Air Fryer For Chicken: Is It Worth The Hype?

Air fryers are a great way to cook chicken, whether you're making fried chicken or a simple chicken breast. They're healthier than deep-frying or pan-frying, as the food absorbs less oil, and they're also quicker and easier to clean. You can use an air fryer to make healthy versions of fried foods, such as chicken wings, or to cook juicier proteins like chicken breasts.

Air fryer chicken wings

Ingredients:

• Neutral oil (avocado, canola, or vegetable oil)
• White pepper
• Baking powder
• Chicken wings
• Non-stick cooking spray (optional)
• Olive oil
• Smoked paprika
• Garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Chopped parsley (optional)
• Ranch dressing (optional)

Method:

• Pat the chicken wings dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
• In a bowl, season the chicken wings with salt, white pepper, baking powder, and neutral oil. Mix until the wings are evenly coated.
• Place the chicken wings in a single layer in the air fryer and air fry for 10 minutes at 400°F.
• Flip the chicken wings and air fry again for 8-12 minutes at 400°F, or until the skin is golden brown and crispy.
• Serve with your favorite wing sauce or eat as is.

Tips:

• Ensure the wings are as dry as possible before seasoning. This will help the skin puff up and blister during air frying.
• Cooking time may vary depending on the size of the wings. Adjust the time accordingly until the skin reaches your desired level of crispiness.
• To ensure doneness, use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the wings reaches at least 165°F.

Variations:

• For a spicy kick, try Air Fryer Buffalo Wings, Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings, or Air Fryer Asian Chicken Wings.
• If you prefer boneless chicken, try Air Fryer Chicken Tenders.
• For a healthier option, omit the oil and use an oil spray to coat the air fryer basket and the chicken wings.

Air fryer chicken breast

Ingredients

You will need:

• Chicken breasts (boneless and skinless)
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Black pepper
• Other seasonings of your choice (e.g. paprika, cayenne pepper, rosemary, sage)

Method

• Prepare the chicken breasts by pounding them lightly to an even thickness.
• Optional: For extra juicy chicken, you can brine the chicken by sprinkling salt all over and letting it rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
• Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature for about 15 minutes.
• Combine olive oil and your desired seasonings in a bowl. You can also add the salt at this stage if you didn't brine the chicken.
• Place the chicken in a large bowl and drizzle or brush the oil and spice mixture over it, ensuring all pieces are well coated.
• Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (or 190°C).
• Place the chicken in the air fryer basket, smooth side down, in a single layer with space between the pieces for airflow.
• Cook the chicken for 6 minutes, then flip it over and cook for an additional 2 to 8 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken breasts.
• Check the internal temperature of the chicken with an instant-read thermometer. Chicken is safe to eat at 165°F, but you can remove it from the air fryer a few degrees early and let it rest to finish cooking.
• Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Tips

• Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if necessary.
• Flip the chicken halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking.
• Do not overcook the chicken, as this will result in dry meat.
• You can use frozen chicken breast in the air fryer, but the results may not be as juicy. Preheat the air fryer to 360°F, drizzle the chicken with olive oil, season, and air fry for 18 to 20 minutes, flipping once.
• For extra crispy chicken, spray the chicken with cooking spray before and during cooking.

Serving Suggestions

Air fryer fried chicken

Ingredients

• Chicken (a mix of bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks)
• Buttermilk
• Cornstarch
• Smoked paprika
• Salt
• Pepper
• Olive oil spray

Method

• Marinate the chicken in buttermilk, salt, and pepper for at least 10 minutes.
• Coat the chicken in a mixture of cornstarch, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
• Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil.
• Place the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket and spray with olive oil.
• Air fry at 350°F for 15 minutes.
• Flip the chicken, spray with olive oil again, and cook for another 5 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Tips

• You can use skin-on or skinless chicken.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if necessary.
• The chicken should be golden brown. If there are any light pockets of color, spray with more oil.
• Don't add too much cornstarch, or the coating will be too thick.
• You can add hot sauce or cayenne pepper to the buttermilk for a spicy kick.
• You can use an instant-read meat thermometer to check when the chicken is cooked.

Storage and Reheating

• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 6 months.
• Reheat in the air fryer or oven (not the microwave), as this will make the skin soggy.

Air fryer chicken nuggets

Ingredients

• 2 large chicken breasts, cut into nuggets
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten

Method

• Preheat the air fryer to 200C/400F.
• In a mixing bowl, add the panko, parmesan cheese, salt, and oil, and mix until combined. In another bowl, add the flour, and in a third bowl, add the beaten eggs.
• Dip the chicken in the flour, shake off the excess, dip it in the egg, then coat with the panko mix, pressing firmly for it to stick on. Repeat the process until all the chicken is coated.
• Generously grease the air fryer basket. In a single layer, add the chicken nuggets.
• Spray the tops of the chicken nuggets and air fry for 12-15 minutes, or until golden and crispy. You can also check for doneness using a meat thermometer. Once the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F, it's ready to enjoy.

Tips

• Use a meat thermometer to guarantee fully cooked nuggets. Look for an internal temperature of 74°C/165°F.
• Make the nuggets the same size to ensure they cook evenly and completely.
• Switch up the spice mix. Cayenne pepper, black pepper, oregano, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder are all great options for adding more flavor to your nuggets.
• If using frozen breaded nuggets, just let them cook for a few minutes longer than fresh. No thawing is needed.

Storage

• To store: Leftover chicken nuggets can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
• To reheat: Either put them back in the air fryer at 180°C/350°F for 2-3 minutes or pop them in a preheated oven. Avoid the microwave, as the chicken will lose its crispiness.
• To freeze: Let the nuggets cool before transferring them to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag, and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Air fryer chicken parmesan

This is a healthier take on the classic Chicken Parmesan, with a crispy Parmesan coating and juicy chicken. It's a quick and easy recipe that can be made in just 20 minutes.

Ingredients for 4 people

• 2 chicken breasts (8 ounces each)
• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan
• 1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup marinara sauce
• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

Method

Set the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. It will need about three minutes to preheat.

Slice the chicken breasts in half lengthwise and pound them into thin slices to ensure they cook evenly.

Combine the breadcrumbs and shredded Parmesan cheese in a medium-sized bowl to make the chicken breading. In a second bowl, whisk the eggs.

Dip the chicken in the eggs and then dredge it in the breadcrumb mixture so that it's evenly coated. Repeat with the remaining chicken.

Place the breaded chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the chicken in batches.

Cook the chicken for six minutes, then flip the pieces over and top them with 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese.

Cook for another three to four minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a meat thermometer to check.

If you're cooking the chicken in batches, repeat the process with the remaining chicken.

Storage

Place any leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to two days.

The best way to reheat the leftovers is in the air fryer basket at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until heated through to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also use the oven or microwave, but the breading will not be as crispy.

Serving suggestions

This Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan is delicious served with simple steamed vegetables, a green salad, pasta, or zoodles.

Frequently asked questions