Air Fryer Fried Chicken

This air fryer fried chicken is just as crispy and juicy as you’d expect but without all the fuss of deep frying them! Full of delicious texture and flavor, this tastes like KFC, but so much better for you!

The beauty of using an air fryer is that it reduces the fat and calories of traditionally calorie-dense foods.

We’ve given tons of classics a makeover, including my air fryer chicken nuggets, air fryer turkey bacon, air fryer chicken wings, and even air fryer grilled cheese. Now, we’ve added fried chicken into the mix.

Table of Contents

1. Recipe highlights
2. Ingredients needed 
3. How to fry chicken in the air fryer
4. Recipe tips and variations
5. How to store leftovers
6. More air fryer chicken recipes
7. Air Fryer Fried Chicken (KFC Style!) (Recipe Card)

Recipe highlights

• Easy prep. Dip, fry, coat, and air fry; all of this comes together in minutes! The prep time is minimal.
• Healthier. Traditional fried chicken is loaded with extra fat and calories. In this version, there is a fraction of both. Oh, and like air fryer chicken cutlets, the crispy coating has so much flavor.
• Fuss-free. Fried chicken (or any fried food, really) makes quite a mess in the kitchen, but using the air fryer negates all of it completely. Also, the batter doesn’t need any eggs to bind (like air fryer orange chicken).
• Easy to make ahead. Confession- I love eating fried chicken straight from the fridge and I promise you, this tastes just as good and you can even reheat to maximum crispiness in the air fryer.

What I love the most about this air fryer fried chicken recipe is that each piece of chicken will be crispy on the outside with tender, juicy meat inside. Like my oven fried chicken, this chicken is easy to make and so good it hides the fact that it’s healthier.

Ingredients needed 

If you’ve ever made fried chicken before, you’ll notice the ingredients are almost identical, except all the oil for deep frying. Here is what you’ll need:

For the marinade

• Chicken pieces. Get bone-in and skin-on chicken, including a mix of thighs, chicken drumsticks, and breasts.
• Buttermilk. A key ingredient in fried chicken. It helps the batter hold onto the chicken better.
• Spices. Salt, garlic powder, and pepper.

For the breading 

• Flour. Either all-purpose flour or wheat flour.
• Cornstarch. Thickens the batter.
• Spices. Salt, black pepper, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder.
• Olive Oil spray. For coating the air fryer basket.

How to fry chicken in the air fryer

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1: Prepare the marinade. Add spices and buttermilk in a large bowl, along with the chicken. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes to thicken.

Step 2: Prepare the flour mixture. Whisk together the ingredients for the breading. 

Step 3: Coat the chicken. Using tongs, remove pieces of the chicken from the buttermilk mixture, shaking off any excess. Then, moving quickly, dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, ensuring both sides are well coated.

Step 4: Prep the air fryer. Generously spray the chicken with cooking spray and place them in a single layer in a greased air fryer basket.

Step 5- Air fry the chicken. Air fry at 180C/350F for 15 minutes, flip the chicken, spray the chicken again with cooking spray, and cook for another 5-10 minutes. Once the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F, it’s ready to serve. 

Recipe tips and variations

• Pat dry the chicken well before coating it with the marinade and breading mixture, as this will ensure it will be extra crispy and juicy.
• I’ve tested the chicken marinated for up to 24 hours, which is great if you want to prep it in advance.
• Please don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. If you can’t comfortably fit all the chicken in, cook them in batches.
• The chicken should be golden brown throughout the cooking process. If you notice light pockets of color, spray a little more oil over it.
• Only add the cornstarch as needed. If there is too much, the coating will be too thick.
• If you love my spicy chicken sandwiches or hot honey chicken sandwiches, replicate the spice by adding a dash of hot sauce or some cayenne pepper to the batter. Trust me, it reminds me of a KFC zinger burger or spicy southern fried chicken burger.

How to store leftovers

To store. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

To freeze. Put the cooked chicken in a ziplock bag and freeze for up to 6 months. 

Reheating. You can reheat fried chicken in the air fryer or a preheated oven. Please do not microwave it, or else the skin will be soggy.

More air fryer chicken recipes

• Air fryer chicken breast
• Air fryer chicken thighs
• Air fryer chicken drumsticks
• Air fryer chicken tenderloins
• Air fryer whole chicken
• Air fryer chicken patties
• Air fryer chicken parmesan