Air Fryer Shredded Chicken Recipe
Air Fryer Shredded Chicken seasoned with paprika and garlic, cooked until juicy with crispy edges. Perfect for meal prep!
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Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts roughly 1 pound, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- pinch black pepper
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Brush both sides of the chicken breasts with olive oil or spray with cooking spray.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Sprinkle the spice mixture evenly over both sides of the chicken breasts.
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C) for 3-5 minutes, and then brush the air fryer basket with oil or spray it with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Place the seasoned chicken breasts in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Cook the chicken for 12-15 minutes at 360°F (180°C), flipping halfway through, until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Once the chicken is cooked, transfer it to a cutting board or mixing bowl and let them cool for about 5 minutes.
- Using two forks or a hand mixer, shred the tender chicken into small, bite-sized shreds.
Notes
- Preheat the air fryer so chicken cooks evenly and gets crispy edges.
- Pat the chicken completely dry before oiling. Wet chicken won't get crispy.
- Coat evenly with oil and seasoning on both sides for best flavor.
- Don't overcrowd the basket. Cook in batches if needed for even cooking.
- Flip halfway through so both sides brown evenly.
- Use a meat thermometer to check for 165°F internal temperature.
- Let chicken rest 5 minutes before shredding so juices reabsorb.
- Shred while still warm - it's much easier than when cold.
- Use a hand mixer for large batches. Way faster than two forks!
- Add a splash of chicken broth when reheating if it seems dry.
Nutrition
Calories: 149kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 277mg | Potassium: 431mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 157IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg
