Air Fryer Copycat KFC Fried Chicken

Air Fryer Copycat KFC Fried Chicken — You know that feeling when you crave a home-cooked meal but don’t have the time to make one? Well, say goodbye to take out and hello to this copycat KFC fried chicken recipe! All it takes is a little planning ahead – once you get your ingredients together, cooking will be easy peasy. Get ready for finger-lickin’s good taste without all the grease.

Air Fryer Copycat KFC Fried Chicken when you think about Fried chicken, your mind automatically goes to a bucket of fried chicken from THE BEST place to purchase fried chicken. Today, I will show you how to make a copycat version in your very own air fryer.

On Friday nights, either my sister or I would choose what takeout we wanted, and she always went for Chinese Food. I always preferred the KFC. It would come with buttery biscuits, coleslaw, mashed potatoes covered with gravy, and of course, sweet corn. To me, it was like a feast. I loved it.

My kids love a great fried chicken dinner. Marrying someone with family in the South, my kids got spoiled eating magnificent Fried Chicken and loved it. So, of course, with my air fryer, I am working on all things fried.

The Secret To Great Copycat Air Fryer KFC Fried Chicken

After searching the web for the secret Fried Chicken Recipe, I found an article written by a Chicago news reporter, who happened by accident to take a picture of the original recipe.

So, the secret which I found out really due to a few reasons:

• KFC uses 11 different herbs in their seasoning blend, including paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, celery salt, black pepper, mustard powder, ginger, thyme, basil, and oregano.
• They add MSG for my homemade copycat version, which I omitted. However, you can add some Accent flavoring, which is said to taste the same as the MSG.

Air Fryer Copycat KFC Fried Chicken

Today, I tried to make copycat Air Fryer KFC Chicken, and I came close. As in the recipe, I soaked my chicken in buttermilk, battered it with the seasonings and flour, and then air-fried it to perfection.

I used a combination of chicken thighs and drumsticks.

Ingredients Needed For Air Fryer Copycat KFC Fried Chicken

Note: The exact quantities and instructions are found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Seasoning Blend:

• Paprika
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder
• Kosher Salt
• Celery Salt
• Black Pepper
• Dried Mustard Powder
• Ground Ginger
• Thyme
• Basil
• Oregano

Other Ingredients:

• Buttermilk
• Eggs
• All-Purpose Flour
• Cornstarch
• Chicken: A Combination of thighs, breasts, wings, or legs
• Olive Oil Spray

How to Make KFC Fried Chicken in the Air Fryer

• In a large bowl, mix together the eggs and buttermilk, whisk to combine.
• In another bowl, mix together the flour, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, celery salt, pepper, mustard, ginger, thyme, basil, and oregano. Whisk to combine.
• Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees for 5 minutes.
• Dip your chicken into the buttermilk mixture, let any excess drip off.

How to Make KFC Fried Chicken in the Air Fryer

• Then place the chicken into the flour mixture and press the flour onto the chicken to make sure it sticks. Shake off any excess.
• Spray the basket with olive oil, and then place the chicken into the basket. Generously spray your chicken with cooking spray. Air fry for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through and spraying with more cooking spray.
• Chicken is done with it reaches 165 degrees F, and the outside is golden brown.
• Plate, serve, and enjoy!

Do I have to Use Cornstarch?

One of the best ways to make your fried chicken taste as good, if not better, than any restaurant around town is with a bit of help from cornstarch. It’s an ingredient that you can find in many Asian recipes for making those crispiest broiled or deep-fried treats come alive again and take on a new life, all thanks to this one simple trick!

So whether you’re going traditional by frying up some crispy drumsticks until they hit every flavor note possible; or want something healthier without sacrificing richly textured meat, then definitely give my recipe below a try!

How Many Minutes Do I Cook Fried Chicken?

To maximize the flavor and juiciness of your chicken, make sure you fry each piece for at least 25 to 30 minutes.

White meat will be most flavorful around 165 degrees Fahrenheit while dark meat can attain a safe temperature range from 170-175 degrees F before being fully cooked through!

Why Does The Breading On My Friend Chicken Fall Off? How Can I Avoid That?

If you ever had trouble with breading falling off of your fried chicken when you try to flip it over in the air fryer? It’s not a big deal, and we’re here to help. We all know that ingredients like flour and eggs usually make up the breading on fried chicken.

The problem is that these two ingredients don’t stick together well at first glance, but some tricks will keep your breading from falling off every time!

Some great tips are:

• Shake off any excess buttermilk after you marinate in it.
• Pat your coating mixture with your hands to make sure it stays on. This will help it stick to the buttermilk.
• Space your chicken in the air fryer. The air fryer works by cicurating hot air around the chicken, cooking it to perfection. If you crowd your basket, it will not crisp up.
• Flip your chicken halfway during the cooking process, so both sides get cooked to perfection.

How Long Is Fried Chicken Good For?

Air Fryer Fried Chicken is best when it comes right out of the air fryer, but if you’ve got leftovers, you can quickly reheat them for another day.

For best results, let the chicken cool to room temperature and then place it into the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.

To reheat your chicken, place it into that air fryer basket, and spray with cooking spray, and cook at 350 degrees F, air fryer setting, for 8 to 10 minutes.

Some Great Items To Serve With KFC Fried Chicken:

• KFC Copycat Coleslaw
• KFC Copycat Potato Wedges
• Mashed Potatoes
• KFC Copycat Biscuits

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