Get ready to make the Best Air Fryer Fried Chicken ever. Making Buttermilk Fried Chicken in Air Fryer is a healthier version of the classic Southern fried food favorite and is truly finger-licking good!
Post includes Weight Watchers points.
This amazing Air Fryer Fried Chicken Recipe lets you indulge in the deep-fried traditional taste of fried chicken without any of the guilt.
Guys, this crunchy Air Fried Chicken has a deliciously crispy outside and a juicy tender inside. It’s a lighter and healthier version of traditional fried chicken that tastes just as amazing! #winningatthisawesomechickenthing.
Why Make This Recipe
- Healthier – much less oil is needed than traditional fried chicken.
- Budget Friendly – more affordable than buying fast food or restaurant fried chicken.
- Kid-approved – kids love fried chicken, so the whole family will be raving about this dish.
- Versatile – you can change up the Southern spices to suit your taste.
- Faster and less messy – whip this up in less time and with less mess than classic fried chicken.
Related Link: Air Fried French Fries.
Tools Needed
- An awesome Air Fryer.
- A skillet (if not making in air fryer).
- Measuring cups and teaspoons.
- An awesome spray bottle.
- Multi purpose mixing bowls.
- Tongs.
- Instant read digital thermometer.
- Best ever sea salt flakes.
Ready to learn how to make this delicious air fryer chicken? Gather up those ingredients and I will show you….
How To Make Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
- Start preparing the chicken thighs by rinsing the chicken and patting them dry. Add to a mixing bowlm cover all the pieces with 2 cups of buttermilk. Soak in the refrigerator for 4- 24 hours.
- 30 minutes prior to cooking, move chicken from the fridge to the counter to warm up to room temp.
- Prepare the breading. Put the flour and all seasonings in a medium bowl and pour in the remaining half cup of buttermilk. Mix with a fork until slightly lumpy.
- Working with 4 pieces of chicken thighs at a time, thoroughly coat each piece with the breading on both sides then set aside on a plate.
- Preheat air fryer to 400F / 200C.
- Place breaded chicken in an Air Fryer basket, making sure they don’t touch. Lightly spray with oil.
- Cook for 10-16 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken.
- Flip the chicken halfway through the cooking time, lightly spray with oil again if needed.
Chef’s tip: air fryer temperatures vary depending on make and model, so I recommend shooting for a cook time of 12 minutes, then checking for doneness with an instant-read digital thermometer. The internal temperature should reach at least 165F / 74C to be considered safe to eat.
How To Make Fried Chicken On Stovetop And Oven
- Start preparing the chicken thighs by rinsing the chicken and patting them dry. Add to a mixing bowl, cover all the pieces with 2 cups of buttermilk. Soak in the refrigerator for 4-24 hours.
- 30 minutes prior to cooking, move chicken from the fridge to the counter so it comes up to room temperature.
- Prepare the breading. Put the flour and all seasonings in a medium bowl and pour in the remaining half cup of buttermilk. Mix with a fork until slightly lumpy.
- Working with four pieces of chicken thighs at a time, thoroughly coat each piece with the breading on both sides then set aside on a plate.
- Preheat the oven to 350F / 177C.
- Heat 1 cup of vegetable oil and 5 tablespoons of butter in a deep skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add 4 pieces of chicken at a time to the oil, fry for 3 minutes on each side, checking occasionally to make sure the chicken isn’t getting too brown. Note: the chicken will NOT be thoroughly cooked yet.
- Transfer the chicken to a baking sheet and cook in the oven for 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165F / 74C.
Recipe Tips
- If looking to cut calories even more, remove the skin from the chicken thighs before breading. Just know the breading may not stick as well to the chicken without the skin.
- I like using a homemade poultry seasoning, but feel free to use a store bought one.
- Don’t let the chicken sit once coating or it will be soggy.
- Use parchment paper to help prevent the chicken from sticking to the bottom of the air fryer basket. Poke holes in the paper to allow air to continue to circulate around.
- The longer you soak your chicken in buttermilk prior to breading, the tastier it’ll be.
- Always check chicken with a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature is at least 165F / 74C.
FAQs
Buttermilk is a popular ingredient in all sorts of Southern recipes. Traditional buttermilk is made of the leftover liquid from churning fresh butter, It is lower in fat yet higher in protein and adds great flavor to many dishes.
Fresh Buttermilk is optimal for this recipe, but, sometimes we don’t always have enough on hand. If you find yourself in that situation, I’ve got the fix for you that doesn’t involve another trip to the grocery store.
Use my how to make buttermilk recipe and whip up a fail-proof homemade buttermilk substitute. It’s quick, easy, and tasty!
How To Bread Chicken
Having made fried chicken in air fryer many times, I’ve had my share of struggles with getting the breading to stick to the chicken. Here are a few tips:
- Make sure to press the breading onto the chicken. This will help it adhere better and not blow off during air frying.
- Place parchment paper with holes poked in the bottom inside the air fryer basket to prevent the chicken from losing its breading while cooking.
- Before starting to cook and when you flip the chicken halfway through, make sure to spray the chicken to cover the flour coating, otherwise, your chicken will end up tasting like dry flour.
- When placing your chicken pieces in the basket to air fry, make sure they are not touching. You may have to cook your chicken in more batches than you originally planned. Doing this will make sure your chicken doesn’t stick together and lose the crispy, crunchy coating.
Meal Prep and Storage
Storage – keep in an airtight container inside the fridge for up to 5 days.
Freeze – Follow these handy tips below for how to freeze:
- Let the thighs cool down then transfer into these very handy Ziploc freezer bags.
- Squeeze out all the extra air and seal the bags.
- Label the bags and then lay them flat in the freezer.
- Store in the freezer for 2-3 months.
Thaw – remove chicken from the freezer the night before needed and let it thaw in the fridge overnight.
Reheat – in the air fryer on 370F / 188C for about 10 minutes. Check the internal temperature before serving.
Meal Prep – Double or triple the recipe to keep in the fridge and serve throughout the week.
Serving Suggestions
- Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes.
- Air Fryer French Fries.
- Southern Butter Beans.
- 5 Minute Remoulade Sauce.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Air Fryer Chicken And Waffles.
- Crispy Air Fryer Parmesan Chicken Wings.
- Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas.
- Easy Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Breast.
- Get my complete list of Air Fryer Recipes.
Weight Watchers Points
If you replace the oil with a calorie-controlled cooking spray, there are 9 Blue Plan SmartPoints in a serving.
Top Pick : Air Fryer Accessory
Evo Oil Sprayer Bottle
My go-to spraying bottle. Every Air Fryer user should have one.
Thank you for reading my Fried Chicken in Air Fryer post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.
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Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Ingredients
- 8 chicken thighs
- 2 ½ cups (600g) buttermilk divided
- 3 cups (360g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- vegetable oil or calorie-contrilled cooking spray
- 5 tablespoons butter for skillet and oven version
Instructions
To Mske in Air Fryer:
- Start preparing the chicken thighs by rinsing the chicken and patting them dry. Then cover all the pieces with 2 cups of buttermilk. Soak in the refrigerator for 4 – 24 hours.
- 30 minutes prior to cooking, move chicken from fridge to the counter and allow to come up to room temperature.
- Prepare the breading by adding flour and all seasonings to a medium bowl. Pour in the remaining half cup of buttermilk. Mix with a fork until slightly lumpy.
- Take four pieces of chicken at a time and thoroughly coat both sides of each piece with the breading, then set aside on a plate.
- Preheat air fryer to 400F / 200C.
- Place breaded chicken in the Air Fryer basket, making sure they don’t touch. Lightly spray with oil.
- Cook for 10-16 minutes depending on the size of the chicken. Halfway through, flip the chicken and spray again with oil, if needed.
- Check for doneness usin g a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature is 165F / 74C.
To Make on Stovetop and Oven:
- Complete steps 1-4 from the Air Fryer section.
- Preheat the oven to 350F / 177C.
- Heat 1 cup of vegetable oil and 5 tablespoons butter in a deep skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add 4 pieces of chicken at a time to the oil, fry for 3 minutes each side, checking occasionally to make sure the chicken isn't getting too brown. Note – they will NOT be thoroughly cooked yet.
- Transfer the chicken to a baking sheet and cook in the oven for 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165F / 74C.
Recommended Products
Notes
- If looking to cut calories even more, remove the skin from the chicken thighs before breading. Just know the breading may not stick as well to the chicken without the skin.
- I like using a homemade poultry seasoning, but feel free to use a store-bought one.
- Don’t let the chicken sit once coating or it will be soggy.
- Use parchment paper to help prevent the chicken from sticking to the bottom of the air fryer basket. Poke holes in the paper to allow air to continue to circulate around.
- The longer you soak your chicken in buttermilk prior to breading, the tastier it’ll be.
- Always check chicken with a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature is at least 165F / 74C.
- Storage – keep in an airtight container inside the fridge for up to 5 days.
- If you replace the oil with a calorie-controlled cooking spray, there are 9 WW Blue Plan SmartPoints in a serving.
Like most, fried chicken is my most favorite. But never thought of making in the air fryer. To cut down some fat and calories, bookmarking this to make it in the next time.
I love that I can make this in my air fryer!! So good!!
Just another reason to own an air fryer. This chicken sounds divine – loving the use of smoked paprika!
I don’t have an air fryer but recipes like these are definitely the kind of thing that tempts me – that chicken looks great and love the sound of the seasoning.
I love my air fryer and cannot wait to try out your recipe – the chicken looks mouthwateringly crunchy and delicious!