Tiffany Haney
Air fryers are a convenient way to make a quick, easy, and tasty chicken and potatoes meal. With a few simple ingredients and less than 30 minutes, you can have a protein-packed, juicy, and crispy dish that's perfect for a weeknight dinner. The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity, and the fact that it can be made in one pan without needing to turn on the oven. The key to success is in the preparation and seasoning of the chicken and potatoes, and the ability to adjust cooking times as needed.
How to cook chicken and potatoes in an air fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Chicken breasts/thighs, potatoes, olive oil, salt, black pepper, garlic, smoked paprika, red chili flakes, thyme, parsley, cumin, turmeric, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, red pepper flakes |
| Cookware | Air fryer, tongs, meat thermometer, mixing bowls, parchment paper, measuring spoons |
| Preparation | Wash and cut potatoes and chicken to a similar size, toss potatoes in a bowl with oil and seasoning, coat chicken with oil and seasoning, preheat air fryer |
| Cooking time | 10 minutes for potatoes, 10-15 minutes for chicken, 3 minutes resting time for chicken |
| Cooking temperature | 375°F (190°C) or 380°F or 385°F (190°C) or 400°F (200°C) |
| Serving suggestions | Side salad, mixed vegetables, pesto sauce, romesco sauce |
| Leftovers | Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, reheat in the air fryer or microwave |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Chicken and potatoes cooking times
The cooking time for chicken and potatoes in an air fryer varies depending on the type of chicken and potatoes used, the size of the pieces, and the desired level of doneness. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you get perfectly cooked chicken and potatoes in your air fryer:
Preparing the Ingredients:
First, preheat your air fryer. The ideal temperature seems to be around 365-385°F (185-190°C) for 3-5 minutes. Fresh chicken breasts of roughly similar size are ideal for even cooking. For potatoes, russet, Yukon gold, red potatoes, Maris piper, or even baby potatoes can be used. Cut the potatoes into bite-sized pieces or 1-inch-thick chunks to ensure even cooking.
Seasoning:
Coat the chicken with a spice rub or a mixture of olive oil and seasonings like garlic, smoked paprika, red chili flakes, salt, black pepper, cumin, turmeric, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, or parsley. For the potatoes, toss them with olive oil, garlic, and seasonings of your choice. You can also use parchment paper liners to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
Cooking the Potatoes:
Place the seasoned potatoes in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through to ensure even cooking. The potatoes should be cooked until they are golden and fluffy on the inside. Depending on your air fryer and desired doneness, you may need to cook them for an additional 5-10 minutes.
Cooking the Chicken:
After the potatoes have cooked for about 10 minutes, add the seasoned chicken to the air fryer. Place the chicken skin-side down and cook for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. For chicken thighs, cook for an additional 5-10 minutes after flipping. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F (74-75°C) to ensure it is safely cooked through. If using a meat thermometer, insert it into the thickest part of the chicken to check the temperature.
Resting and Serving:
Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for at least 3-5 minutes before slicing or serving. This allows the juices to redistribute and ensures a juicy, moist texture. Serve the chicken and potatoes with your choice of sides and enjoy!
Storing and Reheating:
Leftover chicken and potatoes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For longer storage, they can be frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat the leftovers in the air fryer or microwave until warmed through.
Air-Fried Vegan Donuts: Quick, Easy, and Delicious!
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$11.97 $22.99
$19.79 $29.99
Seasoning and spices
For the potatoes, you can season them with a variety of spices and herbs. One option is to use smoked paprika, red chilli flakes, salt, black pepper, and olive oil. You can also add garlic to the potatoes for an extra kick of flavour. Mix these spices and herbs with some oil, and toss the potatoes in this mixture before placing them in the air fryer. This will ensure that the potatoes are nicely coated and will result in a more intense flavour.
For the chicken, you can use a similar spice blend as the potatoes, including smoked paprika, garlic, red chilli flakes, salt, black pepper, and olive oil. Thyme is also a great herb to add to the chicken for extra flavour. Combine these ingredients in a bowl and toss the chicken in this mixture until it is well coated. You can also add other spices and herbs to the chicken, such as Italian seasoning, fajita seasoning, taco seasoning, or chilli powder, to create different flavour profiles.
Additionally, you can experiment with different types of paprika, such as sweet paprika or regular paprika, depending on your preference for spiciness. If you want an earthier, more robust flavour, you can add cumin to the mix. For a sweet and spicy kick, swap out the chilli powder for paprika and add a touch of sugar.
Feel free to adjust the amounts of spices and herbs to suit your taste preferences. You can also dice the potatoes and chicken into similar-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and allow for optimal flavour distribution.
Air Fryer Smoking: What's the Deal?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Preparing the air fryer
It is recommended to line the air fryer basket with parchment paper, foil, or a parchment liner. These liners are cheap and prevent food from sticking to the basket. They also make cleaning up much easier.
Once your air fryer is preheated, you can place the potatoes in the basket and begin cooking. It is important to ensure your potatoes are cut into evenly sized pieces, around an inch thick, so they cook at the same rate. You can drizzle them with oil and seasoning before placing them in the basket, or add the seasoning halfway through cooking.
Air Fryer Sausage Patties: Quick, Easy, Crispy Breakfast
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Internal temperature of chicken
When cooking chicken in an air fryer, it is important to ensure that it reaches the correct internal temperature to avoid undercooking or overcooking. The internal temperature of cooked chicken should be 165°F (74°C to 75°C).
To check the internal temperature, use an instant-read thermometer and insert it into the centre or the deepest part of the chicken. If the temperature reads 165°F, the chicken is cooked and can be removed from the air fryer. If it has not reached this temperature, continue cooking and check again at regular intervals to avoid overcooking.
It is recommended to let the chicken rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. During this resting period, the chicken will continue to cook slightly, so it is important to remove it from the air fryer just before it reaches the desired temperature. For example, some people suggest removing the chicken from the heat at around 155°F to 160°F, as the internal temperature will increase slightly during the resting period.
Additionally, the cooking time and temperature settings may vary depending on the type of air fryer and the size of the chicken breasts. Therefore, it is important to adjust the cooking time as needed and to check the doneness of the chicken by cutting a small piece to ensure it is cooked thoroughly.
Fry Chicken Tenders: How Long is Too Long?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Serving suggestions
This air fryer chicken and potatoes recipe is a complete meal in itself. However, you can serve it with a side of mixed vegetables for a more balanced meal. You can also try some air fryer baby carrots, pesto roasted vegetables, or lettuce. For a light cold side, a cucumber apple salad or a cucumber beet salad are fresh and nutritious options.
If you want to add more flavour to the dish, you can drizzle the chicken and potatoes with a sauce like romesco or pesto. You can also serve it with a side salad.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. You can reheat portions in the air fryer at 350°F or in the microwave until warmed through. You can also easily freeze the cooked chicken and potatoes.
Air-Fryer Naan Bread: Is It Possible?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
It takes less than 30 minutes to cook chicken and potatoes in an air fryer.
Seasoning is a matter of personal preference, but a simple seasoning blend for chicken and potatoes in the air fryer could include smoked paprika, red chili flakes, salt, black pepper, and olive oil.
The air fryer should be preheated to between 365°F and 385°F (185°C to 200°C).
