I’m all for a good piece of fried chicken, but I don’t always have the time to set up my deep fryer. That’s why I love this fried chicken air fryer recipe – it gives me that same crispy, flavorful chicken without all the hassle. The chicken is always perfectly cooked and juicy, with a seasoned crust that turns out just right every time. A recipe that satisfies my fried chicken cravings AND saves me time? Yes, please!
What’s in This Air Fryer Fried Chicken Recipe?
This recipe has less than 5 ingredients (I wasn’t joking when I said it was easy!), and you probably already have most of them in your pantry.
Chicken: Use bone-in skin-on chicken drumsticks for the best results. Canola Oil: Just a little bit goes a long way to help crisp up the chicken in the air fryer. Seasoning: My go-to seasoning blend for this recipe is smoked paprika (regular paprika also works), chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. It gives the chicken a good balance of flavor without being too spicy or overpowering. Baking Powder: The secret to getting a crispy, golden crust in the air fryer.
Variations To Try
I love this basic seasoning mix, but you can easily adapt the recipe to suit your own tastes. Make them spicy by adding a little cayenne to the seasoning, or use a taco, Italian, or ranch rub instead!
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover air fry fried chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days. When you’re ready to reheat, preheat your air fryer to 375°F and cook the chicken for about 5 minutes or until heated through.
How to Freeze
Let the chicken drumsticks cool completely, then lay them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze for about an hour before transferring them to a freezer-safe bag or container. Your air fried fried chicken will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months. Always let them thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating!
Notes and Tips
Don’t overcrowd your air fryer basket, as this will stop the chicken from cooking evenly. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to do more than one batch. I always pat the chicken dry with a paper towel before tossing in the seasoning mix. It helps the seasoning stick to the chicken better and makes them really crispy in the air fryer! For the juiciest fried chicken, let the drumsticks rest for 5 minutes after cooking. The juices will redistribute and make the chicken even more tender. Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Use a meat thermometer to check if you’re unsure.
How to Make Air Fryer Fried Chicken Step by Step
Dry the Chicken: Using a paper towel, pat dry 2 pounds of chicken drumsticks. “Loved this recipe!!” – Emmett Worthy Make the Seasoning: Mix 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 tablespoon baking powder in a large bowl. Season the Chicken: Coat the chicken drumsticks with 1 1/2 tablespoons of canola oil and then toss them in the seasoning mix. Cook in the Air Fryer: Put the chicken drumsticks into the Air Fryer basket in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches. Cook for 25-30 minutes at 375℉, turning the chicken halfway through. The chicken is done when the skin is crispy, and the internal temperature reaches 165℉.
More Fried Chicken Recipes We Love
Oven Fried Chicken Pickle Brined Fried Chicken Kentucky Fried Chicken Buttermilk Fried Chicken Fried Chicken and Gravy Fried Chicken Tenders
title: “Air Fryer Fried Chicken Recipe” ShowToc: true date: “2024-11-19” author: “Jasmine Snyder”
What’s in this Air-Fried Chicken Thighs recipe?
Cooking cornflake fried chicken in the Air Fryer is so quick and easy, and you only need a few basic ingredients to get started!
Chicken: I like using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or drumsticks because they stay juicy and tender and get really crispy, but you can use any cut of chicken, boneless or bone-in. If using boneless, reduce the cooking time slightly. Buttermilk: Soaking chicken in buttermilk before frying it helps to make it super tender and juicy, as well as more flavorful. Flour: Use all-purpose flour for dredging fried chicken. Cornflakes: Crushed Corn Flakes cereal is used to make a crispy coating on this fried chicken. Feel free to go the more traditional route and use Panko breadcrumbs. Seasonings: We use a mix of smoked paprika, poultry seasoning, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and salt and pepper.
To make your own buttermilk, measure 2 cups of milk, remove 2 tablespoons of it, and mix in 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let this mixture sit for 5 minutes before using in the recipe. Trademark Note: In the spirit of transparency, I want to note that Corn Flakes are a trademarked product. Kellogg’s is a proprietary brand that I want to acknowledge and give credit to.
Air Fryer Fried Chicken Variations
Add a little bit of hot sauce into the buttermilk mixture for spicy fried chicken. If you don’t have smoked paprika, you can make your own by mixing 1 teaspoons regular paprika and ½ teaspoon cumin. For less spicy chicken, reduce or omit the cayenne pepper. Instead of poultry seasoning, use your favorite seasoning blend, such as Italian or Creole. If you don’t want to make Cornflake Fried Chicken, feel free to go the more traditional route and use Panko breadcrumbs instead.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover Air Fryer fried chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 300°F or in the air fryer at 370°F for about 10 minutes.
How to Freeze
Freeze cornflake fried chicken in a freezer-safe container or resealable bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
What to Serve with Air Fried Chicken Thighs
This air-fried and cornflake-coated fried chicken is one of our favorite Air Fryer dinner ideas, and it goes well with all the typical side dishes. We love serving it with creamy mashed potatoes, mac and cheese casserole, Air Fryer corn on the cob, and buttermilk biscuits. If you want to sneak in more green, molasses green beans and Air Fryer broccoli make great sides too. Looking for more fried chicken recipes? This Buttermilk Fried Chicken and copycat Kentucky Fried Chicken are delicious too. If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes We Love
Air Fryer Chicken Breast Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Air Fryer Chicken Wings Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Air Fryer Chicken Parm Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
