Air Fryer Fried Chicken is crisp and delicious on the outside, and tender on the inside. Tasty Air Fried Chicken with just the right amount of seasoning. You don't need a hot pan of oil to make this wonderful fried chicken recipe.
Making Air Fryer Fried Chicken is Easy!
If you want to make a batch of fried chicken, but don't look forward to heating up a pan of oil, I totally understand. This is when the air fryer really shines!
No more hot popping oil, or having to dispose of the oil once the cooking is done. The air fryer is my favorite method for making delicious fried chicken.
This Air Fried Chicken recipe uses buttermilk to marinate the chicken in and tenderize the meat.
A Healthier Fried Chicken?
When making Air Fryer Fried Chicken, you are not using a lot of oil to fry the chicken, so you could save some calories.
You just spritz some oil on the dry areas of flour, which helps with the browning, crisping, and adds to the flavor. You will end up with a delicious fried chicken!
Marinate for Tender Chicken
This Fried Chicken recipe uses buttermilk (and hot sauce, optional) as a marinade to tenderize the meat and give it flavor. The acid in the buttermilk is what does the tenderizing, so plain milk will not work.
If you don't have buttermilk, no problem. Just use one of the substitutes listed below.
How To Make Homemade Buttermilk Substitute
• Mix 1 cup 2% or whole milk with 1 Tablespoon lemon juice. Let stand a few minutes, until the milk curdles. Stir.
• Mix 1 cup 2% or whole milk with 1 Tablespoon white vinegar. Let stand a few minutes, until the milk curdles. Stir.
• Thin out some plain yogurt with milk or water.
A Note About the Hot Sauce
Tabasco style hot sauce, or Frank's Red Hot are my preferred (or homemade). This does not make the finished chicken spicy. It does enhance the flavor.
Here Are the Steps To Make This Air Fried Chicken
Halfway through the cooking time, open the air fryer and check to see how brown the chicken is getting. If you see any dry looking areas of flour on them, just spritz those areas with a little oil.
Turn the pieces over and close the door and let them finish cooking. The chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F for white meat, and 175-180°F for dark meat.
How Much Can I Make?
This recipe makes up to about 8-10 pieces, depending on the size of the chicken pieces.
Depending on the size of your air fryer you may need to air fry the chicken in batches. Just cook the first batch and set it aside when done, just like you would when making traditional fried chicken.
When all of the chicken is air fried, just add the cooled pieces to the air fryer at a low temperature, about 225°F, and heat it for a few minutes, until you are happy with how hot it is.
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If you make this yummy Air Fryer Chicken recipe, please let me know. Just leave a star rating and a comment below. I'd love to know how you liked it.
Air Fryer Fried Chicken is tender and juicy on the outside and crispy on the outside. A great way to make fried chicken without having to use a pan of oil.
- 4-10 Chicken Parts (Thighs, Legs, Breast, Wings)
- 2 cups Buttermilk* (or equivalent)
- ¼-1/2 cup Hot Sauce (optional)
- 1 cup Flour
- ¼ cup Corn Starch (optional, helps crisp)
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Pepper
- 2 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- ½ tsp Onion Powder
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Add chicken parts to a gallon size resealable plastic baggie or large bowl. Add the hot sauce*, if using. Then pour the buttermilk over the chicken.
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Seal the baggie and gently massage it to mix (If using a bowl, stir, then cover with plastic wrap). Lay the baggie on its side on a small sheet pan. Place baggie or bowl in the fridge for minimum 1 hour, up to 24 hours or so for best results.
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Remove the chicken from the fridge. In a shallow dish whisk together flour, corn starch, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder.
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Preheat the air fryer to 390°F for about 3 minutes.
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Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper that is perforated (with holes in it). Or just use a fine mesh basket.
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Using tongs or your hand, take out a piece of the chicken and gently dredge it in the flour mixture. Carefully shake off any excess. Set the piece in the air fryer basket on the parchment paper. Fill the basket with a single layer of chicken, with no pieces overlapping.
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Set the air fryer to 390°F for 30 minutes. After 15 minutes, open and spritz the chicken with oil if you see any dry flour spots. Then flip all of the pieces over and continue cooking the remaining 10-15 minutes.
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Check the temperature with an instant read thermometer. White meat should read 165°F, and dark meat 175-180°F.
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You can cook the chicken in batches. Just cook the first batch and set it aside when done, just like you would when making traditional fried chicken.
When all of the chicken is air fried, just add the cooled pieces to the air fryer at a low temperature, about 225°F, and heat it for a few minutes, until you are happy with how hot it is. Then serve.
*To make a homemade buttermilk substitute, simply add 1 Tablespoon of either lemon juice or white vinegar to a cup of milk. Let Stir and let stand about 5 minutes, or until the milk curdles. Repeat if you need more buttermilk, depending on how much chicken you are cooking.
**The hot sauce in the marinade does not make the chicken spicy.
Resources to Make Air Fryer Fried Chicken and More
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Cherie Ashby
This was the first time I have tried any kind of meat in my air fryer. The chicken was delicious. Will try again. We were having a craving for Kentucky fried and this filled the bill.
lynne Cenerizio
Love all your recipes. Miss your cooking presentations on Saturdays!!!!