Name: Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 large chicken breasts; ½ cup all-purpose flour; 1 ½ teaspoons paprika; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 large eggs

Enjoy the classic crispiness of fried chicken without any of the bad oils with myAir Fryer Fried Chickenrecipe. This 25-minute, four-ingredient dish can be served as an elegant entrée, filling lunch, or nostalgic appetizer.

If the thought of deep frying is overwhelming or unappealing, but you still crave the crunch and juiciness of southern fried chicken, then you have to try my air fryer fried chicken! This no-oil recipe comes together quickly and makes almost no mess.

Air Fryer Fried Chicken

All you’ll need to get started is some sliced chicken breasts, all-purpose flour, eggs, and a few spices. In no time, you’ll have a platter full of crispy air fried chicken ready to be paired with your favorite dipping sauces or side dishes. This juicy and comforting dish may not be traditional, but boy is it easy to make and oh so tasty!

Ingredient Notes

Chicken Breasts—Sliced or pounded into one-inch-thick pieces.
All-Purpose Flour—When fried, will give your chicken a thin and crispy exterior.
Eggs—Help the breading stick to the chicken.
Spices—A simple blend of paprika, garlic powder, and salt.

How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Fried Chicken

In a shallow dish, whisk together the flour, paprika, garlic powder, and salt.
In a second shallow dish, scramble the eggs.
Coat each piece of chicken first in the flour mixture, then in the eggs, and again in the flour mixture.
Place the breaded chicken into the basket of your preheated air fryer and cook until golden brown and crispy.
Serve warm and enjoy!

raw ingredients for air fryer fried chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my fried chicken not crispy in the air fryer?

The flour in this recipe helps to dry out the surface of the chicken, so you shouldn’t have any issues with it coming out soggy. The drier your meat, the better it will crisp up! So, if you’re really worried, you can always pat your chicken breast dry with a paper towel before coating it in the flour and eggs.

Can you use batter in an air fryer?

Although it is possible to use a wet batter in an air fryer, I don’t recommend it. This type of coating is runny and gloppy and will make a mess of anything it touches. Instead, coat your chicken breasts in breading. This mixture of flour, spices, and eggs will yield fried chicken that is just as crunchy, but way less messy!

Can I put raw chicken in my air fryer?

Absolutely! Air fryers are essentially just tiny convection ovens; they quickly circulate hot air to cook and crisp up food. As long as your chicken pieces aren’t more than an inch thick, it should only take 15 minutes at 370°F for them to cook through. You’ll know that your air fryer fried chicken is done cooking when a thermometer inserted into the thickest breast reads 165°F.

How to Store Leftover Air Fryer “Fried” Chicken

This homemade “fried” chicken is best served immediately; however, you can hold on to the leftovers for a few days. When stored in an airtight container, any leftover air fryer fried chicken will stay good in the fridge for up to 4 days.
If you want to make sure that your leftover fried chicken stays moist, I recommend reheating it in the microwave. If you’re more concerned about this chicken staying crispy, then reheat it in a 370°F air fryer for 5 minutes. Either way, this leftover air fryer chicken can be enjoyed on its own or used as the protein in salads, pastas, sandwiches, and on pizzas.

close up of crispy golden skin on three pieces of air fryer fried chicken stacked on a plate

What Pairs Well with Air Fryer Fried Chicken?

I love this simple air fryer fried chicken recipe because it can be served so many ways! Serve it as an appetizer alongside a variety of dipping sauces like chipotle ranch, garlic aioli, or honey mustard. You can also pair it with a few comforting sides such as roasted asparagus,homemade macaroni and cheese, andmashed potatoesfor a filling dinner. Or go the nostalgic route and serve your fried chicken pieces withFrench fries! You really can’t go wrong.

Expert Tips and Tricks

You can make this air fryer fried chickengluten freeby swapping out the all-purpose flour for your favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
Make chicken nuggets or chicken strips by simply cutting your chicken breasts into different shapes. Just keep an eye on your chicken as it cooks—the smaller the pieces, the faster it will crisp up!
I like seasoning this “fried” chicken with a really simple blend of spices. However, you can add whatever spices you like to the flour mixture. Try tossing in some red pepper flakes, rosemary, chicken bouillon, oregano, parsley, black pepper, or even grated parmesan cheese!

More Recipes

If you’ve tried thisAir Fryer Fried Chickenrecipe or any other recipe on Rcova, then don’t forget torate the recipeand leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some pictures of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories.

Air fryer fried chickenoffers a healthier and convenient alternative to traditional deep-frying methods. It delivers a crispy and flavorful outcome with significantly less oil, making it a popular choice for those looking to enjoy a guilt-free indulgence.