Air Fryer Fried Chicken

Enjoy chicken like never before with an easy, flavorful, and crunchy Air Fryer Fried Chicken recipe!

Instead of deep frying your chicken in oil, you can just cook it in the air fryer and still get the crispiness and tastiness you deserve. Once you try this dish, it will surely be one of your favorite chicken meals.

I always serve this for family occasions and celebrations because everyone loves it. Even without oil, you can cook the chicken perfectly from the inside out for a hearty and fun dining experience.

Once you try the Air Fryer Fried Chicken recipe, it will be your go-to way of cooking chicken. Every bite will give you crunchy, savory, and smoky chicken that will absolutely keep you satisfied!

How to Make Air Fryer Fried Chicken

Fried chicken recipes are easy and they will get easier when you use an air fryer to cook them. After you prepare, marinate, and coat the chicken, it’s ready for air frying until soft, juicy, and yummy.

Are you ready to make Air Fryer Fried Chicken at home?

Ingredients

What are my secrets to awesome Air Fryer Fried Chicken?

Chicken drumsticks

Whenever I make fried chicken, I always go for chicken drumsticks.

It’s no wonder that chicken is one of the top options for recipes. Chicken is an affordable and versatile ingredient that can be flavorful from the inside out. As long as you season the chicken, it will have the best flavors.

You can cook the drumstick quickly and in many ways, too. It’s great for baking, grilling, roasting, stewing, and so much more. Drumsticks also have a good balance of skin, meat, and bone for your meals.

If you’re on a weight loss diet, then you can make use of lean chicken meat for protein. I also suggest trying more chicken recipes, such as the Crispy Chicken Wings and Roast Chicken!

Seasoning

These herbs and spices will play an important part in giving the chicken flavor.

The Air Fryer Fried Chicken will surely taste amazing with mixed herbs, all-purpose seasoning, paprika, chicken cubes, garam masala, sea salt, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, and ginger powder.

Don’t skip the garam masala because it’s a key spice in making the dish taste fantastic. It’s a classic Indian flavoring agent with a warm, savory, floral, and sweet taste – perfect for chicken.

Mayonnaise

Aside from using the best seasoning, I suggest mixing them with mayonnaise. The mayonnaise helps give the chicken a moist texture while evenly seasoning the chicken from the inside out.

It also helps balance the powerful taste of herbs and spices for a well-balanced flavor. Your food will taste fresher and better without the greasy texture of oil-soaked fried chicken. 

Honestly, there is almost no reason for you not to try this recipe. It’s delicious, juicy, and oil-free! 

Directions

Now, find out how easy and quick you can make this Air Fryer Fried Chicken. Trust me; you’ll be done in no time! 

1. In a bowl, mix the mixed herbs, all-purpose seasoning, paprika, chicken cubes, garam masala, sea salt, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, ginger powder, and mayonnaise until you form a paste.
2. Score the chicken using a fork.
3. Then, coat the chicken drumsticks in the paste.
4. Cover the bowl with cling film.
5. Let it marinate in the fridge for an hour or overnight.
6. Cook the chicken in the air fryer for 20 minutes.
7. Once done, let it cool and serve!

Get a taste of the Air Fryer Fried Chicken and experience how delicious it can be. Every bite is just oozing with the right flavors, isn’t it?

Tips

Now that you know how the recipe works, let’s move on to how you can level it up with just simple tips. 

Buying Chicken

• Check the quality of the meat – look at the “best by” date on the package. 
• Go for the chicken that has a pink and flesh-colored color.
• BBQ Champs also suggests buying chicken that feels plump.
• Select ones that are springy and firm without odor. 
• Feel free to check the label on the package of chicken for a variety of your choice.

Storing Chicken

• Packaged chicken can be refrigerated in its wrapping for up to two days from the time of purchase.
• Also, store it on the bottom shelves of your fridge. 
• After two days, it’s best to freeze the chicken to preserve its freshness.
• You can use plastic freezer bags or foil to wrap the chicken pieces separately to prevent freezer burn.

Brining the Chicken

Even just 30 minutes of brining can make your chicken juicier and tastier! Brining is salting the meat before cooking.

1. For dry brine, apply the salt evenly on each drumstick.
2. Let it sit for a few hours before cooking.

For chicken drumsticks, I suggest doing wet brine.

1. Combine ½ cup of salt, ½ cup of sugar, and 1 cup of hot water in a bowl. You can also add spices such as rosemary or oregano.
2. Then let the chicken brine for at least four hours. 

Air Fryer Fried Chicken Variations

There are different ways to spice up your Air Fryer Fried Chicken.

Instead of using chicken drumsticks, you can use other chicken parts, too. Some of the best choices for chicken include wings, thighs, and breasts. Aside from chicken, you can also try this dish with turkey or other meat options.

The herbs and spices are always up to your choice. You can make the chicken as smoky, spicy, or savory as you want. Sometimes, I like to drizzle the chicken with olive oil for extra moisture and flavor.

While the recipe uses a paste marinade, you can also bread the chicken for an extra crunchy texture. Just use plain flour and your spices to give the chicken a wonderful crust outside.

If you don’t want to air fry the chicken, then you can cook it in other ways.

Deep fry

1. Prepare the chicken by marinating and coating.
2. Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
3. Then, deep fry the chicken until golden brown.

Oven

1. Season and dredge the chicken.
2. Preheat the oven to 175°C.
3. Bake the chicken in the oven for 30 minutes on each side.
4. Then, remove it from the heat.

How to Serve Air Fryer Fried Chicken

How can you best enjoy the Air Fryer Fried Chicken?

The good thing about chicken is that you can serve them in many fun and delicious ways. It tastes spectacular on its own and it will be even better with your favorite sauces and dips.

I suggest serving the chicken while it’s still hot and crunchy. The longer it sits at room temperature, the less crispy it will be. Since it’s oil-free, you can serve it to kids and adults.

For side dishes, I can propose the following:

• Jollof Rice
• Mashed potatoes
• Beans
• Coleslaw
• Chips
• Fresh Pomegranates

You can also serve them with these amazing and flavorful dipping sauces of your choice. When it comes to drinks that go with the Air Fryer Fried Chicken, these are some of my go-to choices:

• Iced Tea
• Watermelon Juice
• Zobo Drink

Storage Tips

• At room temperature. You can only leave the Air Fryer Fried Chicken at room temperature for up to two hours.

Recommended Tools

• Air Fryer: This air fryer air-fries perfectly wonderful.
• Fork: Score the chicken using a fork.
• Measuring spoons: Measure the herbs and spices for perfect flavor.
• Cling film: Cover the bowl with cling film.

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This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn commission income from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure for more information.

Visit my shop for more products.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long to air fry cooked fried chicken?

In this recipe, it takes at least 20 minutes to cook the Air Fryer Fried Chicken. Check if the chicken is cooked by poking it. If the juices are clear, then you can take the chicken out of the air fryer.

Of course! In fact, air-frying chicken is one of the best ways to cook it. You don’t need to use oil to get the crispy and juicy quality you want.

Is it OK to air fry raw chicken?

Yes, you can air fry raw chicken as long as you marinate and coat the chicken well. Be sure to use the right temperature and cook the chicken within the proper cooking time for the best results.

How long does an air fryer take to cook chicken?

It can take about twenty minutes to air fry the chicken. Cook both sides of the chicken by turning it over after ten minutes. It can take longer, depending on the size of the chicken and the temperature.

Do you have to oil chicken in an air fryer?

No, you don’t have to add oil to the chicken in the air fryer. However, I suggest drizzling it with a little bit of oil to keep the chicken moist and juicy inside.