place the chicken and potatoes in the air fryer, and set to cook at 360°F / 180°C for around ten minutes, until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165°F / 74°C.Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
So good, and so easy! I will definitely make this recipe again!