We love this recipe for Air Fryer Fried Chicken. Our chicken always comes out perfectly crispy and tender every single time. Using an air fryer is a fool proof way to get amazing fried chicken with very little mess compared to traditionally fried chicken.
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How to Make Fried Chicken in an Air Fryer
Cris here.
I will admit, when I first got an air fryer, I really just thought we would be making wings with it. But then I found an amazing way to make bacon in it and I began to see it as one of my must have kitchen gadgets– so much so that I made sure it came along with us in our RV camper kitchen when we travel. In fact, it is so useful on the road (and at home) that we used it to make two of our three favorite road trip foods in the video below… but I digress ;).
So, I was on a mission to make the PERFECT Air Fryer Fried Chicken and I do believe we have perfected it for this family at least! We use our favorite Low Carb Fried Chicken Breading Recipe to keep the carb counts down since we eat low carb now. However, you can use this method with any breading mix that you enjoy. The results are fantastic every time!
Air Fryer Fried Chicken Notes
- To make this low-carb, we used our favorite Low Carb Fried Chicken Breading Recipe. You can use whatever breading you typically dredge your favorite fried chicken in… Frying Magic, flour with your own seasonings, anything will work.
- The more chicken you use in a batch the longer you may have to cook it. The same is true if you cook less than a full batch– it will take less time. If your chicken is crowded, add 2 minutes to each round of cooking time. Number of batches will vary based on the capacity of your air fryer and the size of your chicken legs.
- We used chicken legs. You can use other cuts of chicken if you don’t like chicken legs, cooking times may vary. Make sure your chicken’s internal temperature reaches at least 165. (To reach optimal tenderness, I prefer to cook to at least 170.)
- I do NOT recommend stacking your chicken in the basket. A single layer is always best to ensure the chicken cooks evenly.
- If you find that a batch has left excess brown bits or oil, remove the pan and empty them out before starting a new batch with fresh fat for cooking. I typically use 1 T of Bacon Fat or Lard for each batch of chicken I run through my air fryer, dumping out my fryer in between batches.
- Air fryers vary in size and may cook differently. Always first test in your unit attended.
- Looking for more recipes? Our Recipe Finder can help you find exactly what you need.
- Check out all our favorite recommendations for cookbooks, slow cookers and low carb essentials in our Amazon Influencer Shop.
- As with any of our recipes, carb counts, calorie counts and nutritional information varies greatly. As a result, your nutritional content depends on which products you choose to use when cooking this dish. The auto-calculation is just an automated estimate and should NOT be used for specific dietary needs.
Air Fryer Fried Chicken Recipe
Air Fryer Fried Chicken
We love this recipe for Air Fryer Fried Chicken. Our chicken always comes out perfectly crispy and tender every single time. Using an air fryer is a fool proof way to get amazing fried chicken with very little mess compared to traditionally fried chicken.
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Servings: 12
Calories: 286kcal
Ingredients
- 12 Chicken Legs
- 1 Cup Favorite Breading Mix
- Gallon Sized Baggie
- 2 large Eggs Beaten
- Bacon Fat or Lard
Instructions
- Beat your eggs in a bowl and roll your legs in them one at a time.
- Pour your favorite breading mix into a gallon baggie and toss your coated legs in batches in seal and shake to coat.
- Add 1 tablespoon bacon fat (or lard) to the bottom of your air fryer and cook legs in single layer batches for 15 min on chicken setting (or at 360). Do NOT stack chicken.
- Turn them over and cook on chicken setting for 15 more minutes.
- Clean out air fryer in between new batches and add 1 tablespoon of fat to each new batch.
Video
Notes
- Note: Nutritional content does not include breading. That content will depend entirely on the breading you choose to use.
- To make this low-carb, we used our favorite Low Carb Fried Chicken Breading Recipe. You can use whatever breading you typically dredge your favorite fried chicken in... Frying Magic, flour with your own seasonings, anything will work.
- The more chicken you use in a batch the longer you may have to cook it. The same is true if you cook less than a full batch– it will take less time. If your chicken is crowded, add 2 minutes to each round of cooking time. Number of batches will vary based on the capacity of your air fryer and the size of your chicken legs.
- We used chicken legs. You can use other cuts of chicken if you don't like chicken legs, cooking times may vary. Make sure your chicken's internal temperature reaches at least 165. (To reach optimal tenderness, I prefer to cook to at least 170.)
- I do NOT recommend stacking your chicken in the basket. A single layer is always best to ensure the chicken cooks evenly.
- If you find that a batch has left excess brown bits or oil, remove the pan and empty them out before starting a new batch with fresh fat for cooking. I typically use 1 T of Bacon Fat or Lard for each batch of chicken I run through my air fryer, dumping out my fryer in between batches.
- Air fryers vary in size and may cook differently. Always first test in your unit attended.
- Looking for more recipes? Our Recipe Finder can help you find exactly what you need.
- Check out all our favorite recommendations for cookbooks, slow cookers and low carb essentials in our Amazon Influencer Shop.
- As with any of our recipes, carb counts, calorie counts and nutritional information varies greatly. As a result, your nutritional content depends on which products you choose to use when cooking this dish. The auto-calculation is just an automated estimate and should NOT be used for specific dietary needs.
Nutrition
Calories: 286kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 147mg | Sodium: 119mg | Potassium: 272mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 158IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @RecipesthatCrock or tag #RecipesthatCrock!
We recommend serving this dish with the following side dishes:
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Whether you've been told you can't cook your whole life or you have the knife skills of an Iron Chef, Cris loves to connect you to just the right recipe.
Her site Recipes That Crock is dedicated to helping everyone find delicious recipes to serve their families every month.
Her site Recipes That Crock is dedicated to helping everyone find delicious recipes to serve their families every month.
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Hi Cris, as y’all know my hubby is a breast man so, would you suggest less time since white meat cooks quicker and to keep from drying it out? Thanks!! Love you guys and the Crock Posse!❤
Can you use vegetable oil instead of lard or bacon grease?
Can you recommend an air fryer?
I have a small air fryer(1-2) servings. Would I use a lesser amount of fat?
Thanks!
Hi Rose-
I would probably cut it in half. Enjoy!
Can you do the same with turkey bacon in an air fryer?
Hi Winfred!
I don’t see why not! It may take less time… I am not sure since I haven’t tried it. Let me know how it goes.
Think this would work the same if used in a Nuwave Oven, I don’t have the fryer?
Hi Jolene! I haven’t tried it… but I do believe it would work. Good luck!
Chris, Wondering if you could answer a question about the air fryer chicken & bacon. We’re new to the air fryer and love it so far, but when you say add bacon grease or lard, why? Do you just put it in the bottom of the fryer? Bacon, does that go in the rotating basket or is there another basket that is available for the air fryer? Bonnie Olson
Hi Bonnie- I just toss it in the regular basket and it melts really quickly in the cooking process and distributes itself. – Enjoy!!
Thanks for the air fryer recipe, I just got one and love the recipe and tips.