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Air Fryer Fried Chicken Recipe | No Buttermilk Needed

Name: Air Fryer Fried Chicken Recipe | No Buttermilk Needed
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: Chicken pieces; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; Cooking spray or oil for misting

Author: Laurie Fleming
Published: September 6, 2023

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Air Fryer Fried Chicken Recipe | No Buttermilk Needed — Impress your family or guests with this easy-to-follow guide to make a healthier fried chicken without buttermilk or excess oil. Try it out for dinner tonight.

Air Fryer recipes and meals are the new trend in home cooking! An air fryer makes cooking dinner for you or your family an easy affair that results in delicious, crispy food in a short amount of cook time.

Many people hesitate to try an air fryer, especially in classic southern fried chicken. However, an air fryer is a healthier alternative, resulting in crispy fried chicken that will satisfy all your cravings!

Why an air fryer?

What is an air fryer, and why would you use it? An air fryer is a countertop cooking device that uses a heating element and fan to cook food by circulating hot air. An air fryer gives you the same crispy exterior and juicy inside that traditional deep frying provides, without the unhealthy oils.

This means you get your delicious, crispy foods with less trans fat, saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, and monounsaturated fat. You aren’t dunking those delightful chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or your favorite piece in a vat of cooking oil.

Instead, air fryers circulating hot air with a light spray of cooking oil or olive oil give you the same delicious chicken wings, bone-in chicken, boneless chicken breast, or boneless chicken thighs as if deep fried.

Air Fryer Fried Chicken Recipe | No Buttermilk Ne

Air Fryer Chicken

If you love fried chicken, this is definitely the recipe for you. But I can hear your skepticism. Can an air fryer really deliver tasty, crispy, fried chicken without buttermilk? Yes, it can! Whether you prefer coated chicken breasts, chicken thighs, chicken drumsticks, or all the chicken you can get your hands on, our great recipe and the air fryer will impress you.

Our chicken recipe includes a flour mixture with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and other seasoning to turn up the flavor. When frying chicken, an air fryer provides an extra crispy exterior but ensures the inside of the chicken thigh or breast meat stays tender and moist.

Ingredients Needed For Air Fryer Fried Chicken Without Buttermilk Mixture

These ingredients will be used to create a flavorful and crispy coating for your chicken pieces when preparing them in the air fryer.

To get started with our dairy-free fried chicken recipe, here are the ingredients you’ll need:

Chicken pieces: Choose your preferred chicken pieces, such as drumsticks, thighs, bone-in chicken, boneless chicken thighs, boneless chicken breasts, legs, or wings.
All-purpose flour: This forms the base for the crispy coating on the chicken.
Paprika: Adds a smoky flavor and color to the coating.
Garlic powder: Imparts a rich, savory flavor to the breading.
Onion powder: Provides a hint of oniony goodness to the crust.
Kosher salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the chicken.
Black pepper: Adds a touch of heat and complements the other seasonings.
Cooking spray or oil for misting: Helps achieve a golden and crispy exterior when air frying.

Air Frying Instructions Air Fryer Fried Chicken Recipe | No Buttermilk Needed

Prep the Chicken:

Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.

Season the Flour:

In a shallow bowl, mix the all-purpose flour with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.

Coat the Chicken:

Roll each piece of chicken in the seasoned flour mixture, pressing gently to ensure even coating and removing excess flour. (Note: This recipe does not have an egg wash or egg mixture, so pay careful attention to how you coat the chicken.)

Preheat the Air Fryer:

Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F (190°C) for a few minutes.

Arrange in the Air Fryer:

Place the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between them for proper air circulation.

Air Fry the Chicken:

Lightly mist the chicken with cooking spray or apply a thin layer of oil with an oil mister., spraying the coating fully. Otherwise, you will end up with white spots and dried-out chicken. Air fry the chicken at 375°F (190°C) for a cook time of about 20-25 minutes, flipping the pieces halfway through. The chicken should be golden brown and crispy.

Check for Doneness:

To ensure the chicken is fully cooked, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. It should reach 165°F (74°C).

Serve:

Once the cook time is up and the chicken is cooked to perfection, please remove it from the air fryer and place chicken on a plate to let it rest for a few minutes before serving.

Enjoy:

Serve your Easy Air Fryer Fried Chicken without Buttermilk with your favorite hot sauce or dipping sauces and sides. The crispy coating and juicy meat are sure to be a hit!

Pro Tips

If you need an even crispier finish, try substituting a little bit of potato starch for some of your flour.
Also, any leftover chicken you have can easily be reheated using the air fryer! When you reheat fried chicken in an air fryer, it ensures you keep the best qualities of crispiness and moist interior with even heating.

If you’re making fried chicken for dinner tonight, this is the best fried chicken recipe, especially for fried chicken without buttermilk or dairy products. And when you’ve enjoyed our air-fried chicken recipe, feel free to explore the blog for more air fryer recipes!

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