🍗 Air Fryer KFC-Style Chicken

Craving crispy, flavorful fried chicken without deep frying? This Air Fryer KFC-Style Chicken has a crunchy, well-seasoned coating and juicy, tender meat that’s perfect for family dinners or weekend treats.

Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus 1–4 hours marinating)
Cook Time: 25–30 minutes
Total Time: About 2 hours
Servings: 4–6

Ingredients

For the Chicken

• 2 pounds (900 g) bone-in chicken pieces (drumsticks, thighs, wings, or breasts)

Buttermilk Marinade

• 2 cups buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce (optional)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

Seasoned Flour Coating

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon celery salt
• 1 teaspoon mustard powder
• 1 teaspoon white pepper
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• Cooking oil spray

Instructions

1. Marinate the Chicken

• In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, hot sauce, salt, and pepper.
• Add the chicken, making sure it’s fully coated.
• Cover and refrigerate for 1–4 hours (overnight for the best flavor).

2. Prepare the Coating

In a large shallow bowl, combine all of the seasoned flour ingredients and mix well.

3. Coat the Chicken

• Remove the chicken from the marinade, allowing the excess to drip off.
• Press each piece firmly into the seasoned flour mixture until well coated.
• Let the breaded chicken rest for 10–15 minutes so the coating adheres.

4. Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat the air fryer to 190°C (375°F) for 3–5 minutes.

5. Air Fry

• Lightly spray both sides of the chicken with cooking oil.
• Arrange the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
• Cook for 25–30 minutes, turning halfway through cooking.
• Spray any dry flour spots with a little more oil after flipping.
• Cook until the coating is golden brown and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F).

Approximate Cook Times

• Wings: 20–22 minutes
• Drumsticks: 24–26 minutes
• Thighs: 25–28 minutes
• Bone-in Breasts: 28–30 minutes

Tips for Extra Crispy Chicken

• ✔️ Pat the chicken dry before marinating if needed.
• ✔️ Cornstarch helps create a crispier coating.
• ✔️ Spray generously with oil to eliminate dry flour spots.
• ✔️ Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket.
• ✔️ Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with:

• French fries
• Coleslaw
• Biscuits
• Mac and cheese
• Corn on the cob
• Baked beans
• Mashed potatoes with gravy

Storage & Reheating

• Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
• Freeze: Freeze cooked chicken for up to 3 months.
• Reheat: Air fry at 180°C (350°F) for 5–7 minutes, or until hot and crispy.

Pro Tip: For an even crunchier crust, refrigerate the breaded chicken uncovered for 20–30 minutes before air frying. This helps the coating dry slightly and cling to the chicken, giving you that irresistible fried chicken texture. 🍗✨