Description
Make Southern-style fried chicken in your air fryer. This recipe uses a buttermilk soak for tender meat and a seasoned coating for maximum crispiness with less oil.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces (thighs, drumsticks)
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Cooking spray (oil-based)
Instructions
- Place the chicken pieces in a large bowl. Pour the buttermilk over the chicken, add the hot sauce, and mix to coat completely. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight.
- In a shallow dish, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. This is your dry coating.
- Remove the 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 make it adhere well.
- Lightly spray the bottom of your air fryer basket with cooking spray. Arrange the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the basket, ensuring there is space between pieces for air circulation. Do not overcrowd the basket; work in batches if necessary.
- Spray the tops of the chicken pieces generously with cooking spray.
- Air fry at 380°F (195°C) for 18 minutes.
- Flip the chicken pieces. Spray the second side again with cooking spray.
- Continue to air fry at 380°F (195°C) for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the coating is deep golden brown and crisp.
- Remove the chicken and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For extra crispy skin, after the first flip, you can increase the temperature to 400°F (200°C) for the final 5 minutes of cooking.
- If you use chicken breasts, reduce the total cooking time by about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness; this prevents dry chicken.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 33 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 11
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 35
- Cholesterol: 110