This Air Fryer Fried Chicken recipe tastes just like you went to a restaurant. As an air fryer owner, I have to admit, it’s one of the best tools to own. You can make most recipes that you love but without all that excess oil.
How often do you guys eat fried chicken? Fess up? For us – it’s not that often. That’s why when we do decide to make this dish at home, we want the flavors to be ON POINT!
And I love that when you make friend chicken at home, you can tweak your seasoning just the way you like it. My husband likes it really hot and spicy while my daughter likes a more cajun feel. Sometimes, I tried to meet in the middle. Other times, I make a few batches!
Air Fryer Fried Chicken Recipe: Nashville Style
This Nashville Air Fryer Chicken recipe truly takes home the cake. Delicious spices topped off with tangy pickles gives you just the right amount of heat and crunch.
When you are in the mood for a perfect homestyle meal and thinking about what to cook in an air fryer, please check out this option! Oh, and if you make it, consider making this citrus coleslaw or my German potato saladas well. Talk about the perfect combo!
If you want a completely different spin on chicken in general but still want that air fryer feel, check out my Ninja Foodi chicken wings recipe.
We live in such a fast-paced society… but nothing beats a homestyle meal, right? Yummy goodness in every bite! Here’s how you can replicate this recipe at home TODAY.
Air Fryer Fried Chicken Ingredients:
- 2 pounds boneless chicken breast tenders
- 2 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp.coarsely ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp.hot sauce
- 2 tbsp. pickle juice
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs
- 1½ cups buttermilk
- 1 /2 olive oil
- Olive cooking spray
Air Fryer Chicken Sauce
- 6 tablespoons cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 cup olive oil
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How do you fry chicken in an air fryer?
So, how do you fry chicken in an air fryer? You need a few hours to work this magic! Be warned!!
This fried chicken recipe for air fryers is not a quick meal that you can throw together right after you come home from work. The problem is BATCHES and you need some time to marinade.
While the Air Fryer makes the cooking process speed up, you still need to marinade! Are you ready to get this party started?
In a large bowl, toss together the chicken, salt, black pepper, 1 tablespoon hot sauce, 1 tablespoon of pickle juice until well combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.Pour the flour into a bowl.
Whisk the eggs, buttermilk, and a tablespoon of hot sauce in a separate bowl. To dredge the chicken, place it in the flour toss each piece to evenly coat.
Then place it into the buttermilk mixture, and then back into the flour. Place the breaded chicken on a baking sheet in a single layer. Continue to finish the other tenders. Let air dry for 10 minutes.
Set your Air Fryer to the chicken setting or 380 degrees. Place your tenders in the Air Fryer dish in a single layer. Cook for 10-12 minutes or as your Air Fryer sets on its chicken settings. Continue to cook the Nashville hot chicken air fryer tenders.
Air Fryer fried chicken recipe sauce:
To make the hot spicy sauce, whisk together the spices, brown sugar, and 1/2 cup of olive oil until evenly combined. Immediately pour it over the fried chicken tenders. Serve with pickles. Enjoy!
What do you think of this Air Fryer fried chicken recipe? Something you’d like to try out? Do you have another one that’d you like to share? For more recipes, be sure to visit my food section.
Tips ForAir Fryer Fried Chicken:
First of all, make sure you purchase an air fryer that has a good reputation.
- You need to take the time to let your chicken air dry while processing. It actually matters.
- If you like some heat, be sure to add the spice. Don’t be afraid to add it in!
- Single layers cook better. Whenever I make fried chicken breasts in my air fryer, I always spread them out.
If you want to know what Air Fryer I personally own. it is this one. It is HIGHLY rated!! So many 5 star reviews!!
Should I Put Aluminum Foil Inside My Air Fryer?
You don’t need to and honestly, it won’t help with the airflow and main function of the unit. The way an air fryer works is by pushing hot air around whatever is inside the basket. If you add aluminum foil, you might block one of the passageways. It best to avoid this.
Is An Air Fryer Really A Healthier Way To Cook Food?
Listen. This is a fried chicken recipe, right? So, let’s just be honest with one another. This recipe isn’t healthy. A salad is healthy. Grilled chicken is healthy.
BUT, an air fryer helps reduce calories and fat because it enables the cook to add less oil.
I’m just being honest with you here. This is a healthier alternative for SURE!! But it is still fried chicken. And grilled chicken is… well, the best option if you are asking about HEALTHY.
Calorically, you are saving – 100%!! SO, there are absolute benefits to using an air fryer and it is the BETTER BET. But grilled chicken is better if you are truly worried about saturated fats and calories.
Can I Use PAM in my Air Fryer?
The long-short of this answer is… no.The lower quality oils can actually damage the nonstick coatings on someair fryerbaskets. So, it’s better to avoid using them entirely.
Do you have a special Air Fryer fried chicken recipe that you’d like to share? Link it below. I am always up for a new one to try.
Check Out Some Other Recipes
- Chicken and Pepper Fajitas
- Keto Cheese Shell Taco Cups
- Crockpot Chicken and Rice
- Keto Cauliflower Stuffing
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts With Bacon Recipe
Air Fryer Fried Chicken Recipe
Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 42 minutes
ThisAir Fryer Fried Chicken recipetastes just like you went to a restaurant. As an air fryer owner, I have to admit, it’s one of the best tools to own. You can make most recipes that you love but without all that excess oil.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless chicken breast tenders
- 2 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp.coarsely ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp.hot sauce
- 2 tbsp. pickle juice
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs
- 1½ cups buttermilk
- 1 /2 olive oil
- Olive cooking spray
- Sauce
- 6 tablespoons cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 cup olive oil
Instructions
In a large bowl, toss together the chicken, salt, black pepper, 1 tablespoon hot sauce, 1 tablespoon of pickle juice until well combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Pour the flour into a bowl.
Whisk the eggs, buttermilk, and a tablespoon of hot sauce in a separate bowl. To dredge the chicken, place it in the flour toss each piece to evenly coat.
Then place it into the buttermilk mixture, and then back into the flour. Place the breaded chicken on a baking sheet in a single layer. Continue to finish the other tenders. Let air dry for 10 minutes.
Set your Air Fryer to the chicken setting or 380 degrees. Place your tenders in the Air Fryer dish in a single layer. Cook for 10-12 minutes or as your Air Fryer sets on its chicken settings. Continue to cook all of the tenders.
AIR FRYER FRIED CHICKEN RECIPE SAUCE:
To make the hot spicy sauce, whisk together the spices, brown sugar, and 1 /2 cup of olive oil until evenly combined. Drizzle over chicken and serve with pickles.
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