Air Fryer Fried Rooster {Crispy, Juicy, KFC Type!}

This air fryer fried hen is simply as crispy and juicy as you’d count on however with out all of the fuss of deep frying them! Stuffed with scrumptious texture and taste, this tastes like KFC, however so significantly better for you!

The fantastic thing about utilizing an air fryer is that it reduces the fats and energy of historically calorie-dense meals.

We’ve given tons of classics a makeover, together with my air fryer hen nuggets, air fryer turkey bacon, air fryer hen wings, and even air fryer grilled cheese. Now, we’ve added fried hen into the combo.

Desk of Contents

1. Recipe highlights
2. Components wanted 
3. How you can fry hen within the air fryer
4. Recipe suggestions and variations
5. How you can retailer leftovers
6. Extra air fryer hen recipes
7. Air Fryer Fried Rooster (KFC Type!) (Recipe Card)

Recipe highlights

• Simple prep. Dip, fry, coat, and air fry; all of this comes collectively in minutes! The prep time is minimal.
• More healthy. Conventional fried hen is loaded with additional fats and energy. On this model, there’s a fraction of each. Oh, and the crispy coating has a lot taste.
• Fuss-free. Fried hen (or any fried meals, actually) makes fairly a multitude within the kitchen, however utilizing the air fryer negates all of it utterly. Additionally, the batter doesn’t want any eggs to bind.
• Simple to make forward. Confession- I like consuming fried hen straight from the fridge and I promise you, this tastes simply nearly as good and you may even reheat to most crispiness within the air fryer.

What I like essentially the most about this air fryer fried hen recipe is that every piece of hen shall be crispy on the surface with tender, juicy meat inside. Like my oven fried hen, this hen is simple to make and so good it hides the truth that it’s more healthy.

Components wanted 

For those who’ve ever made fried hen earlier than, you’ll discover the substances are virtually similar, besides all of the oil for deep frying. Here’s what you’ll want:

For the marinade

• Rooster items. Get bone-in and skin-on hen, together with a mixture of thighs, hen drumsticks, and breasts.
• Buttermilk. A key ingredient in fried hen. It helps the batter maintain onto the hen higher.
• Spices. Salt, garlic powder, and pepper.

For the breading 

• Flour. Both all-purpose flour or wheat flour.
• Cornstarch. Thickens the batter.
• Spices. Salt, black pepper, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder.
• Olive Oil spray. For coating the air fryer basket.

How you can fry hen within the air fryer

I’ve included step-by-step photographs under to make this recipe simple to observe at house. For the complete printable recipe directions and ingredient portions, scroll to the recipe card on the backside of this publish.

Step 1: Put together the marinade. Add spices and buttermilk in a big bowl, together with the hen. Let it sit for a minimum of 10 minutes to thicken.

Step 2: Put together the flour combination. Whisk collectively the substances for the breading. 

Step 3: Coat the hen. Utilizing tongs, take away items of the hen from the buttermilk combination, shaking off any extra. Then, transferring rapidly, dredge the hen within the flour combination, guaranteeing either side are properly coated.

Step 4: Prep the air fryer. Generously spray the hen with cooking spray and place them in a single layer in a greased air fryer basket.

Step 5- Air fry the hen. Air fry at 180C/350F for quarter-hour, flip the hen, spray the hen once more with cooking spray, and prepare dinner for one more 5-10 minutes. As soon as the hen reaches an inner temperature of 165F, it’s able to serve. 

Recipe suggestions and variations

• Pat dry the hen properly earlier than coating it with the marinade and breading combination, as this may guarantee it will likely be additional crispy and juicy.
• I’ve examined the hen marinated for as much as 24 hours, which is nice if you wish to prep it prematurely.
• Please don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. For those who can’t comfortably match all of the hen in, prepare dinner them in batches.
• The hen needs to be golden brown all through the cooking course of. For those who discover gentle pockets of coloration, spray somewhat extra oil over it.
• Solely add the cornstarch as wanted. If there may be an excessive amount of, the coating shall be too thick.
• For those who love my spicy hen sandwiches or sizzling honey hen sandwiches, replicate the spice by including a splash of sizzling sauce or some cayenne pepper to the batter. Belief me, it jogs my memory of a KFC zinger burger or spicy southern fried hen burger.

How you can retailer leftovers

To retailer. Leftovers could be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days.

To freeze. Put the cooked hen in a ziplock bag and freeze for as much as 6 months. 

Reheating. You may reheat fried hen within the air fryer or a preheated oven. Please don’t microwave it, or else the pores and skin shall be soggy.

Extra air fryer hen recipes