Weekends are always my best days for experimenting with everyone’s favorite chicken. More than Sunday, I love Saturday nights. The crispy chicken fries and favorite drink with Netflix really makes the day more soothing and special. If you visit my home on Saturday evenings, you can find me with an apron and an air fryer. Yeah, my favorite go to kitchen buddy is air fryer and chicken is the most easily available non veg. So, let’s check some air fryer chicken recipes together.
Why Air Fry?
I can say all the reasons in just one sentence. Air fryers can make quick recipes and it is healthy. You only have to add less amount of oil and set the time in advance for flip and cook. You don’t need to stand in front of it to prevent burning or eating food with dripping oil.
When I visited my sister’s house, I saw the air fryer at first and was very keen to know whether it gives crispy chicken or not. Thankfully I am having my favorite crispy foods in a healthy way now.
What’s the Best Chicken to Use?
Are you really confused to get the right chicken cut piece for your recipe? I can tell you one thing that each dish needs a particular size and parts. I love to had legs and breasts very much. My niece only loves chicken thighs. If you are in a rush and want a quick cooking, go for chicken breasts. If you have more time, then legs and thighs are good. Some evenings I only love to try some snacks and try the wings for that crispy effect.
I have a chicken farm in just 5 km and mostly like to buy the whole chicken from there. It is better than buying parts. You can make so many dishes like air fryer chicken tenders, drumsticks etc.
Air Fryer Chicken Ingredients
I am gonna share one of my favorite recipes that I cooked while staying in an apartment for work. If you are a bachelor and doing self cooking, then this recipe is for you. You only need a handful of ingredients:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or your preferred cut)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
These common ingredients in the kitchen are all you need for this quick recipe. You can always jazz it up with fresh herbs, lemon juice, or a spice blend of your choice.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Making chicken in airfryer is the easiest recipe idea that can cook quickly with zero effort. I can give you the a step-by-step instructions that works for any cut of chicken:
- Preheat Your Air Fryer: You can start by preheating your air fryer to 375°F. Then preheating will help the chicken cook more evenly and perfectly.
- Prep the Chicken: Removing extra moisture will give you the best crispy chicken. So, pat your chicken dry with a dry paper towel or dry clean cloth to remove excess moisture. Seasoning will also make you wonder if you do these steps.
- Season Generously: Rub the chicken with your preferred spices and ingredients given above. Whether it’s a simple mix of garlic powder and paprika or a more elaborate marinade, don’t be shy with the seasoning. If you miss your favorite seasonings, then you may feel guilty until the next meal.
- Arrange in the Basket: Now the steps are common for most recipes. Place the chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket and then make sure they aren’t touching to allow hot air to circulate evenly.
- Cook and Flip: Now just flip once to another to better cooking. If you’re cooking thicker cuts like drumsticks, check for doneness with a meat thermometer.
- Rest Before Serving: Allow the chicken to rest for 2 minutes after cooking. This helps the juices redistribute, ensuring every bite is moist and flavorful.
How to make Bread Chicken
On one of my periods, the two things I usually eat are bread chicken and tender coconut ice cream. Ice cream is my forever love and bread chicken is a real task. Last month periods forced me to cook this recipe and eat to clean all cravings. Especially, I love making my own breadcrumb mix with panko, Parmesan, and a pinch of Italian seasoning.
Don’t need to tense, there aren’t any complex actions to do. First wash and pat the chicken and then coat it with flour. As a second step. Dip it in beaten and finally roll it in breadcrumb mixture. If you want the oil flavour, spray a little on top. Insert in the air fryer and do all the steps like in the above recipe. Your bead chicken is ready.
How to Air Fry Chicken Breast
Chicken breasts are my go-to for quick meals. Here’s my detailed process:
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F.
- Season the chicken with olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Place the breasts in the air fryer basket without overcrowding.
- Cook for 9-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Let the chicken rest for 2 minutes before slicing. This step locks in the juices!
Air Fryer Chicken Time
Cooking times can vary depending on the cut of chicken. Here’s a quick reference:
| Chicken Cut | Time | Temperature | Recommended Preparation Tips |
| Chicken Breasts | 8-10 minutes | 375°F | Lightly brush with oil and season. For thicker breasts, cut in half or pound to even thickness for faster cooking. |
| Wings | 12-14 minutes | 400°F | Toss in baking powder and spices for extra crispiness. Shake halfway for even cooking. |
| Drumsticks | 18-20 minutes | 375°F | Marinate for at least 2 hours for extra flavor. Rotate drumsticks halfway through cooking. |
| Thighs | 15-18 minutes | 375°F | Bone-in thighs may require slightly more time. Skin-on thighs get extra crispy when lightly coated with oil. |
Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Here are some of my favorite air fryer chicken recipes with detailed steps:
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound chicken wings
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Your favorite wing sauce (buffalo, honey garlic, etc.)
How to Make: Start the cooking by just tossing the wings in olive oil and season with some needed garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Air fry at 400°F for 12-14 minutes, flipping halfway. Toss with your favorite sauce before serving and my favorite sauce is green chilly.
- Air Fryer Chicken Legs:
Ingredients:
- 4 chicken drumsticks
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper
How to Make: Here comes my niece Isa’s favorite chicken legs. You only need to rub all the spices with some olive oil. If you don’t love that much spicy, then add less. It is better to adding less spice for children. Cook at 375°F for 18-20 minutes, flipping once after cooking one side. The skin will be crispy, and the meat tender and flavorful.
- Air Fryer Chicken Fry:
Ingredients:
- 500g chicken pieces
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Curry leaves (optional)
- 2 tablespoons yogurt
How to Make: Like I already told you, just marinate the chicken in spices and yogurt for at least 30 minutes. Air fry at 375°F for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway. I can give you a nice tip for this, just cut the chicken into small pieces if you like to chew it like snacks. This will give you more flavors than usual.
- Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets
Ingredients:
- Thin chicken breast cutlets
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
How to Make: Cutlets always have a special place in my heart. Especially the heart shaped chicken cutlet. Once my two school friends visited and I made cutlet for them. And guess what, it became so sticky and mixed in oil. But after trying cutlets in air fryer, I can make it in a perfect heart shape without oil. For this, bread the cutlets using the flour, egg, and breadcrumb method. Air fry at 375°F for 8-10 minutes until golden. I personally love to get a deep brown color cutlet.
- Air Fryer Chicken 65:
Ingredients:
- 500g chicken
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 2 tablespoons yogurt
- Curry leaves
How to Make: I don’t know the name of where it came from. If you know, do comment. But I can make you the best air fryer chicken 65 in just 15 minutes. Marinate the chicken and air fry at 375°F for 12-15 minutes. Toss with curry leaves fried in a bit of butter for an authentic touch.
How Do I Know They Are Cooked?
My brother sometimes tries trending foods on social media. He collects all ingredients and follows the instructions. The thing he don’t know is whether it is cooked or not. At the time, he asked a chat gpt for cooking tips. Cooking chicken to the right level is crucial. I use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature and 165°F is the magic number. For wings or drumsticks, I also look for clear juices when pierced. The outside should be golden and crispy, while the inside stays juicy and tender.
No Air Fryer? Pan-Fry Instead!
Don’t have an air fryer? No problem! Here’s how to adapt these recipes for pan-frying:
- Use More Oil: Even though we prefer healthy and tasty recipes, sometimes I crave for that oily food. At that time, I mostly tried the pan fry method. When I visit my grandma’s house, I make her chicken without an air fryer. For this you just use 1-2 tablespoons of oil to make sure even cooking and crispiness.
- Cook in Batches: Overcrowding the pan may congest the space and you may feel hard to flip or move. Also it will lead to steaming rather than frying. so it is important to cook the chicken in batches if necessary.
- Lower the Heat: Use medium heat to prevent the exterior from burning before the interior is cooked.
- Flip Frequently: This will help for even cooking without overcooked parts or not cooked parts. If you are still confused, just take a little piece and try the taste to know its cooked or not.
Storage Tips
I always felt that old food tasted better. I think all masala is mixed well by keeping it for a long time. So, genuinely I love leftovers. Evan at my bulk cooking day, I stored food for working days. If the air fryer chicken is stored well, then it can be more delicious the next day. For this, you only need to let the chicken come at room temperature and then transfer it into an airtight container and place it inside the refrigerator. If you need to keep it for a week try the freezer and otherwise, just keeping it in the fridge is enough. For longer storage, wrap the pieces in aluminum foil and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container—this way, it stays fresh for up to 3 months.
Quick Tip: Label the container with the date so you’ll know how long it’s been stored.
How to Reheat?
Reheating air fried chicken is more difficult than storing it properly. Because all we need is it without losing its crispy magic. But really it is easier than you think. For this, first set your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and place the chicken in a single layer in the basket. Then you can reheat for 4–6 minutes and then flip halfway through to ensure even heating.
You should also remember avoiding microwaving the chicken if you’re not in a hurry. Otherwise, it can turn the crispy texture into a rubbery disappointment. If you loved this recipe, you can also try my healthy air fryer recipes like chicken thigh in air fryer and pork chops air fryer.
FAQs on Air Fryer Chicken
How long to air fry chicken for?
The cooking time of air fry chicken depends on the type you are cooking and the size of the chicken cut. If you want exact timing, for air fryer chicken breast, it takes about 8–10 minutes at 375°F (190°C). Then, wings usually take 10–12 minutes and the thighs or drumsticks need around 20 minutes at the same temperature.
Can you put raw chicken in an air fryer?
Absolutely! Air fryers are better for cooking raw chicken than all other methods. You just need to season some spices as per your taste and then, place it in the basket.
Is air-fried chicken actually healthy?
Yes, air-fried chicken is a healthier alternative than the deep-fried versions. It mostly uses significantly less oil, compared to all other cooking methods. Which means fewer calories and fat even if it gives the perfect crispy texture.
Should I put oil on chicken before air frying?
It is not essential to put oil while air frying. But a light coating of oil helps achieve that perfect golden crisp with some oil flavor in it. You can use a brush or spray with olive oil for this good texture and flavor. For skin-on cuts like thighs or wings, you can avoid the oil usage as the natural fat will melt out during cooking.