Emilie Meyer
Air fryers have become a popular kitchen appliance for those who want to enjoy fried food without the guilt. They work by circulating hot air around food placed in a basket, giving it a crispy texture with little to no oil required. One popular dish to cook in an air fryer is chicken and rice, a tasty, family-friendly meal that can be made in under 20 minutes. This dish is perfect for a quick lunch or mid-week meal and is a healthier alternative to takeaways.
Air Fryer Chicken and Rice Recipe
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Chicken, Rice, Soy Sauce, Oil, Vegetables, Eggs |
| Type of Rice | Basmati, Brown, Jasmine, Long-Grain White Rice |
| Type of Oil | Sesame, Vegetable, Canola |
| Other Seasonings | Ginger, Garlic Powder, Mirin, Oyster Sauce, Five Spice |
| Vegetables | Peas, Carrots, Broccoli, Sweetcorn, Bell Peppers, Beansprouts |
| Cooking Time | 12-20 minutes |
| Cooking Temperature | 180-360°C |
| Preparation | Mix ingredients, add to non-stick pan, cook in air fryer |
| Benefits | Quick, Easy, Healthy, Economical |
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What You'll Learn
Ingredients and alternatives
The main ingredients you will need to cook chicken and rice in an air fryer are: rice, chicken, oil, and soy sauce. You can use any type of rice, but cooked, cold rice is recommended for the best results. Jasmine, basmati, or long-grain white rice are all good options. If you're short on time, you can use packaged ready-to-serve rice. For the chicken, you can use leftover shredded or cubed chicken, or quickly cook a chicken breast. You can also substitute the chicken with turkey or pork, or omit it altogether for a vegetarian or vegan option.
For the oil, a high-heat oil like canola or vegetable oil works well. You can also use sesame oil for added flavour. The soy sauce can be substituted with gluten-free soy sauce or tamari if you prefer. You can also add extra ingredients like frozen vegetables, scrambled eggs, or spices such as ground ginger and garlic powder.
To prepare the dish, mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl. Then, transfer the mixture to a non-stick pan that fits inside your air fryer basket. If using an aluminium pan, spray it with non-stick cooking spray first. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F/180°C and cook the dish for around 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
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Rice preparation
To prepare the rice for air fryer chicken and rice, it is recommended to use cooked, cold rice. This is because cold rice has less moisture, which helps to create those perfect, separated grains. You can use any type of rice you like, such as jasmine, basmati, or long-grain white rice. If you're in a pinch, you can cook the rice about an hour or two before you need it and let it chill in the fridge. Alternatively, you can use packaged ready-to-serve rice or leftover rice.
Once you have your cooked rice, place it into a mixing bowl and add vegetable oil and soy sauce. Mix these ingredients thoroughly. You can also add some garlic powder and ground ginger to the mixture for extra flavor. If you want to make the dish gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce.
Next, you'll add the frozen vegetables and meat to the rice mixture. Frozen peas and carrots are a common choice, but you can also use other mixed frozen vegetables, such as broccoli, string beans, or diced bell peppers. For the meat, you can use cooked chicken, turkey, or pork. Leftover rotisserie or roasted chicken works great, or you can quickly oven-cook a chicken breast. If you want to make the dish vegetarian, simply omit the meat, and for a vegan option, you can skip the eggs or use just egg.
After you've added the vegetables and meat to the rice mixture, mix everything thoroughly. Now you're ready to transfer the mixture to a non-stick pan that fits inside your air fryer basket. If you're using an aluminum pan, be sure to spray it with non-stick cooking spray first.
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Chicken preparation
Firstly, select the chicken of your choice. You can use leftover chicken or opt for fresh chicken thighs or breasts. If using leftover chicken, ensure it is shredded or cubed into small, equal-sized pieces. For fresh chicken, cut it into small chunks to ensure even cooking.
Next, prepare a marinade for the chicken. In a mixing bowl, add soy sauce, mirin, oyster sauce, five spice, and sesame oil. You can also add other seasonings like ground ginger, garlic powder, or chilli flakes to suit your taste preferences. Place the chicken pieces into the marinade and ensure they are well coated. Set the bowl aside and let the chicken marinate for about 10 minutes to absorb the flavours.
While the chicken is marinating, you can prepare the other ingredients. Cook the rice beforehand and let it chill in the fridge. Cold, cooked rice is ideal for this dish, as it helps achieve the perfect texture. Basmati, jasmine, or long-grain white rice are all excellent choices.
Once the chicken has marinated and you have prepared the rice, it's time to assemble the dish. In a separate bowl, add the cooked rice, diced onions, garlic, and your choice of vegetables. Frozen or leftover vegetables work well, with peas, carrots, sweetcorn, and bell peppers being popular choices. Mix the ingredients well.
Finally, add the marinated chicken to the rice and vegetable mixture. Combine all the ingredients thoroughly before transferring them to a non-stick pan that fits inside your air fryer basket. Ensure the pan is greased or sprayed with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
Now your chicken and rice are prepared and ready to be cooked in your air fryer!
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Cooking instructions
Firstly, prepare your ingredients. You will need cooked rice, ideally cooked and chilled beforehand to achieve the perfect separated grains. Basmati, brown, jasmine, or long-grain white rice are all good options. You will also need chicken, either cooked leftover chicken or raw chicken, cut into small chunks. Other ingredients include frozen vegetables (peas, sweetcorn, carrots, and bell peppers are popular choices), soy sauce, oil (vegetable, sesame, or canola oil), and seasonings such as garlic, ginger, and chili sauce or flakes.
Next, prepare your air fryer by preheating it to 350°F/180°C.
Now, it's time to assemble your dish. In a large bowl, mix all your ingredients together, ensuring everything is well coated. If using raw chicken, you may want to marinate it separately for 10 minutes in a mixture of soy sauce, mirin, oyster sauce, five spice, and sesame oil before adding it to the other ingredients.
Transfer the mixture to a non-stick pan that fits inside your air fryer basket. If using an aluminum pan, spray it with non-stick cooking spray first.
Place the pan into the air fryer and set the timer. Most recipes recommend cooking the chicken and rice for around 20 minutes, stirring the mixture a couple of times during cooking to ensure even cooking and to prevent burning. However, one source suggests a shorter cooking time of 12-15 minutes to achieve a toasted top layer without burning.
Once the timer goes off, remove the pan from the air fryer, and your dish is ready to be served!
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Serving suggestions
This air-fried chicken and rice is a versatile dish that can be served as a scrumptious side or a satisfying main meal. It can be a great option for a quick lunch, mid-week meal, or a tasty family dinner.
For a heartier meal, serve the chicken and rice with your favourite meat, or simply enjoy it on its own. You can also top it with a fried egg, chilli slices, and coriander to bulk it up. If you're serving it as a side, it can go well with dishes like beef fried rice, air fryer pasta bake, or air fryer Italian turkey meatballs.
This dish is also versatile in terms of ingredients. You can use different types of rice, proteins, and vegetables to suit your preferences or dietary needs. For example, you can use turkey or pork instead of chicken, or omit the meat altogether for a vegetarian or vegan option. Similarly, you can use frozen or leftover vegetables of your choice, such as peas, carrots, broccoli, or bell peppers.
Lastly, feel free to adjust the spiciness and seasoning to your taste. You can add chilli sauce, chilli flakes, or diced red chillies for some heat, and use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari if needed.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need cooked rice (ideally cooked and chilled beforehand), chicken (either cooked or raw), frozen vegetables, and soy sauce. You can also add eggs, onions, and spices like ginger and garlic powder.
First, mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl. Then, transfer the mixture to a non-stick pan that fits inside your air fryer basket. Set the air fryer to 350-360F/180C and cook for around 20 minutes, stirring the rice occasionally during cooking.
This depends on the size of your air fryer and your desired proportions. As a reference, one recipe suggests using 4 cups of rice and 1.5-2 cups of chicken for a 5.6 qt air fryer.
