Air Fryer Chicken And Rice: Is It Possible?

Air fryers are a great way to make chicken and rice. This cooking method is faster and healthier than ordering takeout, and it's also a good way to use up leftovers. You can make chicken and rice in an air fryer with a variety of simple ingredients, such as leftover rice, frozen vegetables, and cooked chicken. The dish is also customisable, so you can add in whatever protein you like, such as eggs, tofu, or turkey.

How to make chicken and rice in an air fryer

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients to make chicken and rice in an air fryer:

• Rice (white or brown)
• Chicken (shredded or cubed)
• Soy sauce (use gluten-free soy sauce if necessary)
• Oil (vegetable, sesame, olive, or avocado)
• Frozen vegetables (peas, carrots, sweetcorn, broccoli, beans)
• Eggs (optional)
• Salt
• Onion (optional)
• Garlic (optional)
• Oyster sauce (optional)
• Butter (optional)
• Chili sauce (optional)

Method

• Preheat your air fryer to 350°F/180°C.
• In a large bowl, mix together your rice, chicken, soy sauce, oil, frozen vegetables, and any other optional ingredients you wish to include.
• Transfer the mixture to a non-stick pan that fits inside the air fryer basket.
• Cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring the rice mixture a few times during cooking to prevent it from sticking.
• Serve immediately.

Tips

• Use leftover rice that has been cooled and stored in the fridge. This will help to reduce stickiness.
• If you are following a gluten-free diet, use gluten-free soy sauce.
• You can add different proteins or vegetables to suit your taste.
• To reheat, place the rice in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to four days.

What ingredients are needed

There are a variety of ingredients you can use to make chicken and rice in an air fryer. Here is a list of ingredients you can choose from to make your chicken and rice:

Chicken:

• You can use leftover chicken or cook it before adding it to the rice.
• Cut the chicken into cubes or shred it.
• You can also use turkey or pork as an alternative to chicken.

Rice:

• Use leftover, cooled, cooked rice.
• Basmati rice, jasmine rice, or brown rice are all good options.
• If you are not using leftover rice, cook the rice beforehand and let it cool before adding it to the air fryer.

Vegetables:

• Frozen vegetables such as peas, sweetcorn, carrots, broccoli, beans, or a mix of these.
• Fresh garlic and onion for added flavour.

Seasoning:

• Soy sauce (use gluten-free soy sauce if necessary).
• Oyster sauce for a touch of sweetness and tanginess.
• Sesame oil for a nutty flavour.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Vegetable oil or olive oil.
• Butter to add flavour and prevent the rice from sticking together.
• Spices such as garlic powder, onion powder, or curry powder.

Other:

• Eggs (optional).
• Green onions/spring onions.
• Chilli sauce (optional).

You can customise the dish by adding or removing ingredients according to your preferences.

How long does it take to cook chicken and rice in an air fryer

Yes, you can cook chicken and rice in an air fryer!

To make chicken fried rice in an air fryer, you'll need cooked rice, frozen veggies, leftover chicken, soy sauce, oil, and green onions. You can also add chili sauce for a little heat. For the rice, use leftover cooled cooked rice, and for the chicken, use leftover shredded or cubed chicken. You can use whichever type of rice you like, but basmati or brown rice works great. For frozen veggies, use quick-cook veggies like peas and sweetcorn.

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F / 180°C. Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl, and then transfer them to a non-stick pan that fits inside the air fryer basket. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring the rice mixture a couple of times during cooking.

If you want to make chicken and rice without the fried rice component, you can cook the chicken in the air fryer first and then add the rice. To cook the chicken, cut the chicken breasts into thin, flat pieces and toss them with spices, avocado oil, and brown sugar. Preheat your air fryer to 415°F and place the chicken in the basket in a single layer. Air fry for 10 minutes for thin pieces or 13 minutes for larger pieces. You're looking for an internal temperature of 165°F.

Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the air fryer and add the rice to the basket. For the rice, you can cook it beforehand and simply reheat it in the air fryer, or you can cook raw rice in the air fryer. To reheat cooked rice, place it in a cake pan or oven-friendly bakeware, cover it with foil, and air fry at 320°F for 5 minutes, stirring and adding time as needed.

To cook raw rice in the air fryer, first, rinse the rice to remove any dust or debris and help prevent the rice grains from sticking together. Then, add the rice, water, salt, and olive oil to a cake pan and tightly cover it with foil. Air fry at 300°F for 30 minutes, then turn off the air fryer and let the rice steam inside for 15 minutes before removing the foil. Fluff the rice with a fork or rice paddle and serve.

What to serve with chicken and rice

Chicken and rice is a hearty, filling meal, but it can be served with a variety of side dishes to make a complete meal. Here are some ideas for what to serve with chicken and rice:

• Fried Cornbread: Quick, tasty, and loaded with a sweet buttery corn flavour, fried cornbread is a great side dish that everyone will love.
• Garlic Parmesan Green Beans: Parmesan cheese and garlic liven up green beans, adding loads of flavour to a simple side dish that can be whipped up with ease.
• Fruit Salad: Skip straight to dessert or serve dinner potluck-style with a sweet fruit salad that is a more nutritious option yet brims with indulgent flavours.
• Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Onions: Bacon gives this veggie a much-needed boost of fat, making it an excellent side dish for chicken casserole.
• Soft and Easy Homemade Dinner Rolls: Soft and fluffy, homemade dinner rolls let the whole family know dinner is ready and are sure to be a hit.
• Greek Salad: Add some more colour and crunch to your rice casserole with a Greek salad on the side. Filled with tomatoes, feta cheese, onions, olives, and cucumber, it brings a light and refreshing feel to the meal.
• Quinoa Salad: When serving chicken and rice casserole to a crowd, a quinoa salad is a great option as it has plenty of flavour and no allergens.
• Southern Pan-Fried Potatoes and Onions: This classic comfort food side dish is a family favourite that is hard to resist.
• Sesame Broccoli: With just a few simple ingredients, including fresh broccoli, this side dish is ready to enjoy and provides a healthy and tasty contrast to chicken and rice.
• Easy Sautéed Squash and Zucchini: When you have a bounty of summer squash, sautéing it makes a great, nutritious side dish that lightens up the meal.
• Oven-Roasted Asparagus: Simple, oven-roasted asparagus is a great, fresh side to a creamy chicken and rice casserole.
• Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms with Thyme: Cooking mushrooms with butter and thyme lets them shine, adding a rich and indulgent side to your rice casserole.
• Garlic Sautéed Spinach: The rich flavours from the cream soup in the casserole mean that a simple side like garlic sautéed spinach is a perfect match.
• Herbed Garlic Parmesan Dinner Rolls: Break bread with the ones you love using these parmesan herb rolls, which add a zing of flavour to your dinner.
• Easy Southern Cornbread Without Buttermilk (Skillet Recipe): This comforting and delicious cornbread is an easy side dish that can be made in a skillet without buttermilk.
• Easy Oven-Roasted Vegetables: With a bounty of fresh veggies like Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, red onions, and red potatoes, these simple ingredients need very little to shine on the side of your chicken casserole.
• Great Roasted Carrots: Roasted carrots give your dinner menu a bright pop of colour alongside a rice casserole dish. They come out tender and full of flavour without any fuss.

These are just a few ideas, but feel free to get creative and mix and match to suit your taste preferences!

Tips for making chicken and rice in an air fryer

Ingredients

When making chicken and rice in an air fryer, it's important to use the right ingredients and prepare them properly. Here are some tips for selecting and preparing your ingredients:

• Use cold, leftover rice that has been refrigerated. Warm, fresh rice will stick together and clump in the air fryer.
• If you're making a gluten-free dish, be sure to use gluten-free soy sauce or coconut aminos as your main flavouring agent.
• For protein, you can add cooked and shredded or cubed chicken, or use eggs, tofu, or another type of cooked meat.
• Choose frozen vegetables that cook quickly, such as peas, sweet corn, broccoli, or edamame.
• Use long-grain white rice, such as Basmati or Jasmine rice, as it has a lower starch content and is less likely to stick together.
• Rinse your rice before cooking to remove any dust or debris and to help reduce the starch content.
• If you want to add spices, use dry spices like garlic powder, onion powder, or curry powder so that you don't affect the water-to-rice ratio.

Cooking

Once you have your ingredients ready, it's time to start cooking. Here are some tips for the cooking process:

• Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175-180°C).
• Use an oven-safe dish or pan that fits inside your air fryer basket, such as a cake pan or round metal pan.
• Cook your chicken and rice for around 15-20 minutes, stirring the mixture a few times during the cooking process to ensure even cooking.
• If you're adding eggs, pour them over the rice mixture and air fry until the eggs are set, which should take around 4 minutes.
• If you're using frozen vegetables, add them towards the end of the cooking process and stir to combine. Air fry for an additional 2-3 minutes.
• If you want a crunchy texture to your rice, don't mix the rice during cooking, as this will result in a crunchy layer on top.
• To reheat any leftovers, place them in a cake pan or oven-friendly bakeware, cover with foil, and air fry at 320°F for 5 minutes, stirring as needed.

Frequently asked questions