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–+ servings
A close up view of 3 pieces of fried chicken being cooked in an air fryer basket.
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5 from 10 votes

Crispy Air Fryer Fried Chicken

Use your air fryer to make juicy, flavor-infused fried chicken without the fuss of deep frying. Our buttermilk brine and special breading blend deliver the perfect crispy crunch every time.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Brining Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 35 minutes
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Servings: 8 pieces
Author: Caytlin McCleery

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken drumsticks bone-in, skin on
  • 4 chicken thighs bone-in, skin on
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup buffalo hot sauce
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • Cooking oil spray

Dredging Mixture

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Trim 4 chicken drumsticks and 4 chicken thighs by removing any excess fat, skin, or gristle.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 2 cups buttermilk, 1/4 cup buffalo hot sauce (for added flavor), 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper Add in chicken pieces. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours.
  • In a gallon-sized resealable plastic bag or shallow dish, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup cornstarch, 2 teaspoons salt, 2 teaspoons paprika, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon white pepper, and 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Mix thoroughly.
  • Remove each chicken piece from the buttermilk marinade one at a time. Let excess marinade drip off. Place the chicken into the flour mixture and coat thoroughly. Shake off any extra flour. Transfer to a wire rack and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the coating to adhere.
  • Spritz the inside of the air fryer basket with Cooking oil spray. Place 4 to 5 breaded chicken pieces in the basket in a single layer. Lightly spritz the tops of the chicken to coat all visible flour.
  • Set the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) using the Air Fry function. Cook for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken using tongs and cook for another 10 to 12 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) for white meat or 175 degrees Fahrenheit (79 degrees Celsius) for dark meat.
  • Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let rest on a clean wire rack for 5 to 10 minutes. Repeat the cooking process with the remaining chicken.

Video

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Notes

Can you skip the 4-hour brining time? Yes, you could go straight to breading and frying, but the natural acidity and enzymes in buttermilk tenderize the chicken, making it incredibly juicy and tender. You can brine your chicken for up to 48 hours before cooking.
When spritzing with oil,  you want to lightly and evenly coat the surface of the breaded chicken, not soak it. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1piece | Calories: 320kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 1833mg | Potassium: 351mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 517IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 94mg | Iron: 2mg
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