Name: Smoky Paprika Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 23 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 3 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1.65 lb / 750g total); 1 tablespoon smoked paprika (3 tsp); ½ teaspoon salt; Oil spray

Scored chicken breast + smoked paprika + air fryer = the easiest high-protein meal base you'll make this week. The cross-hatch cuts let seasoning penetrate deep and help the chicken cook evenly, so every bite has that smoky flavor. No marinating needed.

The key here is scoring the chicken before seasoning. Shallow cuts in a grid pattern increase surface area, which means more crispy edges and better seasoning distribution. A light oil spray keeps things moist without adding real calories. If you've made our Air Fryer Chicken Breast with Penne Pasta, you already know how well chicken breast works in the air fryer — this version strips it down to just the protein. Curious how chicken breast stacks up by cooking method? See our full chicken breast calorie breakdown.

At 277 calories and 58g of protein per breast, this is a meal prepper's dream. Pair it with our Seasoned Air Fryer Potato Wedges for a complete meal, or slice it over a salad. Use our Daily Calorie Intake Calculator to see how this fits your goals.

Instructions

Step 1: Score the chicken

Use a sharp knife to make shallow cross-hatch cuts across the top of each breast, about ½ inch apart. This helps seasoning get into the meat and promotes even cooking.