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Craving fried chicken but looking for something lighter? The air fryer is the answer! This Air Fryer Fried Chicken turns out just as crispy but uses much less oil.
Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Fried chicken is my favorite food, but I don’t often eat it at restaurants, and I never deep fry it at home. Instead, I prefer to make a healthier version by coating it in light mayo and a seasoned bran flake mixture, spraying it with a little olive oil, and air frying it to crispy perfection. These juicy fried drumsticks hit the spot, and the air fryer cooks the drumsticks in half the time it takes in the oven.
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Fried Chicken
My oven fried chicken recipe is one of my most popular recipes. So, whenever I started using an air fryer, this was one of the first recipes I tested, and I loved the results. This healthy air fryer fried chicken always has a crispy, golden coating and juicy meat. It’s an easier, lighter way to satisfy a fried chicken craving any night of the week.
- All the comfort food vibes, with simple ingredients and less mess.
- Just as crispy as fried chicken: The air fryer gives you that crunchy texture you expect.
- Uses a fraction of the oil compared to deep frying: You only need to spray a little oil on top.
- Easily hit your protein goals: 2 drumsticks contain 55 grams of protein.
- Kid-friendly: Guaranteed to satisfy even the most selective eaters.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This air fryer fried chicken recipe calls for kosher salt. So, if you use regular table salt, you should use less–start with 1 teaspoon. Otherwise, it will taste too salty. See the recipe card below for the exact measurements.
- Drumsticks: Dark meat has a richer flavor than white meat and tastes even better after air frying. Remove the chicken skin before coating to make it lighter.
- Bran flakes might seem like a surprising choice for fried chicken, but they were my favorite among the many coating options I tried. Plus, they provide more fiber, vitamins, and minerals than all-purpose flour.
- Seasoning: Kosher salt, garlic powder, paprika, dried parsley (optional).
- Hellman’s light mayonnaise is my favorite brand, but any brand will do. We’re using mayo instead of buttermilk to help the crushed cereal stick and add moisture. You also get a thicker coating of crumbs with mayo.
- Olive oil spray helps the bran flakes get crispy.
How to Make Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Air frying chicken is much less messy than deep frying. To make cleanup easier, line the air fryer basket with perforated parchment paper. I also suggest using the air fryer magnets to keep the paper from blowing around. See the recipe card at the bottom for printable directions.
- Prep: Season the chicken with kosher salt, and pulse the cereal in a food processor until it forms fine crumbs. The smaller the crumbs, the better they’ll stick.
- Prepare the coating mixture: Mix the crushed cereal, remaining salt, paprika, garlic powder, and dried parsley in a bowl. Transfer it to a shallow dish or a ziplock bag.
- Coat the drumsticks: Brush the chicken with mayonnaise, then dredge it in the cereal. If you’re putting it in a bag, add a few drumsticks at a time and shake until they are evenly coated. You might need to press the flakes onto the drumsticks to prevent them from falling off.
- Air fry the chicken: Put the drumsticks in the air fryer and spray the tops with oil. Cook at 370°F for 22 to 24 minutes. Turn them halfway through and spray the tops again. Continue cooking until they’re golden brown and cooked through.
Tips for Crispy Air Fryer Fried Chicken
- Spray the chicken with oil. It’ll help the crumbs turn golden brown and crispy.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. Keep the drumsticks in a single layer, leaving a little space between them.
- Flip the chicken halfway through to ensure it cooks evenly.
- Let the drumsticks rest for about 5 minutes before cutting into them. This helps keep the juices in so they don’t dry out.
How Long to Cook Fried Chicken in the Air Fryer
It takes about 22 to 24 minutes at 370°F to cook fried chicken drumsticks in the air fryer. If you’re unsure whether they’re done, use an instant-read thermometer to confirm that the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Alternatively, you can cut into one drumstick to check if it’s fully cooked.
Variations
- Chicken parts: Substitute boneless, skinless thighs or breasts. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to adjust the cooking time.
- No food processor? Put the cereal in a plastic bag and crush it with a mallet, rolling pin, or heavy can.
- Gluten-free fried chicken: Swap bran flakes for gluten-free corn flakes or Rice Chex.
- No cereal? Panko will also work.
- Mayo swap: Use a beaten egg.
- Add some Dijon to the mayonnaise for a tangy flavor.
- Seasoning: Replace garlic powder with onion powder, Cajun seasoning or paprika with chili powder.
- Spicy fried chicken: Add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the spice mix.
- Oil: Sub olive oil with avocado oil.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Fried Chicken
I’ve included some recipes for southern comfort food and a few vegetable options for something lighter.
Yield: servings
Serving Size: 2 drumsticks
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Season chicken with 1 teaspoon kosher salt.
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Crush the cereal in a food processor or chopper until fine.
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In a mixing bowl combine the crushed cereal with the remaining salt, paprika, garlic powder and dried parsley, if using. Place in a shallow dish or ziplock bag.
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Using a cooking brush, brush mayo onto the chicken then coat the chicken with crushed cereal mixture.
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Place in the air fryer basket and spray the tops of the chicken with oil. Air fry 370°F 22 to 24 minutes, turning the chicken halfway and spraying the top again, until the crumbs are golden and the chicken is cooked through.
Last Step:
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*1 ½ oz gets tossed after so its subtracted from n.i.
Serving: 2 drumsticks, Calories: 386 kcal, Carbohydrates: 18 g, Protein: 55 g, Fat: 12 g, Saturated Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 180 mg, Sodium: 1290 mg, Fiber: 4 g, Sugar: 2 g
Storage and Reheating
- Refrigerate the fried chicken in an airtight container for 4 days.
- Reheat in the air fryer at 370°F for about 5 minutes. Do not microwave the chicken because it will become soggy.
FAQ
Air fry fried chicken drumsticks for 22 to 24 minutes at 370°F in the air fryer.
Yes, spraying the breaded chicken with oil before air frying is essential. It helps the bran flake crumbs get crispy and golden, which is why you should spray them twice–once before cooking and once after flipping them over.
No! Stacking chicken will cause it to steam, making the coating soggy. Make sure it’s all in an even layer with some space between each piece so the hot air can circulate and cook the drumsticks evenly. Most likely, you’ll need to cook the chicken in two batches.
You can bake breaded chicken in the oven at 400°F for 40 to 45 minutes. I have this oven chicken recipe with more details.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes You’ll Love
If you’re looking for more ways to lighten up some of your favorites, check out more of my air fryer recipes for chicken!