Ever tried air fryer buttermilk fried chicken? It’s delicious!
Better than oven-baked, and super easy to prepare! Buttermilk fried chicken in an air fryer is better than deep-fried, less mess, and less fat! You’ll never make buttermilk fried chicken the old way again!
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Can You Make Buttermilk Fried Chicken in an Air Fryer?
You sure can, and it’s even better than regular buttermilk oven fried chicken! Air fryers are the new darlings in kitchens everywhere, they are so versatile! This homemade buttermilk batter makes crispy breasts, chicken wings, chicken legs, thighs, or tenders totally delish!
The air fryer circulates hot air around each piece so they are perfectly cooked, tender, and juicy every time! And crispy too!
Why We Love Air Fryer Buttermilk Fried Chicken
We love this air fryer buttermilk fried chicken recipe because the air fryer cooks foods clean. No splattering of hot grease or messy steps to cover. And chicken soaked in buttermilk tenderizes it just perfectly!
The marinade does most of the work, making each piece flavorful and ready for breading! The final drizzle adds a little sweet and spicy to the finished chicken. Or, dip pieces in creamy dill dressing too!
Ingredients/Variations
BUTTERMILK
Buttermilk brined fried chicken has a tangy flavor! But if buttermilk isn’t available, can milk be used instead? Fried chicken using buttermilk is the preferred way, but there are always options! Milk alone won’t give the chicken that tangy flavor, but it can be mixed with some vinegar or lemon juice to give it that “buttermilk bright” flavor. Mix about 1 Tablespoon per cup of milk.
Buttermilk ranch dressing also makes a great marinade if time is short!
BREADING
Crushed cornflakes or Chex cereal can also be used in the third step mixed in with the flour for extra crunch.
SAUCE
The spicy honey sauce is truly delicious, with only a small kick of heat, and is a perfect complement to this dish. Both of my kids loved it. The chicken tastes amazing with Dillionaire Dip, sweet and sour, or your favorite BBQ sauce. Any sauce you fancy will pair well with this crunchy, tender chicken.
How to Make Buttermilk Fried Chicken in an Air Fryer
Perfect fried chicken can be achieved with this delicious recipe. Here’s a quick overview of the steps involved.
- Prepare the sauce, set aside until ready to use.
- Marinate chicken according to recipe below.
- Preheat air fryer, place perforated parchment on tray.
- Prepare flour mixture. Coat chicken using tongs, place on air fryer tray.
- Air fry according to recipe, drizzle with sauce, and serve immediately.
Tips and Tricks for Air Fryer Success!
- Choose pieces of chicken that are roughly equal in size so they cook at the same rate
- When marinating the chicken, press the buttermilk mixture into each piece so the seasonings adhere well to the meat.
PRO TIP: Cut holes in the parchment paper to allow the air to circulate around the chicken, or buy air fryer liners with holes on Amazon. I cut the holes “snowflake” style to make it quick and easy, but the liners you can buy are pretty cool!
What to Serve Air Fryer Buttermilk Fried Chicken With
We love buttermilk fried chicken with a side of scalloped potatoes, orzo pasta salad, air fryer broccolini and some cornbread muffins. Top it all off with some ginger rhubarb pie, for a perfect summer treat!
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Leftovers are best stored in an airtight plastic container and will last in the fridge for about 4 days. Drizzle or no drizzle, the pieces of chicken are best reheated in the air fryer or oven for about 10 minutes at 350°F, or until heated through.
The chicken can be reheated in the microwave for about 30 seconds, but you will lose the crispiness.
Air Fryer Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Ingredients
Drizzle
- ⅛ cup honey
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
Chicken
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2-3 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 2 Tablespoons Kosher salt
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3-4 pounds chicken cut up pieces, bone in (breasts cut in half)
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt optional, to taste
- cooking spray or oil in a spray bottle
Instructions
Drizzle
- Mix together honey, cayenne pepper, paprika, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cover and set aside at room temperature to allow flavors to meld (overnight is OK).
Marinate Chicken
- Add buttermilk, cayenne pepper, 2 Tablespoons salt, and garlic to a large zip-top bag. Mix ingredients together and add chicken. Gently massage bag to ensure chicken is covered. Refrigerate for 4 hours, or overnight.
Air Fry Chicken
- Remove chicken from fridge. Preheat air fryer to 370°F. Prepare parchment paper (with holes) and add to air fryer tray* and set aside.
- In a shallow dish, mix flour, cornstarch, and salt if using.
- Using tongs, add chicken to the flour mixture and turn to coat. If needed, use a spoon to add flour mixture on chicken. Using tongs, add to air fryer tray, leaving space around each piece. (Avoid crowding and cook in batches).
- Air fry for 13 minutes. Remove from air fryer and spray floury areas with cooking spray or oil. Flip and spray with cooking spray. Return to air fryer and bake for 12 minutes. Flip and bake for 1 more minute. Cook chicken to 170°F.
- Add drizzle and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
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Recipe from Grandbaby Cakes and inspired by My Forking Life
