Air fryer fried chicken keeps all of the crispy with less of the mess.
Lets set expectations here, first and foremost.
The crust isntquiteas crispy, and the chicken isnt quite as obviously juicy.
Nick Evans
But you know what?
Its pretty darn close!
I would say its even 90 percent, if not 95 percent there.
Nick Evans
I loved the recipe and was surprised by how close it got to my traditional deep-fried version.
Why Air Fry?
There are two reasons why you might want to make air fried chicken instead of classic fried chicken.
There are some recipes that I dont think adapt well to the air fryer, but fried chicken worksreallywell.
The chicken will come outcrispy and browned.
Its definitely worth a try!
Nick Evans
Whats the Best Chicken to Use?
For my money and taste buds, nothing beats buying a whole chicken and cutting it up yourself.
This way, you get some dark meat and some white meat.
Nick Evans
I also believe in using skin-on and bone-in chicken, which leads to more flavorful and juicier chicken.
How to Bread Chicken
Any traditional fried chicken recipe can probably also be air fried.
The one exception might be if you like a very thick breading on your fried chicken.
Nick Evans
Then, I dip it once in very well seasoned all-purpose flour.
No Air Fryer?
If you dont have an air fryer, have no fear.
Nick Evans
People were making fried chicken before air fryers were invented!
I prefer to pan-fry my fried chicken in a cast iron skillet if Im not using an air fryer.
Check the meats temperature to ensure doneness, but the pieces will be golden brown and wonderful!
You launch the risk of burning the exterior of the fried chicken.
If you have leftovers and need to reheat them, a 300F oven is your best friend.
Heat oil until it reaches 350F.
Add chicken pieces and fry for 8 minutes.
Flip, and fry for another 8 minutes until golden brown.
Chicken pieces should be covered with the buttermilk.
Let it sit for at least an hour or up to overnight.
Transfer breaded chicken pieces to a clean plate or wire rack to rest.
You will need to work in two batches if you are doing a full chicken.
Spray the basket of your air fryer with nonstick spray.
Place half of the pieces in the basket of your air fryer.
give a shot to ensure the pieces dont touch.
Air needs to circulate around them.
Spray the chicken pieces lightly with spray oil.
Place the basket in the air fryer and turn the air fryer to 350F.
A meat thermometer is vital.
The breading will never crisp up if it doesnt have a tiny bit of oil to hydrate it.
It will just burn.
When the fried chicken is ready, let it rest on a plate for a few minutes before serving.
Serve immediately with salad, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, or your favorite fried chicken sides!
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