Ella Walter
If you're craving fried chicken without the mess, an air fryer is your best friend. Air-fried chicken is juicy and tender on the inside, with a golden, crispy crust on the outside. It's easy to make, too: simply coat your chicken in a flour and cornstarch mixture, spray with oil, and place in the air fryer for 20 minutes at 300°F. Flip the chicken, spray again, and cook for another 15-20 minutes at 400°F. The result? Crunchy, juicy, deliciousness—with minimal clean-up!
Characteristics and Values Table for Battered Chicken in an Air Fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chicken type | Chicken breast, chicken tenders, chicken thighs, chicken drumsticks, chicken wings, chicken strips, or a whole chicken |
| Chicken preparation | Skin-on or skinless, bone-in or boneless |
| Battering | Soak chicken in buttermilk, then dip in seasoned flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder |
| Oil | Cooking spray, olive oil spray, or oil mister |
| Air fryer temperature | 300°F-400°F |
| Cooking time | 15-28 minutes, depending on the type and size of chicken |
| Internal temperature | 160°F-175°F, depending on the type and preference |
| Serving size | 2-4 pieces, enough for two people |
| Storage | Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days or freeze for up to 6 months |
| Reheating | Reheat in the air fryer or oven, avoid microwaving |
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What You'll Learn
How to get the chicken crispy
To get the chicken crispy, you can follow these steps:
- Prepare the chicken by soaking it in buttermilk to give it that classic fried chicken tenderness. You can also add spices to the buttermilk to enhance the flavour.
- Remove the chicken from the buttermilk and shake off any excess liquid.
- Dredge the chicken in a flour mixture. For a thicker layer of breading, you can dunk the chicken in the buttermilk again and then dredge it in the flour mixture once more.
- Spray the chicken with cooking oil or cooking spray. This will help the flour absorb into the egg layer and prevent floury spots on the chicken.
- Place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring the pieces do not overlap to allow for proper airflow.
- Spray the air fryer basket and the top of the chicken with cooking oil to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Cook the chicken at the desired temperature and time, flipping it halfway through. For crispy chicken, a lower temperature can be used initially, and then the temperature can be increased to finish cooking and create a crispy, golden outer layer.
- Check the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer to ensure it has reached the recommended temperature of 165°F.
- Once cooked, let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the carry-over cooking to reach the desired internal temperature.
- If you have leftover chicken, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days or freeze it for up to 6 months. To reheat, avoid using the microwave as it can make the chicken soggy. Instead, use the air fryer to retain the crispiness.
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Oil types and how much to use
While air fryers do not always require the use of oil, adding a small amount of oil can keep your food moist and provide a golden-brown colour. The amount of oil used is typically much less than what would be used to deep fry foods. Most manufacturers recommend adding 5 ml to 30 ml of oil when cooking with an air fryer.
When cooking fresh meats and vegetables, toss your food in a few teaspoons of oil in a bowl before putting it in the air fryer. This will help ensure that the oil is evenly distributed. For recipes that call for butter, use a pastry brush to evenly coat your food with butter before cooking.
There are many different types of oils that can be used in an air fryer. Some oils are neutral, meaning they will not change the taste of food. Examples include deodorized avocado oil, organic virgin sesame oil, and grapeseed oil. Other oils have a stronger taste and can enhance the flavour of milder foods. Delicate extra virgin olive oil and organic cooking sunflower oil are examples of fragrant oils.
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Chicken cuts and cooking times
Chicken breasts can be cooked in an air fryer for 15 to 25 minutes, depending on their thickness. It is recommended to cook them until they reach an internal temperature of 165 °F. For a spicy kick, add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper to your seasoning blend. Alternatively, you can try a marinade. Marinating the chicken in a Chicken Thigh Marinade, for instance, will add a different flavour profile to your dish.
Chicken tenders can be cooked in an air fryer in 15 to 16 minutes, depending on their thickness.
Chicken thighs can be cooked in an air fryer for 25 to 28 minutes, until they reach an internal temperature of 180-185 °F.
Chicken wings can be cooked in an air fryer. However, no specific cooking times were found.
A whole chicken can be cooked in an air fryer in 40 minutes, which is significantly less time than it would take in a regular oven. It is recommended to cook it until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 °F.
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Chicken coating recipes
When cooking battered chicken in an air fryer, it's important to note that the chicken will not be exactly the same as cast-iron or deep-fried chicken. The crust will not be as crispy, and the chicken will not be as juicy. However, it will still be tasty and crispy, with the added benefit of less mess.
To cook battered chicken in an air fryer, start by preheating your air fryer to 300°F. Next, prepare your chicken. You can brine the chicken in milk and spices to make it more tender and flavourful. Alternatively, you can soak the chicken in buttermilk and then dip it in seasoned flour mixed with cornstarch and baking powder. This will give the chicken a nice layer of breading.
Once your chicken is prepared, spray cooking oil into the air fryer basket until it is completely covered. Place the chicken in the basket in a single layer, ensuring no pieces overlap. Spray the top of the chicken with cooking oil until it is thoroughly coated.
Cook the chicken for 20 minutes at 300°F. Then, carefully flip the chicken pieces and spray the other side with cooking oil. Increase the temperature to 400°F and cook for another 15 to 20 minutes, or until the chicken skin is crispy and golden, and the internal temperature is 160°F. The chicken will continue to cook after it is removed from the air fryer, so it will reach the recommended internal temperature of 165°F.
You can also experiment with different coatings and seasonings for your chicken. Some popular options include cornflake crumbs, Parmesan-ranch coating, and Belgian waffle coating. You can also try different spices and herbs to flavour your flour coating, such as paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.
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How to reheat without making the chicken soggy
To reheat battered chicken in an air fryer without making it soggy, you should avoid using a microwave, as this can cause the breading to become soggy. The microwave's heating method relies on moisture, and the steam gets trapped in the container, which will lead to soggy breading.
Instead, use an air fryer or an oven to reheat your chicken. The air fryer uses hot air circulation, which helps to evaporate excess moisture and preserve the chicken's crispiness.
- Allow the chicken to come to room temperature before reheating.
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F to 375°F.
- Lightly coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Arrange the chicken pieces in a single layer in the basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded.
- Reheat the chicken for 5 to 8 minutes, flipping or shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking.
- Check the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer; it should reach 165°F to ensure food safety.
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Frequently asked questions
First, preheat your air fryer to 300°F. Then, mix 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup cornstarch, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder in a large bowl. Remove a piece of chicken from the brine, shake off the excess, and dredge it in the flour mixture. Repeat this process for all the chicken pieces. Next, spray cooking oil into the air fryer basket until it is completely covered. Place the chicken in the basket in a single layer, ensuring no pieces overlap. Spray the top of the chicken with cooking oil until it is thoroughly covered. Cook for 20 minutes at 300°F. Carefully flip the chicken pieces, spray with oil again, and cook for another 15 to 20 minutes at 400°F, or until the internal temperature is 160°F.
To get crispy chicken in an air fryer, it is important to ensure that the chicken is not overcrowded in the basket and that the pieces are not overlapping. You can also try spraying the chicken with cooking spray or oil to help achieve crispiness. Additionally, some recipes suggest using a mixture of flour, cornstarch, and baking powder to coat the chicken before cooking.
The cooking time for battered chicken in an air fryer will depend on the type and thickness of the chicken pieces. Chicken breasts and chicken tenders typically take around 15 to 25 minutes, while chicken thighs can take 25 to 28 minutes. It is important to ensure that the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F to ensure it is cooked through.
