Servings
Font
Back
4.8 from 195 votes

The Best Air Fryer Fried Chicken

Learn how to make the BEST buttermilk fried chicken in the air fryer in under 45 minutes. Super crispy on the outside and tender and juicy, this air fried chicken is loaded with spices and tastes 1000x better than frying in oil and is so much healthier too!

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 592 kcal
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

For the marinade:
  • 2 lb. bone-in skin-on chicken pieces mix of cuts
  • 1 cup buttermilk *
  • ¼ cup hot sauce
  • 1 teaspoon EACH paprika garlic powder, black pepper, salt
For the breading:
  • 1 cup flour
  • ½ cup corn starch or replace with more flour
  • 1 teaspoon EACH paprika garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper
  • Oil for spraying chicken Canola, Peanut, Vegetable, or olive oil

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Combine buttermilk, hot sauce, and spices for the marinade in a large bowl. Add chicken and mix to combine. Cover and marinate up to 24 hours or use right away.
  2. Pre-heat air-fryer to 375F.
  3. In a medium shallow bowl, whisk the flour, cornstarch, and spices for breading. Drizzle 2-3 tablespoons of the buttermilk batter into the flour mixture and mix it through with a fork.
  4. Working with 1 piece at a time, dredge chicken the flour mixture and press flour on the top chicken to form a thick crust. Transfer chicken to a Pre-heated air fryer in a single layer without overlapping. You may need to work in batches if needed.
  5. Generously spray chicken with oil or brush it down with oil. You will need to apply a generous layer enough to coat ALL the breading or the flour will not cook and create a crispy crust. If at any point during the cooking you still see raw flour, go ahead and brush it with a little more oil. The more oil you apple the crunchier the crust will be.
  6. Set the Air-fryer to 30 minutes and start. After 15 minutes, flip the chicken and lightly spray the other side with oil. Continue cooking for 10 minutes or until the chicken is golden and the internal temperature reaches 165°. Repeat with the remaining chicken as needed.

Notes

  • Diy Buttermilk: To make your own buttermilk, combine 1 cup milk and 1 tablespoon white vinager or lemon juice. Stir and rest for 5 mintues or until it begins to curdle. Use in recipe as directed. 

Nutrition Information

Serving 11/4th the recipe Calories 592kcal (30%) Carbohydrates 20g (7%) Protein 45g (90%) Fat 35g (54%) Saturated Fat 10g (50%) Cholesterol 173mg (58%) Sodium 588mg (25%) Potassium 530mg (15%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 2g (4%) Vitamin A 884IU (18%) Vitamin C 15mg (17%) Calcium 59mg (6%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 592

% Daily Value*

Serving 11/4th the recipe
Calories 592kcal 30%
Carbohydrates 20g 7%
Protein 45g 90%
Fat 35g 54%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Cholesterol 173mg 58%
Sodium 588mg 25%
Potassium 530mg 11%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 2g 4%
Vitamin A 884IU 18%
Vitamin C 15mg 17%
Calcium 59mg 6%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.