Cooking crispy chicken in air fryer is a game-changer. It simplifies the process of making this classic dish and delivers perfectly crispy and juicy results. It’s a healthier alternative to the traditional way of deep frying the chicken, which makes it a great option to enjoy your favorite meal without worrying about adding extra calories to your diet. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of making crispy chicken in an air fryer.

First and foremost, you need to prepare your chicken by washing it thoroughly and patting it dry. You can use any cut of chicken for this recipe, but we recommend using chicken thighs for the best results. Now, you need to season your chicken with your favorite spices and herbs. You can use a pre-made seasoning blend or create one of your own by mixing salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. The key is to season your chicken generously to ensure it’s flavorful in every bite.

How to Make Crispy Chicken in Air Fryer

Introduction:

Air fryers have become one of the most popular kitchen appliances in recent years. It’s a perfect solution for people who love fried foods but want to avoid the unhealthy aspects of deep frying. Plus, it saves you the trouble of having to deal with messy and smelly oil. If you’re looking to make some crispy and delicious chicken in your air fryer, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll be giving you all the tips, tricks, and secrets to getting the perfect crispy chicken in air fryer.

1. Choosing the Right Chicken:

First things first, you need to choose the right type of chicken. When it comes to air frying, skin on and bone-in chicken pieces are the best option. Thighs and drumsticks work great, but you can also use chicken breasts. Just make sure they are not too thick as they will take longer to cook.

2. Prepare the Chicken:

Before air frying, you need to make sure the chicken is dry. Pat dry the chicken pieces with a paper towel and remove any excess moisture. If you have time, you could also let the chicken sit in the refrigerator for an hour or so. This will help the skin dry out and make it even crispier.

3. Seasoning:

The perfect crispy chicken has the right balance of seasoning. You can use your favorite dry rub or marinade. But for a classic taste, you can simply season the chicken with salt, black pepper, and some garlic powder. Make sure to season both sides of the chicken pieces.

4. Cornstarch Coating:

For extra crispy skin, you can coat the chicken in cornstarch before air frying. The cornstarch absorbs moisture from the chicken and creates a crispy and crunchy coating. Make sure to coat the chicken pieces evenly with a thin layer of cornstarch.

5. Preheat the Air Fryer:

Preheating the air fryer is essential for getting the perfect crispy chicken. Set the air fryer temperature to 375°F and let it preheat for 5-7 minutes. This will ensure that the chicken cooks evenly and the skin gets crispy.

6. Place the Chicken in the Air Fryer:

Once preheated, place the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket, making sure they don’t touch each other. Close the basket and set the timer for 25-30 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken pieces. Flip the chicken pieces halfway through the cooking process.

7. Check the Internal Temperature:

To ensure the chicken is cooked, check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. The temperature should be at least 165°F. If it’s not, air fry for a few more minutes.

8. Let it Rest:

Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the air fryer basket and let it rest for a few minutes. This will help the juices settle, and the skin will remain crispy.

9. Serve Hot:

Serve the chicken immediately while it’s still hot and crispy. You could also serve it with your favorite dipping sauce.

10. Clean Up:

Cleaning an air fryer basket is easy; just remove any excess food debris before washing it with warm soapy water. You could also clean the basket with a non-abrasive sponge or brush.

Conclusion:

With these tips and tricks, you can make the perfect crispy chicken in your air fryer. It’s a simple and healthy way to enjoy your favorite fried foods. So, go ahead and try it out for yourself and impress your family and friends with delicious, crispy chicken.

10 Tips to Make the Crispiest Chicken in Air Fryer

Air fryer has become one of the most popular kitchen gadgets for making healthy and delicious meals in no time. And when it comes to cooking chicken, air fryer can be a real game changer. But how do you get that perfect crispy crust on your chicken? Here are some tips that will help you make the crispiest chicken in air fryer.

1. Choose the Right Cut of Chicken

When it comes to making crispy chicken in air fryer, the cut of chicken is very important. You want a cut that will cook evenly and quickly. Chicken wings, drumsticks, thighs or breast fillets are all great options. Just make sure they are all about the same size so they cook evenly.

2. Preheat Your Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer before adding the chicken. This will help cook the chicken evenly and ensure a crispy crust. Simply set the air fryer to the desired temperature and let it heat up for a few minutes.

3. Pat Dry the Chicken

Before cooking the chicken in the air fryer, make sure you pat it dry with a paper towel. This will remove any excess moisture and help the chicken get crispy.

4. Season the Chicken Well

Season the chicken well with salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you like. You can also marinate the chicken in your favorite marinade for added flavor.

5. Coat the Chicken in Breadcrumbs or Flour

Coating the chicken in breadcrumbs or flour will help it get crispy in the air fryer. You can use regular flour, cornstarch, or breadcrumbs to coat the chicken. Make sure you coat the chicken evenly.

6. Use Cooking Spray

Spray the chicken with cooking spray to help it get crispy. You can use any cooking spray you like, such as olive oil or canola oil.

7. Don’t Overcrowd the Air Fryer

Make sure you don’t overcrowd the air fryer when cooking chicken. This will prevent the chicken from getting crispy and cooking evenly. Leave some space between the chicken pieces.

8. Flip the Chicken Halfway Through Cooking

Flip the chicken halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking and a crispy crust on both sides. Use tongs or a spatula to turn the chicken.

9. Use a Meat Thermometer

Use a meat thermometer to make sure the chicken is cooked through. The internal temperature of cooked chicken should be 165°F. Don’t rely solely on the color of the chicken to determine if it’s cooked.

10. Let the Chicken Rest

Once the chicken is cooked, let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This will help the juices settle and make the chicken more tender and juicy. Enjoy your crispy and delicious air fryer chicken!

Seasoning the Chicken

Once you’ve prepared the chicken and the air fryer is preheating, it’s time to add some flavor to your crispy chicken. Here are five subheadings that will guide you with different seasoning options.

Classic Fried Chicken Seasoning

This seasoning is an all-time favorite. It’s perfect for those who love a little bit of spice mixed with herbs. To make the classic fried chicken seasoning, combine 2 tablespoons of paprika, 1 tablespoon of garlic powder, 1 tablespoon of onion powder, 1 tablespoon of dried oregano, 1 tablespoon of dried basil, 1 tablespoon of dried thyme, 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, and 2 teaspoons of salt in a bowl.

Mix everything well until all the ingredients are evenly distributed. Once the chicken is ready, sprinkle the seasoning all over it using your hands. Make sure all parts of the chicken are covered in the seasoning.

Garlic and Herb Seasoning

This seasoning is perfect for those who prefer a milder flavor with a touch of herbs and garlic. To make garlic and herb seasoning, combine 2 tablespoons of dried parsley, 1 tablespoon of dried basil, 1 tablespoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, and 1 teaspoon of salt.

Mix everything well until the ingredients are evenly distributed. Once your chicken is ready, sprinkle the seasoning all over it, making sure all parts of the chicken are coated.

Lemon Pepper Seasoning

This seasoning is perfect for people who love tangy and citrusy flavors. To make lemon pepper seasoning, combine 1 tablespoon of lemon zest, 1 tablespoon of black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of salt in a small bowl.

Mix everything well until the ingredients are evenly distributed. Once your chicken is ready, sprinkle the seasoning all over it, making sure all parts of the chicken are coated.

Buffalo Chicken Seasoning

If you’re a fan of buffalo chicken wings, you’ll love this seasoning. To prepare buffalo chicken seasoning, combine 2 tablespoons of hot sauce, 1 tablespoon of melted butter, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon of salt in a small bowl.

Mix everything well until the ingredients are evenly distributed. Once your chicken is ready, sprinkle the seasoning all over it, making sure all parts of the chicken are coated.

Barbecue Seasoning

For those who prefer a sweet and smoky flavor, this seasoning is perfect. To prepare barbecue seasoning, combine 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of paprika, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of ground cumin, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of black pepper in a small bowl.

Mix everything well until the ingredients are evenly distributed. Once your chicken is ready, sprinkle some seasoning all over it, making sure every part of the chicken is coated evenly.

Seasoning Summary

In case you need tips on measuring, we prepared this table to help you:

Seasoning Ingredients
Classic Fried Chicken 2 tbsp paprika 1 tbsp garlic powder 1 tbsp onion powder 1 tbsp dried oregano 1 tbsp dried basil 1 tbsp dried thyme 1 tsp cayenne pepper 2 tsp salt
Garlic and Herb 2 tbsp dried parsley 1 tbsp dried basil 1 tbsp garlic powder 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp dried thyme 1 tsp dried oregano 1 tsp salt
Lemon Pepper 1 tbsp lemon zest 1 tbsp black pepper 1 tsp salt
Buffalo Chicken 2 tbsp hot sauce 1 tbsp melted butter 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp salt
Barbecue 2 tbsp brown sugar 1 tbsp paprika 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp salt 1 tsp black pepper

Experimenting with different seasonings will help you find the perfect match that you and your family will enjoy. Do not hesitate to try different seasoning combinations to make your crispy chicken more exciting.

Get Ready to Fry Again!

Hope our tips on making the best crispy chicken in air fryer has helped you have a great chicken experience. Cooking is always about experimenting and finding your own taste, so don’t be afraid to tweak the recipe to your liking. We’re happy that you took the time to read and hopefully enjoy our article. Keep checking back on our website for more great recipes and tips. Until then, it’s always ‘stay frylicious’.