Air Fryer Raw Chicken: Safe?

Air fryers are a great way to cook chicken, yielding a crispy exterior without drying out the meat. You can cook a whole chicken, chicken wings, chicken breasts, chicken thighs, and chicken drumsticks in an air fryer.

To cook chicken in an air fryer, first preheat the air fryer to 375-400°F. Then, rub the chicken with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, flipping the chicken halfway through. The cooking time will depend on the size and type of chicken, but generally, chicken breasts take around 10-15 minutes, while chicken thighs and drumsticks can take up to 30 minutes.

Some tips for cooking chicken in an air fryer include brining the chicken beforehand to add moisture and flavour, and using an instant-read thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked to the safe internal temperature of 165°F.

Air fryer chicken breasts can be made with a simple mix of paprika, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper

Yes, you can cook raw chicken in an air fryer. In fact, cooking chicken in an air fryer is a great way to get crispy, juicy chicken without drying it out.

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon thyme

Instructions:

• Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board and cover with a large sheet of plastic wrap. Use a rolling pin, meat mallet, or your palm to lightly pound the chicken into an even thickness.
• For best results, dry brine the chicken by sprinkling the salt over the chicken and placing it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 day. This step is optional but helps to keep the chicken juicy and enhances the flavour.
• Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature for about 15 minutes.
• In a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, and thyme. If you did not dry brine the chicken, add the salt to the spice mixture.
• Place the chicken in a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the chicken and toss to coat evenly.
• Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
• Place the chicken in the air fryer basket, smooth side down, and cook for 6 minutes.
• Flip the chicken over and continue cooking for 2 to 8 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 155-160°F (70-71°C). The total cook time will depend on the size of your chicken breasts and your air fryer model.
• Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Enjoy your delicious, juicy air fryer chicken breasts!

You can also try a Mozzarella-Stuffed Chicken Bites Air Fryer Recipe for a different taste

Yes, you can cook raw chicken in an air fryer. In fact, it's one of the best uses of an air fryer! You can cook a whole chicken, chicken wings, chicken breasts, chicken tenderloins, chicken thighs, and chicken drumsticks.

If you're looking for a different taste, you can try a Mozzarella-Stuffed Chicken Bites Air Fryer Recipe. Here's what you'll need and how to make it:

Ingredients

• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
• 6 mozzarella cheese sticks, cut in half, crosswise
• 3/4 cup marinara sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)

Method

• Whisk the egg and water together in a shallow dish.
• Stir the flour, salt, and Italian seasoning together in another shallow dish.
• Place the bread crumbs in a third shallow dish.
• Dip the cheese sticks into the egg mixture, then coat with the flour mixture.
• Dip again into the egg mixture, then into the bread crumbs until coated.
• Place on a baking sheet and freeze until firm, for about 1 hour.
• Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C). Lightly coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
• Place the frozen cheese bites in a single layer in the air fryer, working in batches if necessary, being careful not to overcrowd.
• Cook in the preheated air fryer until golden brown and the cheese just begins to melt, for 4 to 6 minutes. Repeat with the remaining bites.
• Meanwhile, stir together the marinara sauce and crushed red pepper.
• Serve the mozzarella bites with the marinara sauce.

Tips

• You can make these ahead of time and freeze them for up to a month.
• You can use any type of cheese that you like instead of mozzarella to customize this recipe to your preference.

Air fryer chicken wings can be made without any additional ingredients as the hot air circulating at high speed in air fryers makes them crispy

To make chicken wings in an air fryer, first preheat the air fryer to 375-400°F. Dry the wings and rub them with a seasoning of your choice, or just salt and pepper. Place the wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer, being sure not to overcrowd the basket. Cook times vary depending on the size of the wings, but generally, they will take between 10-20 minutes, flipping the wings every 3-5 minutes for even cooking. For extra crispy skin, increase the temperature to 400°F and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

You can also toss the wings in your favourite sauce, such as buffalo, BBQ, honey garlic, or honey mustard, or serve with a side of ranch or blue cheese dressing.

Chicken wings are already high in calories, and deep frying or coating them in breading adds even more calories. By cooking them in the air fryer, you get the same crispy texture without the excess fat and calories of traditional frying methods.

Air fryer chicken thighs are easy to cook and save you from all the splatter on the stovetop

Yes, you can cook raw chicken in an air fryer. In fact, it's a great way to cook chicken thighs, saving you from the mess of splatter on the stovetop.

Air fryer chicken thighs are easy to cook and only take a few minutes to prepare. You can use either boneless or bone-in chicken thighs, but bone-in thighs will result in a juicier end product. If you're using boneless thighs, you'll need to reduce the cooking time.

To prepare the chicken, pat the thighs dry with a paper towel and trim away any excess skin. Then, rub the thighs with olive oil and your choice of seasonings. You can keep it simple with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and dried herbs, or get creative with your own spice blends.

Preheat your air fryer to 375-400°F. Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket, skin side down, and cook for 10-15 minutes. Flip the thighs over and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the skin is nice and crispy. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

And that's it! Air fryer chicken thighs are a quick, easy, and delicious weeknight meal that your whole family will love.

Air fryer chicken drumsticks can be made by patting them dry, rubbing them with olive oil and some seasoning, and then adding them to the air fryer basket

Yes, you can cook raw chicken in an air fryer. In fact, air fryers are perfect for making healthy chicken dishes because they require very little oil and cook the food by circulating hot air at high temperatures.

To make air fryer chicken drumsticks, start by patting the chicken dry with paper towels. This is an important step as it ensures that the oil and herbs will stick to the chicken. Next, rub the chicken with olive oil and your choice of seasoning. You can use a simple blend of salt and pepper or get creative with spices like smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.

Once your chicken is prepared, place it into the air fryer basket. Set the air fryer to 375-400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook the chicken for around 15-20 minutes, flipping the drumsticks over halfway through. The exact cooking time will depend on the size of your drumsticks and your air fryer model, so be sure to check the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer to ensure it is cooked to your desired level of doneness. Aim for an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit for food safety.

Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy your juicy and tender air fryer chicken drumsticks!

Frequently asked questions