Description
This Crispy Air Fryer KFC-Style Chicken recipe delivers the perfect homemade alternative to the iconic fried chicken, featuring a flavorful buttermilk marinade and a well-seasoned flour coating. Using an air fryer, this recipe achieves a crunchy exterior and juicy interior with less oil, making it a healthier yet delicious classic fried chicken experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 3 lbs chicken pieces (drumsticks, thighs, or breast, skin-on)
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce (optional)
Flour Coating
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Other
- Cooking spray or oil spray
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: In a large bowl or ziplock bag, combine the chicken pieces with buttermilk and optional hot sauce. Toss well to ensure the chicken is fully coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to overnight for deeper flavor infusion.
- Prepare the Flour Mixture: In a separate shallow dish, thoroughly mix the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, and cayenne pepper if using. This blend forms the flavorful coating for the chicken.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 360°F (180°C) to preheat while you prepare the chicken for coating. Preheating ensures even cooking and crispiness.
- Coat the Chicken: Remove the chicken pieces from the buttermilk marinade, letting any excess drip off. Dredge each piece in the flour mixture, pressing the coating onto the surface firmly for a thick and crispy crust.
- Prepare the Air Fryer Basket: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Arrange the coated chicken pieces in a single layer, ensuring they do not touch or overcrowd to allow hot air circulation.
- Spray the Chicken: Lightly spray the tops of the coated chicken pieces with cooking spray to encourage a golden, crispy crust during air frying.
- Cook the Chicken: Air fry the chicken at 360°F (180°C) for 25-30 minutes. Flip or turn the pieces halfway through to brown all sides evenly. Cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) and the coating is golden brown.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes. This resting time allows the coating to crisp up further and the juices to redistribute for juicy, flavorful chicken.
Notes
- For extra flavor, marinate the chicken overnight.
- Adjust cayenne pepper to control the heat level or omit if sensitive to spice.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
- Use a meat thermometer to verify chicken is fully cooked to 165°F.
- If you don’t have cooking spray, lightly brush oil over the chicken pieces before air frying.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes plus 2 hours marinating
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
