Air-Fried Kfc Chicken: Can You Make It?

If you're craving KFC chicken but don't want the mess and hassle of deep-frying, an air fryer is a great alternative. You can make KFC-style fried chicken that's healthier, with less oil and fewer calories, but still tasty and crispy. The key to getting that crispy texture and flavour is to use bone-in chicken pieces such as drumsticks, thighs, and wings, and to marinate the chicken in buttermilk overnight. You'll also need a flour coating with herbs and spices, and to cook the chicken in batches to ensure even cooking.

Marinating the chicken in buttermilk

When you're ready to cook the chicken, remove it from the buttermilk marinade and allow any excess marinade to drip off. Then, coat the chicken in a mixture of flour, cornstarch, and any desired spices. It's important to ensure that the chicken is thoroughly coated. Next, place the chicken in the air fryer basket, being careful not to overcrowd it, and spray it with cooking spray or oil. Finally, air fry the chicken for 15-25 minutes, flipping it halfway through, until it's golden brown and cooked through.

The importance of a flour coating

A flour coating is an essential component of the KFC fried chicken recipe. It is responsible for creating a crispy texture and a delicious flavour that has made the dish so popular worldwide. The flour coating is also crucial in achieving the desired colour, as it helps to brown the chicken evenly, resulting in a golden crust.

The flour coating acts as a barrier, preventing the chicken from drying out during the cooking process. By sealing in the juices, the flour ensures that the chicken remains moist and tender. Additionally, the flour coating helps to thicken the sauce used in the recipe, adding to the overall flavour and texture of the dish.

The flour coating also provides a base for the herbs and spices used in the recipe to adhere to the chicken. This enhances the flavour and creates a unique taste profile that has become synonymous with KFC fried chicken. The flour coating, when combined with spices such as paprika, mustard, and ginger, adds a mild heat to the dish, making it even more appetising.

Furthermore, the flour coating contributes to the visual appeal of the dish. It provides a uniform appearance to the chicken pieces, ensuring they look as good as they taste. The flour coating also allows for a consistent cooking process, ensuring that each piece of chicken is cooked evenly and thoroughly.

The flour coating is a key step in achieving the signature taste, texture, and appearance of KFC fried chicken. It is a crucial element that sets this dish apart from other fried chicken recipes and has contributed to its enduring popularity.

Preheating the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an essential step in the process of making KFC-style chicken. It ensures that the chicken reheats evenly and helps to retain its crispy texture. The ideal temperature to preheat your air fryer is 375°F (190°C). Depending on your air fryer model, it should take around 2-3 minutes to preheat. While the air fryer is preheating, you can take your leftover fried chicken out of the refrigerator and separate the pieces to ensure even heating.

If you want an extra crispy finish to your chicken, you can lightly spray the pieces with cooking spray. This step is optional but can enhance the crispiness of your KFC-style chicken.

Oil coating methods

Oil coating is an essential step in the process of making KFC-style chicken in an air fryer. While the air fryer significantly reduces the amount of oil needed, a light coating of oil helps to crisp up the chicken and enhance its flavour. Here are some detailed methods for oil coating to achieve that signature KFC crunch:

Oil Spray:

A cooking oil spray is a convenient way to ensure an even and light coating of oil on your chicken. After dipping the chicken in the buttermilk and flour mixture, place the pieces in the air fryer basket and spray them generously with cooking spray. This method is recommended by several KFC chicken recipes for air fryers and is a healthier alternative to deep frying.

Drizzling Oil:

For a more hands-on approach, you can drizzle or brush oil directly onto the chicken pieces. After coating the chicken with the flour mixture, place them on a wire rack over a baking sheet. Drizzle or brush a thin layer of oil onto the chicken, ensuring it is evenly distributed. This method allows you to control the amount of oil used and avoid excess oil pooling in the air fryer.

Oil Bath:

For an even crispier coating, you can try an "oil bath" technique. After coating the chicken with the flour mixture, fill a separate bowl with a small amount of oil. Dip the chicken pieces into the oil, ensuring they are fully coated. This method may use more oil, but it can create an extra-crispy exterior similar to deep frying.

Spritzing Oil:

If you're looking for a lighter touch of oil, spritzing is a good option. After coating the chicken with the flour mixture, use a spritzer bottle filled with oil to lightly spritz the chicken pieces. This method uses less oil and is ideal if you're aiming for a healthier version of KFC chicken.

Oil in the Flour Mixture:

Another way to incorporate oil is to add it directly to the flour mixture. Mix a small amount of oil into the flour, spices, and other dry ingredients. This method ensures that the oil is evenly distributed over the chicken and helps the flour coating stick better.

Remember, when using oil with an air fryer, less is more. You don't need to coat the chicken heavily in oil to achieve crispiness, and too much oil can lead to sogginess. Always preheat your air fryer, and if your model has an adjustable temperature setting, aim for around 350°F (177°C) for best results.

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for making KFC chicken in an air fryer will depend on the size of the chicken pieces and whether or not they are on the bone. For example, chicken drumsticks will take longer to cook than boneless chicken thighs.

Most recipes recommend preheating the air fryer and cooking the chicken in batches to ensure even cooking. The temperature should be set between 350°F and 390°F, and the chicken should be cooked for 10–24 minutes, turning it over halfway through. For example, one recipe instructs:

> Spray the dredged chicken drumsticks generously with vegetable oil, then air fry for 10 minutes at 180c/350f. After the initial 10 minutes of cooking, stop the air fryer and turn the chicken drumsticks over to crisp up the other side of the chicken. Spray the chicken with oil to cover any flour patches. Then air fry for a further 7-8 minutes at 180c/350f degrees until cooked.

It's important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the model of your air fryer, so it's always a good idea to check the manufacturer's instructions. Additionally, it's recommended to use an instant-read meat thermometer to check that the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F before serving.

Frequently asked questions