A quick-cook alternative to chicken breast, these air fryer chicken steaks are the perfect dinner for anyone short on time.
Air fried chicken breast is a great option for a quick and easy dinner. But when you’re really short on time, you can cut down on the cooking time by making chicken steaks.
Simply by cutting the chicken breast in half horizontally, you get two chicken steaks that will cook in around half the time it takes for a full chicken breast.
For some more air fryer recipes you can make with chicken breast, check out air fryer chicken cutlets, air fryer chicken schnitzel, or air fryer chicken bites.
Scroll down for the printable recipe card, or read on for all the details.
What do you need?
Chicken breast
This recipe uses boneless skinless chicken breast, which is sliced in half horizontally. You can also use ready-prepared chicken breast steaks if they are available at your grocery store or butcher.
Seasoning
This recipe uses a simple homemade blackening seasoning rub. However, you can substitute any herb or spice blend you like with chicken.
Olive oil
The recipe below uses light olive oil, but you can use another cooking oil with a high smoke point (like 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.
How to cook chicken steaks in the air fryer
- Prepare the chicken steaks. Carefully slice the chicken breast in half. To do this, place your hand flat on top of the chicken breast and use a sharp knife to slice carefully through the chicken breast horizontally, creating two steaks.
- Season the chicken. Drizzle the chicken steaks with a little oil, then add the seasoning and flip them over and oil and season the other side.
- Preheat air fryer to 360°F/ 180°C, then place the chicken steaks in the air fryer basket. If you are cooking more than one, ensure they are not touching.
- Air fry chicken steaks for around 8-10 minutes until golden brown and 165°F/ 74°C in the center of the thickest part. If required for your air fryer, flip the chicken breasts over halfway through the cooking time (check your manual if you are unsure if this is required).
- Rest the chicken steaks. Remove chicken steaks from the air fryer, cover with kitchen foil, and leave to rest for at least 5 minutes.
How long to air fry chicken steaks
The exact cooking time for chicken steaks in the air fryer depends on a few factors, including how large the steaks are (in particular, how thick they are), and how powerful your air fryer is.
The best and safest way to tell when chicken is cooked is to use an instant read meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.
Chicken needs to reach an internal temperature of 165°F/ 74°C or higher all the way through to be safe to consume.
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.
Serving ideas
These chicken breast steaks are versatile and can be served just about any way you like. Try adding a side of fries or crispy air fried potatoes and a salad. Or try one of these tasty serving options:
- Chicken burgers: serve steaks in hamburger buns with salad, avocado and mayo or cranberry sauce.
- Chicken fajitas: Slice chicken steaks and serve them with sautéed onions and peppers, tortillas, and other toppings for a Tex-Mex inspired meal.
- Chicken Caesar salad: Slice the chicken and serve them over a bed of romaine lettuce, croutons, and Caesar dressing.
- Chicken Alfredo: Serve air fryer chicken breast steaks over a bed of pasta with a creamy alfredo sauce for a comforting and indulgent dish.
Storing and reheating
Store any leftovers in an air tight container in the fridge, and use within three days.
You can reheat your chicken steaks in the air fryer. Air fry at 360°F / 180°C for 5 minute intervals until they reach 165°F / 74°C in the center.
Air Fryer Chicken Steaks
Ingredients
- 1 large chicken breast boneless, skinless
- 1 teaspoon chicken seasoning [Note 1]
- 2 teaspoons light olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F/ 180°C.
- Pat chicken breast dry, then carefully slice it through the center horizontally, into chicken steaks of equal thickness.
- Place chicken steaks in a bowl, drizzle with oil, add the seasoning, then toss to coat.
- Place chicken steaks in air fryer basket, ensure they are not touching.
- Air fry chicken steaks for 8-12 minutes at 360°F/ 180°C until they have reached at least 165°F/ 74°C in the center of the thickest part [Note 2]. Flip the chicken steaks over half-way through the cooking time if required for your air fryer.
- When the chicken is cooked through, remove it from the air fryer and rest covered with foil for 5 minutes.
Notes
- For a simple homemade mix try: ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt.
- Check temperature with an instant-read thermometer. The cooking time will depend on how thick the chicken breast is, and will also vary depending on the type of air fryer you have.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
