Looking for a tasty air fryer fried chicken recipe that the whole family will love? Hot and crispy fried chicken has got to be one of the most delicious southern foods. Not many people can resist that wonderful smell and texture of it – especially if it’s homemade!
While fried chicken may be a family favorite, people often avoid cooking this dish at home. The reason? Frying at home can get pretty messy. However, buying an air fryer can change this around completely. And as soon as you taste our air fryer fried chicken recipe, you might soon find this becoming a family staple.
How to Use an Air Fryer for Chicken Recipes
These awesome appliances allow you to enjoy all the benefits of fried food (crispy golden exterior, soft and delicious inside), without having to worry about the extra calories from the oil.
Not only this, but there is no mess left behind after cooking too. It turns this method of cooking into an event that the whole family can get involved in. Overall, air fryers are safe to use, speedy to cook with, and super easy to clean up.
With our air fryer fried chicken recipe, you don’t need to compromise on quality, crunch, or flavor. These appliances still create a completely crispy skin, with soft and juicy chicken underneath. In saying this, air frying is not exactly like traditional deep frying. Here are some important things to note when using your appliance to make fried chicken.
- When coating the chicken in the breading, it’s better to go a bit lighter than usual. When using an air fryer, a light coating will end up being more crisp and delicious.
- Even though you are not frying the chicken in oil, a light coating of it is always a good idea. Lightly coating the chicken in oil (olive oil works great and is a healthy option) lets you get that perfect golden brown crispy exterior.
- This air fryer fried chicken recipe is 100% delicious, but it won’t taste exactly the same as if it were fried in oil. This is not a bad thing, just expect a slightly different taste without the grease that comes with deep frying.
Is Air Fried Chicken Difficult to Make at Home?
Many people avoid making fried chicken at home – even though it is actually such an easy dish to prepare. It can be easy to be intimidated by the deep frying process or the breading technique. However, with this appliance, it becomes a seriously simple job.
Air fryers take all of the fuss and hassle out of fried chicken. Not only are they easy to use, but they are also one of the quickest ways to cook chicken. If you are looking for a meal that your whole family will love, then be sure to give this air fryer recipe a go.
Our Best Air Fryer Fried Chicken Recipe
Looking for the ultimate southern fried chicken recipe without the guilt? Follow this air fryer version below.
While this recipe can be enjoyed by the whole family, it does have a small bit of bite from the hot sauce and cayenne pepper. Feel free to leave this out if you would prefer a completely mild chicken recipe. Or, add in some extra if you like it hot! This recipe is for six pieces of chicken, and will only take 20 minutes to cook.
Main Ingredients Needed
- 2lbs chicken (you can use any pieces that you prefer. Legs tend to be the best choice for this appliance though)
- 1 cup self-raising flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon of your favorite hot sauce
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk or milk
- ¼ cup of water
- Olive oil for coating
Spice mix
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons paprika (try to use smoked paprika if you can)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
How to Begin – Let’s Get Started
Step 1
Wash your chicken pieces and pat them dry with some paper towel. Make sure that they are completely dried before proceeding with the next step.
Step 2
Combine the spice mix in a bowl.
Step 3
Rub about 1 tablespoon of the spice mix all over the chicken with a small splash of olive oil. Make sure that each piece is nicely coated.
Step 4
Mix together the flour, cornstarch and the rest of the spice mix. This can be done in a large bowl, or even in a plastic bag. It is really important that this flour mixture is well seasoned. Feel free to add extra salt if you need to.
Step 5
Mix the eggs, milk, water, and hot sauce together in a large bowl.
Step 6
Lightly coat the chicken pieces in the flour mixture and shake off any excess flour. You can let them sit for a moment to allow the seasoned flour to absorb and stick a little.
Step 7
Coat the chicken in the egg and milk mixture. Let any excess drip off.
Step 8
Then go straight back to the flour mixture to coat the chicken one last time. Shake off any excess flour.
Step 9
Very lightly coat the pieces in olive oil. This is best achieved with a brush or an oil mister. Make sure you give them an even coating.
Step 10
Place your chicken pieces in a lightly greased fryer basket. Make sure to leave space between each piece (do not overcrowd the basket). If necessary, you can cook the chicken in batches.
Step 11
Cook the chicken according to your air fryer, and take it out to flip it halfway. This should be around 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Always check it so it doesn’t burn.
Step 12
Remove the pieces and serve them straight away. Air fryer chicken is best served hot and fresh as soon as it comes out – the crispy crunchy exterior won’t last as long as oil-fried chicken.
Recipe for Air Fryer Fried Chicken Summary
Cooking your favorite indulgent treats like fried chicken is now easier, cleaner, and healthier with this versatile appliance. This turns a messy meal into something that the whole family can enjoy. Be sure to give this air fryer fried chicken recipe a go next time you are looking for a quick way to impress at your table or produce a brilliant weeknight dinner that everyone will love.
Classic southern fried chicken will always be one of the tastiest things out there, and this recipe allows you to enjoy the best of this without any of the greasy guilt!
For more great recipes, visit our growing recipe section. If there’s something you would like to see next, let us know in the comments below.
Related Article:
Learn the difference between and air fryer and a deep fryer
GoWISE USA Air Fryer 3.7-Quart Programmable, GW22621 Review
