This air fryer fried chicken recipe will satisfy all your fried chicken cravings. It’s super crispy on the outside and will make your mouth water! After trying this chicken recipe, you won’t want to go back! It’s perfectly seasoned, and the buttermilk ensures the chicken is beyond tender.
Like my air fryer chicken nuggets recipe and air fryer chicken wings recipe, this recipe only uses a fraction of the oil. It’s mess-free and easy to clean up after, making it perfect for an easy weeknight dinner. Skip the take-out and make this at home instead!
Key Ingredients You Need
- Chicken — For classic fried chicken, you want bone-in, skin-on chicken legs or chicken thighs. The skin becomes a delicious crispy crust while keeping the meat juicy and moist.
- Buttermilk — Do not skip the buttermilk! It helps tenderizes the chicken so it’ll melt in your mouth.
- Flour — All-purpose flour or bread flour is perfect for fried chicken as it gives the chicken a golden-brown coating after being air-fried. It is also neutral in flavor, so it doesn’t compete with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika added to it.
How to Make Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Step 1: Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
Step 2: In another bowl, make the seasoning: add the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Mix until well combined.
Step 3: Add the chicken to a large mixing bowl with the egg and buttermilk.
Step 4: Remove the chicken from the buttermilk mixture and shake off any excess. Place the chicken in the seasoned flour and coat well.
Step 5: Give the chicken a good even coat of olive oil spray and give the air fryer's basket a light coat of spray. Place the chicken skin side up on a single layer, giving each piece some room for the hot air to circulate.
Step 6: Cook for 20 to 25 minutes at 360 F. Halfway through the cooking time, spray the chicken with another coat of olive oil. Cook until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 F.
Tips For This Recipe
- If the air fryer starts smoking, you can add some water to the bottom of the basket to keep the grease from the chicken from causing smoke.
- Do not overcrowd your air fryer, as it’ll prevent the circulating hot air from reaching every single piece of fried chicken. You’ll end up with unevenly cooked chicken, and the skin won’t crisp up.
- Make sure to let the excess buttermilk and egg drip off before coating the chicken with flour. While you need there to be enough moisture for the coating to stick but not too much that the flour coating can’t absorb all the moisture.
- Try to air fry similar-sized chicken together. Alternatively, pull out the smaller pieces from the air fryer, so they don’t overcook as the larger pieces continue to air fry.
Frequently Asked Questions
The easiest way to tell when fried chicken is done is to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should be at 165 F.
Store leftover fried chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Reheat the fried chicken in the air fryer to keep the chicken crispy.
While you could, I don’t recommend it as you won’t get as nice of a coating without the skin. The skin gives the coating something to grab onto.
Using an air fryer to fry fried chicken is a healthier alternative to deep-frying. You use a fraction of the oil without sacrificing flavor or texture.
No, I do not recommend doing that, as you want the hot air to be able to reach the entire piece of chicken.
IF YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE TRY THESE OUT!
If you’ve tried this Air Fryer Fried Chicken Recipe, then don’t forget to leave me a 5 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 lbs bone-in chicken with skin thighs and legs
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2 eggs beaten
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1½ tbsp paprika
- olive oil spray
Instructions
- Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper and then add to a large mixing bowl with the egg and buttermilk. Toss to coat.
- In another bowl make the seasoning: add the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Mix until well combined.
- One piece at a time, remove the chicken from the buttermilk mixture and shake off any excess. Place the chicken in the seasoning and coat well.
- Depending on the size of your air fryer you may need to cook in batches. Give the chicken a good even coat of olive oil spray and give the basket of the air fryer a light coat of spray. On a single layer place the chicken skin side up giving each piece some room for the hot air to circulate. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes at 360 F. Halfway through the cooking time spray the chicken with another coat of olive oil. Cook until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 F. (It is very important that you use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken as it might look cooked on the outside but could be undercooked)
Video
Notes
- If the air fryer starts smoking, you can add some water to the bottom of the basket to keep the grease from the chicken from causing smoke.
- Do not overcrowd your air fryer, as it’ll prevent the circulating hot air from reaching every single piece of fried chicken. You’ll end up with unevenly cooked chicken, and the skin won’t crisp up.
- Make sure to let the excess buttermilk and egg drip off before coating the chicken with flour. While you need there to be enough moisture for the coating to stick but not too much that the flour coating can’t absorb all the moisture.
- Try to air fry similar-sized chicken together. Alternatively, pull out the smaller pieces from the air fryer, so they don’t overcook as the larger pieces continue to air fry.
Good crust but time and cooking temp too low. 2 average sized thighs have taken much longer to cook and I have an equivalent size and powered air fryer.
At time and temp listed thighs were only 142 degrees not done.
Thanks for letting me know! Yes, depending on the thickness of your chicken, it can take longer. Best rule of thumb is to keep cooking them until they reach 165 F internal temperature.
Justin
This looks Great! I'm excited to try It! I love my air fryer ?
Great to hear Judy!
Tried this today, and turned out great! Thanks for the simple recipe and clear video on making this dish. Will definitely be making this again.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it Guy!
Very tasty and easy to make!
Glad to hear it thanks Janel!