Air-Frying Chicken Skin: Is It Possible?

Chicken skin can be cooked in an air fryer, and it is a great way to make it crispy. The skin can be cooked on its own as a snack, or as part of a chicken thigh recipe. The skin can be seasoned with salt, garlic salt, onion powder, black pepper, and paprika, but it is recommended to only season with salt before cooking as other herbs and spices may burn. The chicken skin should be placed skin-side down in the air fryer and cooked for 10-12 minutes, before being flipped and cooked for another 5 minutes, or until the skin is crispy.

Chicken skin chips

Ingredients:

You will need chicken skins, preferably from chicken thighs, and some salt for seasoning. You can also use other seasonings like nutritional yeast, tomato powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, or freshly cracked black pepper, but it is recommended to add these after cooking to avoid burning.

Preparation:

Start by patting the chicken skins dry with a paper towel. Then, sprinkle a small amount of salt on both sides of the chicken skins. You can also season the chicken skins with other seasonings of your choice, but be mindful that spices and herbs can burn easily in the air fryer. It is generally recommended to season the chicken skins after cooking or add seasonings that do not burn easily.

Cooking Process:

Place the seasoned chicken skins in your air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer and skin-side down. If you want to keep the chicken skins flat, you can place a sheet of parchment paper over them and then a flat ceramic plate. However, this additional step may be omitted if you are okay with the skins curling up. Set your air fryer to 400°F and cook the chicken skins for about 12 minutes. At the halfway point, flip the chicken skins over so they are skin-side up and continue cooking until crispy. The total cooking time may vary depending on the desired crispness and the number of chicken skins in the air fryer.

Serving Suggestions:

Once the chicken skin chips are cooked to your desired level of crispness, remove them from the air fryer and place them on a wire rack to cool. You can serve them as a delicious snack on their own, or dip them in various sauces like guacamole, spicy pineapple salsa, Whole30 Sriracha, Caesar dressing, or your favorite hot sauce.

Tips:

It is important to note that chicken skins contain a lot of fat, which will render during the cooking process. Make sure to place the chicken skins in a single layer to allow the fat to render properly and ensure even cooking. Additionally, you can line the bottom of your air fryer with foil or parchment paper before adding the chicken skins to make cleanup easier.

Chicken cracklings

To make chicken cracklings in an air fryer, start by placing a piece of parchment paper or foil at the bottom of the air fryer basket. Then, lay 3-4 chicken skins in a single layer, skin-side down, on the air fryer basket. It is recommended to pat the chicken skins dry with a paper towel and sprinkle salt on both sides before placing them in the air fryer. You can also place another piece of parchment paper and a flat ceramic plate on top of the chicken skins to keep them flat. Air fry at 350-400°F for 12-15 minutes, or until the skin is crispy. If the skin is still a little flabby, add a minute or two to the cooking time.

Once the chicken cracklings are done, remove them from the air fryer and place them on a wire rack to cool. It is important to dump out any chicken fat that has accumulated at the bottom of the air fryer before repeating the process with the remaining chicken skins. You can also heat the oven to 400°F convection or 425°F (non-convection) and bake the chicken skins for 10 minutes for an even larger batch of cracklings.

Chicken skin cooking time and temperature

Yes, you can cook chicken skin in an air fryer. In fact, chicken skins are quicker to cook and have a more delicate crunch when they're made in an air fryer. However, due to the size of the appliance, you can only make around four skins at a time.

Chicken skin chips are a great, crunchy, keto-friendly snack. To make them, you'll need to set aside some chicken skins. Most butchers and grocery stores don't sell chicken skins by themselves, but you can always buy bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. You can then remove the skins and save them for when you want to make chicken cracklings.

When you're ready to cook your chicken skins, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Lay three or four chicken skins in a single layer, skin-side down, on the air fryer basket. Program the air fryer to cook for a total of 12 minutes. At the halfway point (6 minutes), flip the chicken skins over so they are skin-side up. Air fry the chicken skins for the remaining 6 minutes or until crispy. If the skins are still a little flabby, add a minute or two to the cooking time.

If you're cooking chicken thighs with the skin on, preheat your air fryer to 380°F for 5 minutes. Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer, skin side down, for 12 minutes. Turn the chicken thighs skin side up and cook for another 10–15 minutes. If you want your chicken thighs to be super crispy, cook in 4-minute increments until you reach your desired crispness. The chicken is done when an internal meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165°F.

Chicken skin seasoning

Yes, you can cook chicken skin in an air fryer. In fact, chicken skin cooked in an air fryer is quicker and has a more delicate crunch compared to other cooking methods.

Chicken skin cooked in an air fryer is often referred to as chicken cracklings or chicken skin chips. They are a great paleo, low-carb, keto, gluten-free, and Whole30-compatible snack.

When it comes to seasoning chicken skin for the air fryer, it is recommended to season the chicken skins after cooking, as spices and herbs can burn. However, some people do choose to season the chicken skins before cooking. If you choose to season before cooking, be aware that the chicken skin will shrink considerably, so you may end up with overseasoned chicken cracklings.

If you want to season the chicken skins before cooking, a touch of kosher salt is recommended. You can also add a sheet of parchment paper over the chicken skin and a flat ceramic plate to keep the chicken skins flat.

After cooking, you can season the chicken cracklings with your favorite seasonings. Some popular seasoning options include:

• Nutritional yeast
• Tomato powder
• Onion powder
• Smoked paprika
• Freshly cracked black pepper
• Italian seasoning
• Mala seasoning

Chicken skin and chicken thighs

Chicken skin can be cooked in an air fryer, and it is a great way to make the skin crispy. The skin can be cooked on its own to make chicken cracklings, or chicken thighs can be cooked with the skin on.

Chicken Cracklings

To make chicken cracklings, first, remove the skin from the chicken thighs and pat it dry. Place the skin in the air fryer, skin side down, and season with salt. You can add other seasonings after cooking, but additional spices during cooking may burn. Air fry at 400°F for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. If the skins are fattier and need more cooking, cook for an additional 1-2 minutes. The skins will not be completely hard until they have cooled down, but they should be golden. Drain the oil and let the skins cool down on a wire rack or paper towel.

Chicken Thighs

To cook chicken thighs with the skin on, first preheat your air fryer to 380°F for 5 minutes. Place the chicken thighs in a bowl and add kosher salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, oregano, and onion powder. Shake to coat the chicken. Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer, skin side down, and cook for 12 minutes. Then, turn the chicken thighs skin side up and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. If you want the chicken to be super crispy, cook for 4-minute increments until the desired crispness is achieved.

Chicken thighs can also be cooked with the bone in, which adds extra flavor and makes the meat harder to dry out or overcook. To get the crispiest skin, you can sprinkle baking powder onto the skin before cooking.

Frequently asked questions