Description
Make Southern-style fried chicken in your air fryer for a crispy exterior and juicy interior with less oil.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs chicken pieces (thighs or breasts)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- Cooking spray or 1 tablespoon oil for brushing
Instructions
- Place chicken pieces in a bowl and cover them completely with buttermilk. Let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or up to overnight.
- In a shallow dish, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.
- Remove chicken from the buttermilk, letting excess drip off, but do not rinse.
- Dredge each piece of chicken thoroughly in the flour mixture, pressing the coating onto the chicken to ensure it adheres well.
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (195°C).
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or brush the chicken pieces with a small amount of oil.
- Arrange the coated chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring there is space between pieces for air circulation. Do not overcrowd the basket; work in batches if necessary.
- Air fry for 18 to 22 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through the cooking time.
- Increase the temperature to 400°F (200°C) for the last 3 minutes to maximize crispiness.
- Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer; it should read 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part.
- Remove from the air fryer and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For extra crispy skin, double-dip the chicken: coat in flour, dip briefly back into the buttermilk, and then coat again in the flour mixture.
- If using chicken breasts, you may need to pound them to an even thickness for consistent cooking.
- Adjust cayenne pepper amount based on your preference for heat.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 11
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 32
- Cholesterol: 100