Air Fryer KFC Chicken

Here’s a delicious way to make KFC-style chicken in the air fryer — crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, without deep frying.

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Air Fryer KFC-Style Chicken

Ingredients

• 4–6 chicken pieces (drumsticks, thighs, or wings)

• 1 cup buttermilk (or regular milk with 1 tsp vinegar)

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon black pepper

• 1 teaspoon paprika

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 teaspoon onion powder

• ½ teaspoon dried thyme (optional)

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)

• Cooking spray or a light drizzle of oil

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Instructions

1. Marinate the chicken:

   • In a bowl, mix the chicken pieces with buttermilk, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.

   • Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or overnight for more flavor).

2. Prepare the coating:

   • In a shallow bowl, combine flour, cayenne pepper, dried thyme, and a pinch of salt and pepper.

3. Coat the chicken:

   • Remove chicken from the buttermilk, letting excess drip off.

   • Dredge each piece in the flour mixture, pressing lightly to coat evenly.

4. Preheat air fryer:

   • Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (193°C) for 3–5 minutes.

5. Air fry the chicken:

   • Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.

   • Place chicken pieces in a single layer (don’t overcrowd).

   • Spray the tops of the chicken lightly with cooking spray or drizzle a tiny bit of oil.

   • Cook for 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

6. Serve:
   Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy with your favorite sides like coleslaw, fries, or biscuits.

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Tips & Variations

• Extra crispy: Double-dip the chicken in buttermilk and flour for an extra crunchy coating.

• Spice it up: Add smoked paprika, chili powder, or Cajun seasoning to the flour mix.

• Even cooking: Use chicken pieces of similar size and avoid stacking in the air fryer.

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If you want, I can give you a “11 Herbs & Spices” KFC copycat seasoning mix to make it taste even closer to the original KFC chicken. Do you want me to provide that?