Should you buy an air fryer for meal prep chicken?

Yes—if you regularly meal prep chicken, an air fryer is often a very good buy. It’s especially useful for chicken breasts and thighs because it can make them cook efficiently, with a nicely browned exterior and little or no added oil.

The main thing to think about is how much chicken you cook at once. If you usually prep a moderate amount, an air fryer is convenient and fast. If you often make large batches, a standard basket-style air fryer may be too small and you may need to cook in rounds, which can be annoying.

Why it can be a good fit for chicken meal prep:

• Convenient for reheating and cooking: Good for quick, hands-off cooking on weeknights or meal-prep days.
• Good texture: You can get lightly crisp edges without much oil.
• Easy to portion: Cooked chicken is easy to slice or cube for salads, bowls, wraps, and pasta.

When an oven may be better:

• If you regularly cook several pounds of chicken at once.
• If you want to fit everything on one or two sheet pans and finish in a single batch.

So the short answer is: yes, if chicken is a regular meal-prep staple for you; no, if you usually need big-volume batch cooking.