Instant Pot Air Fryer: The Best Crispy Chicken

There are many ways to cook chicken in an Instant Pot air fryer, including chicken tenders, fried chicken sandwiches, and whole chicken. The cooking time and temperature settings vary depending on the type of chicken and the desired level of crispiness. For example, chicken tenders are cooked at 385°F for 12 minutes, while fried chicken sandwiches are cooked at 400°F for 14 minutes. It's important to note that the air fryer works best when the food is not crowded, so it's recommended to cook in batches if making multiple pieces of chicken. Additionally, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp, which has separate lids for pressure cooking and air frying, can be used to make chicken with a crispy skin.

How to make chicken tenders without flour

Chicken tenders are a great, easy meal to make in an air fryer, and you don't need flour to make them tasty! Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make delicious chicken tenders without flour, using an air fryer.

Ingredients:

• Chicken tenders (or chicken breasts cut into strips)
• Olive oil (or vegetable/corn oil)
• Smoked paprika (or regular paprika)
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• Dried thyme, oregano, and basil (or Italian seasoning)
• Salt and pepper

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
• Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels and place them in a large mixing bowl.
• Drizzle olive oil over the chicken and toss to ensure they are completely coated.
• In a small bowl, mix together your chosen seasonings. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the chicken tenders.
• Place the chicken tenders in the air fryer basket in a single layer. It is important not to overcrowd the basket, so you may need to cook the tenders in batches.
• Air fry the chicken for 10-12 minutes, flipping them over halfway through the cooking time. The tenders are done when they are golden on the outside and have an internal temperature of 165°F.
• Serve with your choice of sides and sauces.

Tips:

• Always preheat your air fryer to ensure the chicken gets crispy without overcooking.
• For a keto-friendly option, serve with a low-carb dipping sauce.
• If you want to use chicken breasts instead of tenders, simply cut them into thin strips.

Enjoy your delicious, crispy, and flourless chicken tenders!

How to season chicken tenders

Seasoning chicken tenders is a simple process that can be done in a few different ways. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to season chicken tenders:

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken

Start by slicing your boneless, skinless chicken breasts into even-sized pieces or strips. You can also use chicken tenderloins. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.

Step 2: Seasoning Options

There are several seasoning options you can choose from to add flavour to your chicken tenders:

• Salt and pepper: Sprinkle the chicken tenders with salt and pepper before coating them.
• Creole or Cajun seasoning: Liberally season one side of the chicken with Creole or Cajun seasoning. You can also add onion powder and garlic powder to enhance the flavour.
• Spicy kick: For a spicy kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or hot sauce to your seasoning mix.
• Italian seasoning: Combine dried basil, smoky paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. You can also add minced garlic to the mix.
• Southwest twist: Omit the basil and add a teaspoon each of chili powder and cumin to the breading mixture for a Southwest twist.
• Indian twist: Substitute curry powder for the basil in your crumb mixture for an Indian twist.

Step 3: Dredge the Chicken

Once you've chosen your seasonings, it's time to dredge the chicken:

• Combine your chosen seasonings with flour, cornstarch, baking soda, Italian bread crumbs, or bread crumbs in a shallow bowl. You can also add Parmesan cheese to the mix.
• In a separate bowl, prepare an egg mixture by whisking together eggs, water or milk, and any additional seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, or mustard.
• Dip each chicken tender into the egg mixture, shake off the excess, and then coat it in the seasoned bread crumb mixture. Make sure to press the crumbs onto the chicken gently to ensure an even coating.

Step 4: Cook the Chicken

Finally, cook your seasoned chicken tenders in an air fryer, oven, or by frying. For air frying, follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. For oven-baked chicken tenders, bake them at 400°F for 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. If frying, heat oil to 350°F and fry the chicken tenders for 3-4 minutes on each side until fully cooked.

How to make chicken in an Instant Pot Duo Crisp

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken (trussed)
• 2 tablespoons of oil (avocado oil is recommended)
• 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
• 2 tablespoons of Montreal steak seasoning (or salt and pepper to taste)
• 1 and a half cups of chicken broth

Method

• Mix up your seasonings in a small bowl and rub a small amount onto the chicken.
• Pour the chicken broth into the Instant Pot.
• Place the chicken in the air fryer basket and put the basket inside the Instant Pot.
• Pressure cook on high for 25 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of natural release.
• Drain the liquid from the Instant Pot if needed.
• Spray or rub the chicken with oil and rub with half of the seasoning.
• Place the air fryer lid on the Duo Crisp and air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.
• Flip the chicken, spray with oil, and rub with the remaining seasoning.
• Place the air fryer lid back on and air fry for another 10 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes (it will normally reach the needed internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit during this time).
• Remove the chicken from the pot, carve, and serve.

Tips

• You can use the trivet and the dehydrator rack to create a multi-level air fryer basket and fit more chicken in the pot.
• If you want to cook more chicken than can fit in the basket, you can cook in batches without cleaning in between.
• If you don't have an Instant Pot Duo Crisp, you can pressure cook for 30 minutes, followed by natural release, and then broil in the oven to crisp the skin.

How to make chicken in an Instant Pot Vortex

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of oil of your choice (I recommend avocado oil)
• 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
• 2 tablespoons of Montreal Steak Seasoning (or salt and pepper to taste)
• 1 whole chicken (around 5 pounds)
• 1 and a half cups of chicken broth

Instructions:

• Wash and truss the chicken. Trussing will help the chicken hold together and fit more compactly in the air fryer basket.
• Mix your chosen seasonings in a small bowl and rub a small amount on the chicken. Save the rest of the seasoning mix for later.
• Pour the chicken broth into the Instant Pot Vortex.
• Place the trussed chicken into the air fryer basket and put the basket into the Instant Pot.
• Pressure cook on high for 25 minutes, followed by a 15-minute natural release.
• Drain the liquid from the Instant Pot if needed.
• Spray or rub the chicken with oil and apply half of the remaining seasoning mix.
• Air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.
• Take the chicken out, flip it over, and repeat the air frying step for the other side. You may need to use oven mitts or a foil sling to handle the hot chicken.
• Check the internal temperature of the chicken. It is done when it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Let the chicken rest in the pot for about 10 minutes to seal in the juices.
• Remove the chicken from the pot, carve it, and serve!

Note: If you don't have an Instant Pot Vortex, you can still make this recipe by pressure cooking for 30 minutes and then broiling in the oven to crisp the skin. Alternatively, you can saute the chicken first and then pressure cook for 35 minutes, followed by a natural release.

How to make chicken in an Instant Pot Omni

Ingredients

• Chicken
• 2 tablespoons or a spray of oil (co: 5>avocado oil is recommended)
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 2 tablespoons of Montreal steak seasoning (or salt and pepper to taste)
• 1 and a half cups of chicken broth

Method

• Wash and truss the chicken.
• Mix the seasonings and rub a small amount on the chicken.
• Pour the broth into the Instant Pot Omni.
• Place the chicken in the air fryer basket and put it in the Instant Pot.
• Pressure cook on manual high pressure for 25 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of natural release.
• Drain the liquid from the Instant Pot if needed (if it is touching the chicken).
• Spray or rub the chicken with oil and rub it with half of the seasoning.
• Place the air fryer lid on the Instant Pot Omni and air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.
• Flip the chicken, spray it with oil, and rub with the remaining seasoning.
• Place the air fryer lid back on the Instant Pot Omni and air fry for another ten minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes (it will normally reach the needed 165 degrees during this time), then carve and serve.

Frequently asked questions