Shake And Bake: Air Fryer Edition

Shake and bake in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a delicious, crispy, and juicy chicken dish. The convenience of modern cooking with an air fryer and the comfort of a nostalgic, classic dish come together in this recipe. It is perfect for busy weeknights and can be made with simple ingredients and a store-bought shake and bake seasoning packet. The chicken is coated in the seasoning and then air-fried to perfection, resulting in a tasty and crispy dish.

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is a crucial step in the cooking process, and it's especially important when you're preparing a dish like shake and bake chicken, which requires a crispy exterior and juicy interior. Here's a detailed guide on preheating your air fryer for the perfect shake and bake:

Know Your Air Fryer

First, it's essential to consult your air fryer's manual. Not all air fryers are created equal, and some models may have specific instructions or requirements for preheating. Check if your air fryer has a preheat button and follow the instructions in the manual to use it properly. If there's no preheat button, don't worry; you can still preheat your air fryer manually.

Preheat Temperature and Time

The ideal temperature to preheat your air fryer for shake and bake chicken is around 375°F to 400°F (190°C to 200°C). This temperature range will ensure that your chicken gets that delicious crispy texture on the outside while remaining juicy on the inside. Set your air fryer to this temperature and let it heat up for 3 to 5 minutes. This preheating time will get the hot air circulating and ensure that your food starts cooking immediately when placed inside.

Benefits of Preheating

Preheating your air fryer offers several advantages for your shake and bake chicken:

• Faster Cooking: Preheating can reduce the overall cooking time by a few minutes, which is beneficial for those busy weeknights when you need dinner on the table quickly.
• Crispier Results: Preheating ensures that your chicken gets that signature crispy coating associated with shake and bake. It helps to get the hot air moving before you start cooking, resulting in evenly toasted food.
• Even Cooking: Preheating helps to create an even cooking environment, especially important when you're cooking multiple batches of chicken. It ensures that each batch starts cooking at the same temperature.
• Better Texture: Preheating can also impact the texture of your chicken. It helps achieve that perfect balance of a crispy exterior and a moist, juicy interior, making your shake and bake chicken irresistible!

Tips for Preheating

• Always ensure your air fryer is clean and plugged in before starting the preheating process.
• If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat option, simply turn it on at the desired temperature for 3 to 5 minutes.
• Leave the basket inside the air fryer during preheating. This ensures that all parts of the air fryer are heated evenly.
• Avoid preheating with parchment paper inside, as it may burn if there's no food weighing it down.
• If your air fryer manual advises against preheating, follow those instructions. Some models may not be designed for preheating.

Prepare the chicken

The first step in preparing your chicken for shake and bake in an air fryer is to pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. This will help the coating adhere better and prevent sogginess. You can also rinse the chicken with water and skip drying it, as the moisture will help the coating stick.

Next, you'll want to create your coating. You can use a store-bought shake and bake seasoning packet, or make your own by mixing breadcrumbs, all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and a variety of herbs and spices. If you're making your own, combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and then transfer the mixture to a large plastic bag. Some common herbs and spices to use include paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, dried basil, and dried oregano. You can also add salt and black pepper to taste.

Now it's time to coat the chicken. Place the chicken pieces into the bag with the seasoning mix, a few pieces at a time, seal the bag, and shake until the chicken is thoroughly coated. Repeat this process until all your chicken pieces are coated. You can also brush the chicken with olive oil or coat it lightly with mayonnaise before adding the seasoning to help the coating stick.

Once your chicken is coated, it's time to prepare the air fryer. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper. You can also use a perforated silicone mat. Place the chicken pieces into the basket in a single layer, making sure they are not touching. You may need to cook the chicken in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.

Finally, lightly spray the tops of the chicken with cooking spray or olive oil spray. This will help achieve a golden color and crispy texture.

Make the shake 'n bake mix

Making the shake 'n bake mix is simple and can be done in five minutes. You can also make a big batch and store it for future use. Here is a simple recipe for the mix:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of breadcrumbs (regular or panko)
• 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon of paprika
• 1 tablespoon of garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon of onion powder
• 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon of dried basil
• 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup of vegetable or canola oil

Instructions:

• Combine all the dry ingredients (breadcrumbs, flour, cornstarch, and spices) in a mixing bowl. You can adjust the amounts of spices according to your taste preferences.
• Transfer the breadcrumb mixture to a large ziplock bag.
• Drizzle the oil into the bag. Seal the bag and shake until all the ingredients are combined and the oil is fully incorporated.
• You can now use this mix to coat your chicken or pork.

Tips:

• You can store any leftover mix in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.
• For a gluten-free option, use crushed gluten-free crackers instead of breadcrumbs.
• If you want to reduce the sodium content, you can leave out the table salt and use only celery salt, or substitute with ground celery seed.

Coat the chicken

Coating the chicken is an important step in the shake and bake process, as it ensures the chicken is evenly and thoroughly covered in the seasoning or breading mixture. This will give your chicken a consistent, crispy texture and flavourful coating. Here is a step-by-step guide to coating your chicken for shake and bake in an air fryer:

Step 1: Prepare your chicken

Firstly, you will need to prepare your chicken by patting it dry with paper towels. This step is important to remove any excess moisture, which can lead to a soggy coating. You can also rinse the chicken with water, but do not pat dry if you want a moister chicken. If you are using chicken breasts, it is a good idea to ensure they are of roughly equal thickness so that they cook evenly. You can do this by filleting large breasts or using a meat mallet to even out the thickness.

Step 2: Prepare your coating

While you are drying your chicken, you can prepare your coating mixture. If you are using a store-bought shake and bake mixture, simply pour the contents of the packet into a large plastic bag. If you are making your own coating, combine your dry ingredients (such as breadcrumbs, flour, cornstarch, and spices) in a mixing bowl, and then transfer the mixture to a large ziplock bag.

Step 3: Coat the chicken

Take a few pieces of chicken at a time and place them in the bag with the coating mixture. Seal the bag tightly and shake until the chicken is thoroughly coated. Repeat this process until all your chicken pieces are coated. For an even better coating, you can first lightly brush or coat your chicken with olive oil, mayonnaise, milk, water, or beaten egg before placing it in the bag with the dry mixture. This will help the coating adhere to the chicken.

Step 4: Prepare the air fryer

Once all your chicken pieces are coated, you can prepare your air fryer basket by lightly spraying it with a non-stick cooking spray, lining it with parchment paper, or using a perforated silicone mat.

Step 5: Place the chicken in the air fryer

Place each piece of coated chicken into the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not touching. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the chicken in batches.

Now your chicken is coated and ready to be air-fried!

Air fry the chicken

Now that you've gathered your ingredients and prepared your chicken, it's time to air fry that chicken to perfection! Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Preheat Your Air Fryer

Before you start cooking, make sure to preheat your air fryer. This is crucial for getting that perfect crunch on your chicken. Set the temperature to 380°F (some recipes suggest 400°F, but 380°F seems to be the sweet spot).

Step 2: Prepare the Chicken

Take your chicken breasts and brush them lightly with olive oil. This step is important because it ensures that the seasoning will stick to the chicken. You can also moisten the chicken with water or mayonnaise, buttermilk, or a beaten egg for extra juiciness.

Step 3: Apply the Shake and Bake Seasoning

Pour the Shake and Bake seasoning into a plastic bag. You can use the one that comes with the mixture. Drop each chicken breast into the bag, one at a time, and shake until it's evenly coated. Make sure to twist and hold the bag closed tightly before shaking. You can discard any leftover coating.

Step 4: Place the Chicken in the Air Fryer

Arrange the coated chicken breasts in a single layer inside the air fryer basket. Make sure they are not overcrowded to ensure even cooking and crispiness. You may need to cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.

Step 5: Spray with Oil

After placing the chicken in the air fryer, spray the tops of the chicken breasts lightly with cooking oil spray or olive oil spray. This step is crucial for achieving that perfect golden color and crispy texture.

Step 6: Air Fry the Chicken

Now it's time to air fry your chicken! Set the temperature to 380°F and cook for 10 minutes. Then, flip the chicken breasts over and spray them again with cooking spray. Cook for an additional 5-9 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of your chicken breasts. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature.

Step 7: Rest and Serve

Once your chicken is cooked, let it rest for about 5 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute and keeps the chicken juicy. Then, serve your delicious, crispy and juicy shake and bake chicken with your favorite sides and dipping sauces!

Reheating and Storage

To reheat your shake and bake chicken, preheat your air fryer to 370°F. Add the chicken to the basket and cook for about 4-5 minutes, or until heated through. You can also reheat in the oven or microwave. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, or freeze for longer storage.

Frequently asked questions