Oven and Air Fryer Chicken Breast on Bone Recipe (2024)

Discover how to make perfectly cooked chicken in this easy chicken breast on the bone recipe that cooks up plump, juicy, and full of flavor each and every time. Master the techniques of air fryer bone-in chicken breast and oven-baked chicken breast on the bone for two different methods of cooking this simple recipe.

We love roasted chicken in our house! It’s on the menu at least a few times a week. To keep us from getting bored with the same thing over and over, I really like to change things up by sometimes serving main dishes with skinless chicken breast, regular bone-in chicken parts, and of course juicy chicken breasts with the bone.

The side dishes help keep things interesting too! Our favorites to serve with bone-in chicken breasts are fried red tomatoes and honey smoked carrots.

I used to always rely on the oven to cook this recipe, but since discovering how easy the air fryer is to use, I find myself using it more often to prepare meals. Both methods for cooking bone-in chicken work great and you may have your preference on which one is your favorite!

For me, I love the air fryer for those days when I don’t feel like heating up the entire house with the oven! Plus it cooks food much more quickly than the oven but when there’s no rush, the old school method works just as well.

If you want to try out cooking more main meals in the air fryer I think you will love these crispy chicken thighs and air fryer ribeye steaks.

For those of you who prefer more traditional methods of cooking, I think you will love this bourbon street chicken recipe or my easy chicken chalupa recipe!

Why You Will Love Cooking Bone In Skin On Chicken

• So many variations! Simply switch the spices around so it never totally comes out exactly the same.
• Bone-in chicken breast with skin is a less expensive option than boneless, skinless breasts.
• Bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts have skin on one side and bone on the other which provides some protection for the meat while it cooks. This means you end up with a juicy, delicious chicken breast with crispy skin, every time.

Ingredients

All you need to make this bone-in chicken breast recipe are simple ingredients you may already have on hand or can pick up on a quick trip to the grocery store.

• Split chicken breasts on the bone with skin about 10-12 ounces each
• Butter
• Garlic
• Salt
• Pepper
• Olive oil
• Tarragon or sage

Check the recipe card for the exact list of quantities and ingredients you need for the version of this recipe you would like to make!

Equipment

Here’s an outline of the basic tools needed to make either method of this bone-in chicken recipe. Depending on the method you are using, you may not need them all.

• Toothpicks
• Air fryer or Oven
• Baking tray
• Pastry brush

How to Cook Bone-In Chicken Breast Air Fryer

I enjoy using this air fryer bone-in chicken recipe method when I don’t feel like turning on the oven and heating up the entire house. It cooks with a few fewer ingredients since the air fryer cooks best with less oil and butter.

Step 1: Get Things Ready

Hold your basket over your kitchen sink and prepare it with cooking spray.

Rinse and pat the breasts dry with paper towels, rub with oil, and season with salt and pepper.

Step 2: Place Meat in Air Fryer

Distribute your chicken breasts as evenly as possible, alternating ends, inside your air fryer basket with the skin side down!

Place the basket in the air fryer and set the temperature to 350 degrees F.

Step 3: Cook the Breasts

Cook until the breast registers 165 degrees, about 20 to 25 minutes, flipping and rotating breasts halfway through cooking.

Step 4: Rest and Serve

Transfer the bone-in chicken breasts to a serving platter, tent loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest for 5 minutes.

How to Make Baked Chicken Breast Bone-In, Skin-On

If you’d rather stick with roasting bone-in chicken breasts, here’s my favorite way to do it!

Step 1: Preheat and Prep

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F.

Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and a rack lightly coated with cooking spray. Set aside.

Step 2: Mix the Butter

In a small bowl, combine the butter and ½ teaspoon salt. Add garlic and tarragon. If desired, add other herbs or other flavorings to the butter and mix it up.

Step 3: Add the Butter

Using your finger, carefully loosen the skin from the breast meat to create a sort of pocket and slide the butter underneath the skin into it. Then carefully spread the butter evenly under the skin of each breast using your finger or the back of a spoon.

Step 4: Season and Secure

Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and then use toothpicks to secure the skin, where it is not attached, to the breast.

This prevents the skin from shrinking on top of each piece. Securing the skin also helps to create a crispy sheet of skin all over the top of each one and the cooked meat will be totally moist.

Rub the skin of each breast with oil, just enough to coat.

Step 5: Cook the Breasts

Cook at 450 degrees for5 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F and cook for 20-30 minutes depending on the size of your chicken breasts.

It is ready when the skin is golden brown and the meat is cooked through to 165 degrees. Remove from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Hint: If you prefer a lower temperature method or one that doesn’t use butter, you can use the alternate method for baked chicken breast on the bone detailed in the recipe card.

Substitutions

Here are couple of tried and true substitutions just in case you don't have everything on hand!

• Chicken breasts: You can also make this bone-in chicken breast recipe with drumsticks, thighs, or even assorted chicken pieces.
• Butter: If you avoid dairy or prefer an unsaturated fat to season the meat, swap it out for olive oil or another healthy oil.
• Herbs: If you aren’t a fan of tarragon or sage, any type of fresh herbs will work in this recipe.

Variations

Want to change it up? Here are some of my favorite ways.

• Add some chicken or steak seasoning to the breasts for extra flavor!
• Include a sauce, such as a barbecue sauce or buffalo sauce, brushed on top of the breasts. Just cook the chicken first with some seasonings and then when just about ready, add the sauce and continue cooking.

Expert Tips

Choose bone-in chicken breasts that are similar in size.

Leave the skin on the chicken breasts while cooking to keep the meat super moist and juicy. If you prefer not to eat it, you can remove it before serving.

Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of your baked chicken with skin to determine doneness.

When roasting or cooking air fryer bone-in chicken, leave space between the pieces so the air can circulate around and cook the meat more quickly. This also aids the browning of the skin.

FAQs

More Bone-in Chicken Breast Recipes

If you enjoy cooking baked split chicken breasts, then I think you will love these other meal ideas!

• Garlic Oregano Baked Chicken Breast
• Perfect Prosciutto Stuffed Bone In Skin On Chicken Breast.

Bone-In Chicken Breast In Oven Video

We love this recipe for the best chicken breast so much that we made a video and I would love for you to have a look at it below!

Chicken lovers will be glad you did watch to see exactly how it's done!

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