Air-Fryer Kfc Chicken: The Crispy, Juicy Secret

If you're craving KFC but don't want to deep fry chicken, you can use an air fryer to make a lighter, healthier version of the same dish. The process is straightforward: marinate the chicken in buttermilk and spices, coat it with flour, and then air fry it. The result is a crispy, juicy, tender, and delicious KFC-style fried chicken.

Marinate the chicken in buttermilk

Marinating the chicken in buttermilk is an important step in making KFC-style fried chicken in an air fryer. Buttermilk is traditionally made from lemon and cow's milk, and it is used as a marinade to tenderise the chicken. The acidity of the buttermilk breaks down the fibres of the meat, making it more tender. It also ensures that the flesh stays juicy.

You can marinate chicken in buttermilk for up to 3-4 days. The longer it sits, the more tender it becomes, and the more intensely it takes on the flavour of the buttermilk and any added spices. However, even marinating for 10 minutes can help the batter adhere better to the chicken.

When you're ready to cook the chicken, simply shake off any excess buttermilk before coating the chicken in flour. You still want some of the buttermilk on the chicken, as it will help the flour coating stick and make the chicken extra crispy.

Coat the chicken with flour and spices

To coat the chicken with flour and spices, you will need to first mix the flour and spices in a large bowl. You can use a variety of spices, including salt, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, white pepper, mustard powder, dried thyme, dried basil, and dried oregano. You can also add some buttermilk to the flour mixture to create some craggily bits on the chicken.

Next, remove the chicken from the buttermilk marinade, shaking off any excess liquid. Then, using your hands, coat the chicken drumsticks with the flour mixture, applying pressure to ensure the flour adheres fully. Make sure to coat the chicken on all sides and tap off any excess flour. You can also double-coat the chicken by dipping it back into the buttermilk and then into the flour mixture again.

Place the coated chicken on a lined tray or sheet and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour before cooking, or even leave it overnight in the fridge. This will help the flour coating stick to the chicken and ensure a crispier texture.

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures that your chicken cooks evenly and helps to create a crispy exterior. Depending on your air fryer model, preheat the air fryer to between 180°C and 390°F.

Preheating your air fryer is a simple process. First, turn on your air fryer and set the desired temperature. Most recipes recommend preheating to between 180°C and 390°F. You can also refer to your air fryer's instruction manual for specific preheating instructions.

Once you've set the temperature, wait for the air fryer to come up to temperature. Many air fryers will have a preheat setting or an indicator light that lets you know when it's ready. If your air fryer doesn't have this feature, you can use an external kitchen thermometer to check the temperature. Place the thermometer probe inside the air fryer basket and wait until the desired temperature is reached.

It's important to note that preheating times can vary depending on the model and size of your air fryer. Newer models tend to heat up faster, while larger air fryers may take a bit longer. As a general rule, allow 2-3 minutes for your air fryer to preheat before adding your food.

While your air fryer is preheating, you can prepare your chicken by coating it in the flour mixture and placing it on a lined tray or in a bowl. This ensures that the chicken is ready to go as soon as your air fryer reaches the desired temperature.

Once your air fryer is preheated, you can proceed to the next step of cooking your chicken. Place the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer and not overcrowded. Spray the chicken with oil, and then follow the cooking instructions for your specific recipe.

Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket

When making KFC-style chicken in an air fryer, it's important to remember not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cooking in batches is generally recommended to ensure your chicken gets golden and crispy. Overcrowding the basket will result in steaming rather than crisping, so it's best to cook smaller batches consecutively. This will allow for better airflow in each batch, ensuring your chicken gets cooked evenly.

If you're in a hurry, you may be tempted to try to fit as much chicken as possible into the basket. However, this will likely lead to disappointing results as not all sides of the chicken will receive the same amount of heat. The hot air circulation will not be enough to cook all the chicken evenly, and you may end up with some pieces that are undercooked or overcooked.

Additionally, overcrowding the basket can also affect the mechanical system of your air fryer and may even cause technical problems. So, it's best to avoid this mistake and cook your chicken in batches. This way, you'll get perfectly crispy and juicy KFC-style chicken every time!

It's also important to note that the cooking time for the chicken will vary depending on how full your air fryer basket is. A full basket will take longer to cook than a basket with a single layer of chicken. So, if you're short on time, cooking in batches will also help you get your KFC-style chicken fix faster!

Cook the chicken without flipping

How to cook the chicken without flipping

Now, this is where things get a little interesting. You see, the beauty of using an air fryer is that it does away with the need for flipping your chicken. That's right – you can achieve perfectly cooked, crispy, juicy chicken without ever having to turn it over!

So, here's what you need to do. First, preheat your air fryer to a nice 370ºF or 390ºF. While that's heating up, take your chicken legs (bone-in) and coat them generously with oil. Make sure to get all sides, as this will help ensure an even cook.

Next, place your oiled-up chicken legs into the air fryer basket, being careful not to overcrowd them. You want the hot air to be able to circulate properly, so give them a little breathing room. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to cook in batches.

Now, here's the magic part: simply let the chicken cook for 22 to 24 minutes, with no flipping required! That's it! The air fryer will do all the work for you, cooking the chicken evenly on all sides.

Of course, you'll want to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't burn. And if you notice any dry or floury spots, just give them a little extra spray of oil to keep things crispy.

Once the time's up, your chicken will be golden brown, crispy, and delicious – no flipping necessary! So go ahead and give it a try. Impress your friends and family with your perfect, flip-free air fryer KFC chicken.

Frequently asked questions