Our Most Popular Air Fryer Recipe Ever

I resisted the incredible pull of the air fryer for a long, long time. As friend after friend bought one or was gifted one for Christmas, I persevered, closely guarding my counter space and telling myself I didn’t need another kitchen gadget. And then I totally caved, and I haven’t looked back.

I placated my misgivings by getting a toaster oven and air fryer combo, reasoning I could surely make some counter space for a gadget with so many uses. Now I can’t live without it. We use it all of the time, especially in the summertime.

I’ve worked my way through pretty much every air fryer recipe on Simply Recipes, and they’re all gems (I especially love Kayla Hoang’s Crispy Air Fryer Tofu and Marta Rivera’s Air Fryer Tostones). When I looked up our most popular air fryer recipe of all time, I was delighted to learn it is Nick Evans’ Air Fryer Fried Chicken. This recipe has never let me down, and readers seem to love it as much as I do.

Why You Should Make Air Fryer Fried Chicken

If you love fried chicken but can’t justify deep frying at home on any old night, then this recipe is for you. The clean-up is a breeze compared to traditionally cooked fried chicken—no worrying about hot oil splatters or disposing of cooking oil—and the process is largely hands-off. It’s decidedly lighter, too, thanks to the small amount of oil needed to cook air fryer fried chicken.

It’s also delicious. You get crispy skin and breading without deep frying, and that’s just plain great. You need to plan ahead a bit so that your chicken can marinate in buttermilk, which makes the chicken flavorful and juicy while giving the breading something to cling to.

I like to season my chicken in the morning, add it to the buttermilk, cover, and stick it in the fridge all day. Then it’s ready to air fry after work and ready to eat in just over 30 minutes.

Quick Tips for Air Frying Chicken

• Marinate your chicken for at least 8 hours. If you have the time, marinate your chicken all day or overnight, for up to 24 hours. It’ll be tender, juicy, and finger-licking good.
• Spice things up. Add your favorite spices to the breading. If you like a little heat, add a few dashes of cayenne. I like to add a little turmeric for color and flavor as well as a mix of smoked and sweet paprika.
• Use enough oil. While it’s tempting to add as little oil as possible when using the air fryer, don’t forget this is fried chicken. As Nick states in the recipe, any part of the breading you don’t spritz with oil will just burn, so make sure to give the chicken a good once-over.