10 Mouth-Watering Air Fryer Chicken Recipes You Must Try

Air fryers have taken the culinary world by storm, revolutionizing the way we cook our favourite dishes. One area where they truly shine is in preparing chicken.

With their ability to crisp up chicken to perfection using just a fraction of the oil compared to traditional deep frying, air fryers have made it easier than ever to enjoy mouth-watering chicken recipes that are both delicious and healthier.

In this article, we'll introduce you to 10 irresistible air fryer chicken recipes that will have your taste buds dancing with joy.

1. Classic Crispy Fried Chicken:

Ingredients:

• 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces (thighs, drumsticks, or a mix)
• 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

Instructions:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 190°C.
2. In a bowl, mix together the flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Coat each piece of chicken with the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.
4. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
5. Arrange the chicken pieces in a single layer in the basket.
6. Cook for 25-30 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through, until it reaches an internal temperature of 74°C.
7. Serve hot and enjoy!

2. Honey Mustard Glazed Chicken Wings:

Ingredients:

• 800 gram chicken wings
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons mustard
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 190°C.
2. In a bowl, mix together the honey, mustard, soy sauce, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
3. Toss the chicken wings in the honey mustard mixture until it is well coated.
4. Place the wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
5. Cook for 25-30 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until the wings are crispy and fully cooked.
6. Serve with your favourite dipping sauce.

3. Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders:

Ingredients:

• 500g chicken tenders
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Cooking spray

Instructions:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 190°C.
2. In a bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, dried basil, salt, and pepper.
3. Coat each chicken tender with the breadcrumb mixture, pressing it on to adhere.
4. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
5. Arrange the tenders in the basket in a single layer.
6. Cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping the tenders halfway through, until they are golden brown and cooked through.
7. Serve with marinara sauce or ranch dressing, or a dipping sauce of your choice.

4. Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks:

Ingredients:

• 12 chicken drumsticks
• 1/2 cup hot sauce
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 190°C.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the hot sauce, melted butter, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
3. Toss the chicken drumsticks in the buffalo sauce mixture until well coated.
4. Place the drumsticks in the air fryer basket.
5. Cook for 25-30 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until the drumsticks are crispy and the internal temperature reaches 70°C.
6. Serve with celery sticks and blue cheese dressing.

5. Lemon Herb Whole Chicken:

Ingredients: 

• 1kg whole chicken
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 4-5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat your air fryer 180°C.
2. Rub the chicken with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Stuff the cavity with lemon slices, garlic, rosemary, and thyme.
4. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket.
5. Cook for 60-75 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken, until it reaches an internal temperature of 75°C.

6. Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tacos:

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 8 small tortillas
• Your favourite taco toppings (lettuce, tomato, cheese, salsa, sour cream, etc.)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 190°C.
2. Cut the chicken breast into strips.
3. In a bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
4. Dip each chicken strip into the breadcrumb mixture, pressing it on to adhere.
5. Place the coated chicken strips in the air fryer basket.
6. Cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until they are golden brown and cooked through.
7. Warm the tortillas, assemble your tacos with the crispy chicken strips, and your favourite toppings.

7. Sesame Orange Chicken:

Ingredients:

• 400g boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1/4 cup orange marmalade
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
• Green onions, chopped, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 190°C.
2. In a bowl, mix together the orange marmalade, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic powder, ginger powder, and red pepper flakes.
3. Toss the chicken pieces in the orange sauce until coated.
4. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket.
5. Cook for 15-18 minutes, shaking the basket occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through.
6. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onions before serving.

8. Crispy Coconut Chicken Strips:

Ingredients:

• 400g chicken breast tenders
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Sweet chili sauce, for dipping

Instructions:

1. Preheat the air fryer to 190°C.
2. In separate bowls, place the flour, beaten eggs, and a mixture of shredded coconut and panko breadcrumbs.
3. Season the chicken tenders with salt and pepper.
4. Dip each tender first in the flour, then in the beaten eggs, and finally in the coconut-breadcrumb mixture, pressing it on to adhere.
5. Place the coated chicken tenders in the air fryer basket.
6. Cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until they are crispy and cooked through.
7. Serve with sweet chili sauce for dipping.

9. Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs:

Ingredients:

• 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• Zest and juice of 1 lemon
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 190°C.
2. In a bowl, combine the melted butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, minced garlic, dried thyme, salt, and pepper.
3. Brush the chicken thighs with the lemon garlic butter mixture.
4. Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket.
5. Cook for 20-25 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is crispy.
6. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving.

10. BBQ Ranch Chicken Quesadillas:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
• 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
• 1/4 cup ranch dressing
• 4 large flour tortillas
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• Cooking spray

Instructions:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 190°C.
2. In a bowl, mix the shredded chicken with BBQ sauce and ranch dressing.
3. Lay out a tortilla, spoon a portion of the chicken mixture onto half of it, then sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese.
4. Fold the tortilla in half to create a quesadilla.
5. Spray both sides of the quesadilla with cooking spray.
6. Place the quesadilla in the air fryer basket.
7. Cook for 5-7 minutes, flipping it halfway through, until it is crispy and the cheese is melted.
8. Slice and serve with extra BBQ sauce for dipping.

Enjoy these delectable air fryer chicken recipes that bring a burst of flavour and a satisfying crunch to your table. Whether you're in the mood for classic crispy fried chicken, zesty orange chicken, or cheesy quesadillas, your air fryer will quickly become your go-to appliance for creating irresistible chicken dishes.