Air Fryer Fried Chicken

This Air Fryer Fried Chicken is golden brown, juicy, and full of flavor. It’s one recipe you have to try in your Air Fryer.

 

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This recipe has over 150 5-star reviews! Check out our comments to discover why readers love this fried chicken made in the air fryer.

If you’re living in the South, then knowing how to make fried chicken is a must. I tried for the longest to avoid posting a fried chicken recipe on the blog because, in all honesty, I didn't tend to get excited about fried chicken.

Until now. For years, when my Southern husband requested fried chicken, I’d just shrug and make him these air fried chicken wings covered in an Asian sauce instead.

But one day, I went ahead and made a traditional Southern fried chicken recipe right in my Air Fryer. It was phenomenal. I had to apologize for taking so long to make it and I had to apologize for hating on fried chicken all these years. Now it’s a part of our monthly meal rotation.

I like to cut a whole chicken up into separate portions, it's economical and nothing goes to waste. I can make air fryer fried chicken thighs, air fryer fried chicken drumsticks, and also use the breast meat and wings too.

For the juiciest chicken, I like to marinade my Air Fryer Fried Chicken in buttermilk, which tenderizes the chicken and also adds a great tangy flavor.

Ingredients

• Whole chicken cut into separate pieces (breast, thigh, wing, and leg)
• Hot sauce - I use Texas Pete.
• Buttermilk
• All-Purpose Flour
• Seasoning salt
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Italian seasoning
• Cayenne pepper
• Canola or vegetable oil

How to Make Air Fryer Fried Chicken

First, you will want to marinate your chicken. I use a mixture of half buttermilk and half hot sauce. I learned the hot sauce trick from my mother-in-law. The buttermilk helps keep the chicken juicy on the inside and the hot sauce adds flavor to the chicken. Don't worry about it being spicy, it won't be. You can marinate in the refrigerator anywhere from 1 hr to as long as 24 hours. 

Combine flour, Italian seasoning, seasoning salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. I use a whisk to ensure that my flour is fully seasoned.

Grab a pair of tongs and remove one piece of chicken from the buttermilk mixture, allowing it to drain off a bit, and place it in the flour mixture and use the tongs to make sure the chicken pieces are fully coated.

Place a piece of parchment paper with holes in the Air Fryer. This has been my best solution for not having the breaded fried chicken stick to the bottom of the Air Fryer. Just make sure that you don’t put the parchment paper down without food on top. If it there is no food to hold it down, it could fly up into the heating coils on top of the air fryer and start a fire.

Place your floured chicken piece on top of the parchment paper. Make sure the chicken pieces are not overlapping or touching. The more space the better. 

Frying the Chicken Pieces

Close the air fryer drawer and set the temperature to 390 degrees Fahrenheit and timer for 25 minutes.

After about 13 minutes, open the Air Fryer. Your chicken should look like the photo below on the left (still showing some dry flour spots). Grab your Air Fryer oil spray bottle and spray those flour spots. Then grab some tongs and flip your chicken. Spray this side of the chicken as well, covering all flour spots. Close your Air Fryer and let it resume cooking.

Once your cooking cycle is done, use a quick-read thermometer to ensure your chicken is fully cooked to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove and enjoy 🙂

There you have it! Delicious Southern Style Buttermilk Soaked Air Fryer Fried Chicken.

Additional recipes

If you like chicken, try these out:

• Air Fryer Whole Chicken (Peruvian Style)
• BBQ Air Fryer Chicken Breast
• Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
• Air Fryer Chicken Wings

If you're looking to fry fish instead, try this recipe for fish in your air fryer.

What to serve with Crispy Fried Chicken

Looking for some recipes to serve this chicken with? Try these out:

• Air Fryer Potato Wedges (KFC Copycat)
• Sweet and Spicy Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
• Kale and Broccoli Salad
• Southern Style Pressure Cooker Collard Greens
• White Cheddar Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese
• Sautéed Beet Greens
• Old Fashioned Potato Salad 

Notes on Air Fryer Fried Chicken

• I do not recommend overlapping the chicken pieces in this recipe. It’s best to have the chicken spaces in a single layer and not touching. That way the air can get around the chicken to crisp it up and give it that nice and crispy golden layer.   
• Remember to spray lightly with oil. The purpose of the oil in this recipe is to cover the dried flour spots. Not spraying with oil will have those flour spots tasting like you would imagine they would, dry flour. I use either canola or vegetable oil for my air-fried chicken.
• Some breading will fall off, whether you use the liners or not. However, much less breading falls off when using parchment liners.
• If using parchment liners, make sure that you place the chicken on top of them before starting the Air Fryer. Not doing so will cause the liners to fly into the fan, get caught, and possibly start a fire.
• Timing will vary depending on the Air Fryer brand. Use a meat thermometer to ensure your chicken has at least reached a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. My chicken usually reaches 180 degrees or more and is still juicy and deliciously crisp.  
• This chicken is best served on the same day. If reheating, place chicken in Air Fryer and cook at 370 for about 10 minutes.
• Use any part of the chicken you like that has skin on. The breading may not stick to skinless chicken and it may not be as crispy.  

Pin Air Fryer Fried Chicken for Later

Watch me make this chicken from start to finish.

Air Fryer Fried Chicken Video

How to store leftover fried chicken

To refrigerate: Keep any leftover fried chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To heat up the next day warm the chicken in a preheated oven at 400F until warmed through. Leftovers also make a great addition to salads and sandwiches the next day.

To freeze: Once cooked and cooled, place any pieces of leftover chicken into an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. As the chicken is already cooked it can be reheated from frozen in a preheated oven at 350F. When ready to enjoy place the frozen chicken onto a baking sheet and place in the oven for 30-40 minutes to reheat.

FAQs:

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Air Fryer Fried Chicken

This Air Fryer fried chicken is a healthier and easier version of traditional fried chicken. Soaked in buttermilk and hot sauce, covered in seasoned flour, and air fried to perfection.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword air fryer chicken breast, air fryer fried chicken

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Marinade 1 hour hour

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 318kcal

Author Tanya

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

Marinade

• ½ whole chicken cut into separate pieces (breast, thigh, wing, and leg)
• ½ cup hot sauce
• ½ cup buttermilk

Seasoning

• ¾ cup All-Purpose Flour
• 2 teaspoon seasoning salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Oil for spraying Canola or Vegetable

Instructions

• Place chicken pieces in buttermilk and hot sauce. Place in refrigerator and allow to marinate anytime from 1-24 hours.
• Whisk together all-purpose flour, seasoning salt, garlic powder, onion powder, italian seasoning, and cayenne pepper in a bowl. Set aside.
• Place a parchment liner in the Air Fryer basket.
• Remove a piece of chicken from the buttermilk mixture and place in the flour mixture, coating all sides of the chicken and shaking off any excess flour. Place the chicken pieces in the basket in a single layer.
• Close the Air Fryer basket and set temperature to 390 degrees Fahrenheit and timer to 25 minutes. Start the Air Fryer.
• After 13 minutes, open the air fryer and spray any flour spots on the chicken. Flip the chicken and spray the other side with oil, ensuring all the flour spots are covered. Close the Air fryer and cook for 12 more minutes.
• Once the timer is up, open the Air Fryer and check chicken pieces with a quick read thermometer. Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees at the thickest part of the chicken.

Video

Notes

• I do not recommend overlapping the chicken pieces in this recipe. It’s best to have the chicken spaces in a single layer and not touching. That way the air can get around the chicken to crisp it up and give it that nice and crispy golden layer.  
• Remember to spray lightly with oil. The purpose of the oil in this recipe is to cover the dried flour spots. Not spraying with oil will have those flour spots tasting like you would imagine they would, dry flour.
• Some breading will fall of, whether you use the liners or not. However, much less breading falls of when using the parchment liners.
• If using parchment liners, make sure that you place the chicken on top of them before starting the Air Fryer. Not doing so will cause the liners to fly into the fan, get caught, and possibly start a fire.
• Timing will vary depending on Air Fryer brand. Use a meat thermometer to ensure your chicken has  at least reached a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. My chicken usually reaches 180 degrees or more and is still juicy and deliciousy crsip.  
• This chicken is best serve the same day. If reheating, place chicken in Air Fryer and cook on 370 for about 10 minutes.
• Use any part of the chicken you like that has skin on. The breading may not stick to skinless chicken and it may not be as crispy. 
• I use Texas Pete hot sauce in this recipe. If you are sensitive to heat or use a spicier brand, reduce the amount of hot sauce.  

Suggested Tools for Air Fryer Fried Chicken

• Air Fryer Parchment Liners (They come in different sizes so make sure to select the one that correlates to your size of Air Fryer)
• Oil bottle for spraying
• Tongs for flipping (I like to have a few around)
• Quick Read Thermometer 

Nutrition

Calories: 318kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 2055mg | Potassium: 297mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 325IU | Vitamin C: 23.9mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 2.3mg

My Southern Air Fryer ECookbookFind all my Top Southern Air Fryer recipes in one place! My Southern Air Fryer ECookbook!

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Although myforkinglife.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Under no circumstances will myforkinglife.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.

This post was originally published on March 5, 2019. It has been updated with additional helpful tips.