This air fryer fried chicken recipe gives you everything you love about classic fried chicken without the messy cleanup. The skin gets golden and crisp, the meat stays juicy, and the flavor hits hard with garlic, smoked paprika, and a touch of baking powder to help the skin crisp up mid cook. Once you try it, you’ll forget the oil splatter and stick to this easy method every time.
Jump to:
- Why This Air Fryer Fried Chicken Is Fantastic
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- Kitchen Essentials and Equipment
- How to Make Air Fryer Fried Chicken
- Expert Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Fried Chicken
- Variations
- Serving Suggestions
- Pairings and Related Recipes
- FAQ
- More Common Questions
- Storage and Reheating
- Nutritional Information
- Air Fryer Fried Chicken
This post was newly updated in June 2025 with fresh tips, revised formatting, and improved instructions to help you get perfect results every time.
Why This Air Fryer Fried Chicken Is Fantastic
- Crispy skin with no deep frying
- Juicy, flavorful meat every time
- Just a few pantry staples
- No breading or batter needed
- Ready in about 30 minutes
- Works with any air fryer
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 2 to 3 pounds chicken pieces (drumsticks, thighs, or a mix)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons baking powder (not baking soda)
- Olive oil spray or cooking spray
Kitchen Essentials and Equipment
Below I list some of the items I use to make this recipe:
- Cosori Air Fryer Max 6 Quart Air Fryer – Large enough for family portions and easy to clean.
- Hotec Premium Stainless Steel Locking Kitchen Tongs with Silicone Tips – Perfect for flipping chicken without tearing the skin.
- Misto Frosted Glass Bottle Oil Sprayer – Adds a light, even mist to help crisp the skin.
- 365 Everyday Value, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Mediterranean Blend – Great for flavor and high heat.
- Magnetic Cheat Sheet Cookbook for Air Fryer, Cooking Times – A quick reference that lives on my fridge.
How to Make Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Step 1: Season the Chicken
Salt and pepper the chicken pieces to taste. Then coat with garlic powder, smoked paprika, and baking powder. Let the chicken sit for 10 to 15 minutes — this helps the baking powder draw moisture from the skin for extra crispiness.
Step 2: Prepare the Air Fryer
Lightly mist the air fryer basket with olive oil spray (or use a paper towel with a little oil). Arrange the chicken in a single layer without overlapping.
Step 3: Air Fry the Chicken
Set your air fryer to 390°F and cook for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through. Spray the chicken again when flipping to help it crisp.
Step 4: Serve
Once cooked through and golden brown, remove and let rest a few minutes before digging in.
Expert Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Fried Chicken
- Don’t skip the baking powder. It’s the secret to crispy skin.
- Use bone-in, skin-on chicken for best flavor and texture.
- Avoid overcrowding the basket or you’ll steam instead of crisp.
- Spray both sides of the chicken with oil for maximum crunch.
Variations
- Spicy Fried Chicken: Add ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to the seasoning mix.
- Boneless Version: Use boneless thighs or breasts—just reduce the cook time to 18–22 minutes depending on thickness.
- Buttermilk-Style Twist: Soak the chicken in buttermilk and hot sauce for a few hours before air frying for a tangy kick.
- Gluten-Free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free since there’s no breading or flour involved.
Serving Suggestions
Pair this chicken with classic sides like:
- Creamy coleslaw
- Air fryer green beans
- Mac and cheese
- Potato wedges
- Biscuits or cornbread
Pairings and Related Recipes
FAQ
About 25 to 30 minutes at 390°F. Flip the chicken halfway through for even cooking.
No preheating is required for this recipe.
Yes, but reduce the cooking time to around 18 to 22 minutes depending on thickness.
It draws moisture out of the chicken skin, helping it get crispy without any breading.
Yes. There’s no breading or flour involved—just seasonings and baking powder.
More Common Questions
Try to keep the pieces in a single layer. If needed, cook in batches.
Drumsticks and thighs are the most forgiving and flavorful. Breasts work too but can dry out more easily.
No marinade needed—just season, rest briefly, and air fry.
Storage and Reheating
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheating: To reheat, air fry at 350°F for 5 to 7 minutes until warmed through and crispy again.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 210 kcal
Carbohydrates: 12g
Protein: 22g
Fat: 8g
Sodium: 320mg
Crispy, juicy, and packed with flavor — this air fryer fried chicken is everything you love about the classic, minus the mess. If you give it a try, let me know in the comments how it turned out. And don’t forget to tag #StuffMattyCooks if you post your masterpiece on social media!
Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 pounds chicken pieces of your choice
- Salt and pepper chicken to taste
- 1/2 tsp Garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 2 tsp Baking Powder
Instructions
- Salt and pepper chicken pieces to taste.
- Cover chicken with the garlic powder and smoked paprika and baking powder. The baking powder is essential to making the chicken super crispy as it pulls moisture from the skin. Once the chicken is coated with the spices and the baking powder let it sit about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Spray your air fryer basket with and olive oil mist Or wipe with a paper towel with a little bit of oil on it to prevent sticking. Put all chicken parts into your air fryer trying not to overlap them. I like to spray the chicken with an olive oil mist but you can use cooking spray if that’s all you have. You must sprayed the chicken with the oil or cooking spray it is part of the process to get the chicken nice and golden crispy.
- Turn on your air fryer and set temperature to 390° for 25 to 30 minutes flipping the chicken ones halfway through and spraying the chicken again with the olive oil missed or cooking spray once you flip it. That’s all.
- Enjoy
