Crispy Air Fryer Fried Chicken

Air Frying is sweeping the culinary world and with good reason. Food is done quicker, it’s juicer and has beautiful crusts. Try yours out with these absolutely delicious air fryer recipes like this Salmon, this amazing Steak with Garlic Herb Butter, and this classic Chicken Breast.

The Best Air Fryer Fried Chicken Recipe

If you love fried chicken but hate the mess and the extra fat, then this recipe is for you! Air frying chicken is much healthier than deep fat frying it and you’ll still get that amazing outside that we all love. You may never buy fried chicken out again. Once you try this, you will be hooked on air frying everything. Here are all of my tips on How to Use an Air Fryer and also which air fryer to buy!

Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken

Simple ingredients boast a huge flavor in this air-fried chicken. If you don’t have cajun seasoning feel free to sub it out for your favorite spices or you can leave it out altogether. If you don’t have buttermilk don’t fret, I have the solution for you, you can make your own. Get the recipe here.

Chicken: I always use bone-in chicken thighs and legs for the most flavor! Salt and Pepper: Add these to taste. Buttermilk: The buttermilk adds flavor and helps the flour mixture stick to the chicken. Eggs: The eggs help bind the coating together. Flour: Want a crunchy coating? Don’t skip the dredging steps! Cajun Seasoning: Full of flavor, it’s perfect for chicken. Garlic Powder and Onion Powder: These add in some extra flavor. Paprika: Provides color and flavor. Olive Oil spray: This will help “fry” any of the leftover outside coating.

How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Chicken

This is pretty straightforward. The spray oil is used to help any coating that doesn’t get “fried” get cooked.

Overcrowding: Do not over crowd your air fryer. Circulating air is how the air fryer cooks, and if you don’t leave enough space between the food for the air to penetrate, it won’t cook the same. You’ll have undercooked spots in your dish. If you need to cook your chicken in batches to make sure it’s not over crowded. Keep cooked chicken warm in a 200 degree oven while you cook the other batches. Know Your Air Fryer: Not all air fryers are the same and not all chicken is the same size. The times I used in this chicken recipe is a guideline. Make sure your chicken is cooked through. Insert an instant read thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken and make sure it reads 165 degrees. Don’t skip the cooking oil spray: This is important in creating that crunchy fried chicken. You’ll want to spray the bits of chicken that are still covered in uncooked coating. You don’t want the chicken to taste like flour instead of amazing. Parchment liners: If you want to eliminate some of the mess from the coating in your air fryer, they now sell air fryer specific parchment liners that have holes in them.