The Best Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Introduction
Craving the irresistible crunch of fried chicken without the excess grease and hassle? The Best Air Fryer Fried Chicken recipe is your ticket to crispy, juicy perfection—delivered straight from your kitchen with a fraction of the oil. This technique captures all the flavor and crispy texture of traditional fried chicken, but with a lighter feel and easier cleanup.
Perfect for family dinners, game nights, or anytime you want comfort food fast, this recipe is the foolproof way to satisfy your fried chicken cravings with minimal effort.
Why This Air Fryer Fried Chicken Stands Out
What sets this recipe apart is the authentic fried texture achieved with the air fryer: the skin crisps up beautifully, while the inside stays tender and succulent. The seasoning blend ensures every bite is savory, spicy, and loaded with southern comfort. Even better, you avoid messy deep-frying, lingering odors, and all the extra calories from oil.
Chicken Prep Made Simple – Tools that Help
For best results, use a dedicated set of Bamboo Cutting Boards for Kitchen, Set of 3 to keep your ingredients organized and reduce cross-contamination. If you’re making large batches or prepping sides, the Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1, 8 Blade Vegetable Chopper can streamline veggie prep for slaw or salads to serve on the side.
If you want a truly juicy interior, check doneness with an accurate ThermoPro TP19H Digital Meat Thermometer for Cooking. This ensures you hit the perfect temperature every single time, no guesswork.
How to Achieve the Ultimate Crunch in Your Air Fryer
The secret to a shattering crunch is a well-seasoned dredge: double dip your chicken pieces in spiced flour, dip in buttermilk, and then flour again. For super crispy results and effortless cleanup, line your fryer baskets with Air Fryer Paper Liners, 125Pcs, 8” Square by Baker’s Signature. These keep the coating from sticking and make post-dinner cleaning a breeze.
For best results, opt for a reliable air fryer. The COSORI Air Fryer 9-in-1, Compact & Large 6-Qt, Grey ensures even cooking and ample space so your chicken crisps up on all sides.
Serving and Storing Your Fried Chicken
Pair your chicken with classic sides or pile onto a salad for a lighter meal. For fresh transport to a picnic or potluck, the Bentgo Salad Container – 54 oz Bowl, Khaki Green is perfect for keeping your sides or salads crisp alongside hot fried chicken.
If you have leftovers, use Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers, Set of 5 (3.2 Cup) for crisp reheating—just pop back in the air fryer!
Nutritional Information and Serving Size
This recipe yields about 4 hearty servings of air fryer fried chicken. Each serving contains approximately 370–450 calories, depending on chicken part and flour coating, with significantly less fat than deep-fried versions.
The Best Air Fryer Fried Chicken (Recap)
Air frying gives you supremely crisp, golden fried chicken without the oily mess. With the right tools and a few secrets, this recipe is your answer to flawless homemade chicken with less fat and more flavor, every single time.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Pat chicken pieces dry using paper towels—essential for crispy skin. Place on a Bamboo Cutting Board for easy handling.
- In a large bowl, whisk together buttermilk and eggs. In a second bowl, combine flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, black pepper, and cayenne.
- Dip each chicken piece into the flour mixture, then into the buttermilk mixture, and back into the flour mixture, pressing lightly to adhere a thick coating. Shake off any excess flour.
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes. Line the basket with Air Fryer Paper Liners to prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
- Arrange chicken pieces in a single layer in the basket (cook in batches if needed for spacing). Lightly mist all sides of the chicken with YARRAMATE 16oz/470ml Oil Sprayer for Cooking, Black (or olive oil spray) for ultimate crispiness.
- Air fry at 375°F for 12 minutes. Flip chicken pieces, spray again, and cook for another 10–14 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (use a ThermoPro TP19H Digital Meat Thermometer for accuracy) and coating is golden brown.
- Remove and let rest 5 minutes before serving for maximum juiciness.
Cook and Prep Times
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 24–28 minutes
Total Time: About 45–50 minutes
