Storage And Reheating Instructions
To store the cooked chicken legs, you will want to let them cool to room temperature before placing them in an airtight container. Properly stored cooked chicken legs will last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Its best to reheat them in the air fryer or oven to regain the crispness if you want to. If you have any leftover seasoning rub, it can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.
If you like this recipe, you may be interested in these other delicious air fryer recipes:
General Tips For Cooking Chicken In The Air Fryer
OK, so now that you know why to cook chicken in the air fryer, its time to find out how. In general, you can do pretty much anything that you would do in a regular oven. The main difference is that you will not be using a pan. The chicken or chicken pieces go straight into the air fryer basket.
However, if you have something really saucy or with a lot of cheese that could melt, you can totally use a tray. The air fryer manufacturers sell a lot of accessories and accessory kits like this so you can find just the right pan for your air fryer. Or, you can use aluminum foil with the edges folded up. If youre going to use foil, make sure you read these important tips first.
In addition to not needing a pan, the other main difference between the air fryer and the oven is that the air fryer tends to cook things more quickly. What I typically do is to set my timer for 30-40% less time than I would for a regular oven. Then I check the food and decide if it needs longer or not. For meat and poultry, I use an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature. You want it to read 165°F for poultry. Some people take poultry out at a bit lower temperature, like 155°F and let it rest to come up the remainder of the way. I do think you get juicier chicken this way but it is not recommended for food safety reasons, as you can see here on the foodsafety.gov website.
Favorite Air Fryer Chicken Thigh Recipe
Looking for a super simple dinner idea thats tender on the inside and nice and crispy on the outside? Look no further than air fryer chicken thighs.
We are huge fans of chicken thighs in general at Fit Foodie Finds because a little bit of dark meat can do the soul good. Chicken thighs typically come out so much juicier than chicken breasts and they really are tasty.
Now, if you are used to whipping up baked chicken thighs or grilled chicken thighs to get them nice and crispy, the air fryer is going to change your life. When I say these are so crispy, I mean it!
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The Easy Chicken Breast Sauce
This recipe has an easy sauce that coats the chicken and adds some ridiculously delicious flavor. If youre thinking this is a boring chicken breast recipe think again.
Just whip up the sauce while the chicken is cooking and brush it all over the chicken during the last 4-5 minutes of cooking. It will coat the chicken with a warm and flavorful glaze.
Note Please follow the recipe instructions. Dont add the sauce at the beginning of cooking, it will burn and char.
Using The Air Fryer For Chicken
Ever since getting my air fryer a few months ago, Ive become hooked.
An air fryer is a high-powered, countertop convection oven that blows hot air down and around the food to cook it. Its more versatile than I expected!
You can use an air fryer to
- View a full list of air fryer recipes here.
Since chicken breast is lean, it benefits from high-temperature baking for a shorter period of time, and the air fryer offers it in spades.
After testing a variety of temperatures, I found that 375 degrees F is the best temperature for air frying chicken.
Because the air fryer uses convection heat, you do not need to set it as high as you would an oven .
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Can You Cook Whole Chicken In An Air Fryer One Thing Makes The Difference
Even though air fryers usually come with a recipe book, you still want to prepare as many meals as possible in them. Today, were going to look at the question: Can you cook whole chicken in an air fryer? Will it taste the same as an oven-cooked chicken? Well also talk about the benefits and the one thing that makes cooking a whole chicken in an air fryer different.
So lets answer that question. Yes. You can roast chicken in an air fryer. But your success in roasting a chicken in an air fryer depends on one very important thing.
- Air Fryer that holds at least 5 quarts or more.
As long as you have an air fryer that is large enough, you will be able to make a great-tasting whole chicken in as little as an hour.
One of the best things about frying your food in an air fryer is that it can reduce calories by 70-80% a cording to WebMD. And air fryers use almost no oil. This benefit alone is why many people have them in their homes so this part of owning an air fryer is a no-brainer. But what about roasting a chicken?
Personally, Im convinced that its our love of French fries that paved the way for the air fryer. Hey, I could be wrong, but all the commercials Ive seen for air fryers have featured people air frying fries. The two main selling points for an air fryer are that it uses very little oil and cooks food faster than traditional ovens.
The Best Air Fryer Whole Chicken
This recipe for flavorful Air Fryer Whole Chicken gives you perfectly cooked juicy chicken with crispy skin every single time. Learn how easy it is to make whole chicken in air fryer thats ready to serve in under an hour!
Suitable for Gluten-Free, Low Carb, Paleo and Keto dieters. Weight Watchers points included.
So here is a confession. I am addicted to chicken recipes. This makes friends and family super happy since they get to eat chicken in this, that and every which way.
The latest way being this really delicious go to juicy and succulent Air Fryer Whole Chicken with a super crispy skin to boot.
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Why I Love Whole Chicken In The Air Fryer
Oven roast chicken is a go to meal, and its even easier in the air fryer. This is hands down my favorite air fryer meal, it comes out with extra-crisp skin and is very juicy & fall off the bone tender.
- Using the air fryer to cook any cut of chicken is so easy.
- Chicken cooks quicker and clean up is a cinch!
- Youll need just 3 ingredients .
- The skin is extra crisp and the meat is very juicy.
- Great for dinner or for meal prep. Cook an extra chicken to replace a rotisserie chicken or to have chicken for sandwiches, soups, or salads.
Serve this air fryer chicken with your favorite veggies or mashed potatoes and a side salad.
What To Serve With Air Fryer Salmon
- Air Fry Salmon and Asparagus. Asparagus and salmon are a classic pairing. While the salmon is in the air fryer, prepare this fast Grilled Asparagus or Roasted Asparagus, or make Air Fryer Asparagus.
- Air Fryer Salmon and Vegetables. You can pair any veggie with salmon. For a comfort-food dinner, try Oven Roasted Potatoes or Roasted Fingerling Potatoes. For something green, Roasted Broccoli and Sauteed Brussels Sprouts are excellent.
- Air Fryer Salmon with Salad. Salad is an ideal side dish with salmon. Ramen Salad or Asian Noodle Salad would pair perfectly.
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Cook For 360 Degrees Fahrenheit For 60 Minutes
This part is pretty self-explanatory. But its also important that you make sure to flip your chicken over towards the last 10 to 15 minutes of cooking. As great as any air fryer is able to circulate hot air all the way around the chicken it may not be enough and flipping it over will help put the bottom portion of the chicken in direct vision of the heating element. This will help create a more crispy back of the chicken.
Whats The Best Chicken To Use
For my money and taste buds, nothing beats buying a whole chicken and cutting it up yourself. This way, you get some dark meat and some white meat. I also believe in using skin-on and bone-in chicken, which leads to more flavorful and juicier chicken.
That said, my family is not actually a huge fan of the same kind of fried chicken I like. They prefer simple chicken strips, so I did some of those, too, and they work really well.
Chicken strips cook faster than bone-in pieces, so you run the risk of overcooking them and drying them out. Be sure to check strips frequently until theyre just cooked through .
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Can You Stack Chicken In The Air Fryer
While most air fryers have a maximum fill line, its best not to stack chicken up until you reach that point. Air circulation is key to getting the crispy chicken you crave, and stacking meat limits air flow, often resulting in unevenly cooked meat. Stick to baking a single layer of chicken at a time to get the best results.
We hope this easy guide to baking air fryer chicken inspires your kitchen adventures. Enjoy all that crispy chicken!
Courtney Hamilton
Courtney Hamilton is a writer and editor with over seven years’ experience in journalism, blogging, communications, and other media. She has written for publications like PaleoHacks, PaleoPlan, The Center for American Progress, OC Weekly, and more.
How To Make Air Fryer Chicken And Vegetables
Making this air fryer chicken recipe couldnt be any easier. Simply chop the vegetables and chicken into bite-sized pieces and place them in a large bowl.
Mix together the oil and seasonings and coat the chicken and veggies evenly. Then put the chicken and vegetables in the air fryer and cook. After they have cooked for 5 minutes or so, give them a shake and continue cooking. Keep cooking until the chicken is done, and everything has a char on it. You may need to work in batches if your air fryer isnt very big.
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How Long To Cook Frozen Chicken Breasts In The Air Fryer
Depending on the size of your chicken breasts, they will take around 20-30 minutes, to cook from frozen in the air fryer. Here are some tips:
- Size matters Large, thick chicken breasts will take longer to cook. Try and find breasts that are approximately the same size to ensure even cooking. We tested with various sizes of breasts and noted times typically between 25-40 minutes depending on the size. Shoot for smaller breasts if you want them to cook in under 30 minutes.
- Temperature I highly recommend checking the internal temperature of the chicken with an instant read thermometer to ensure the chicken is fully cooked to 165°.
- No thaw You can cook the chicken from completely frozen! If your chicken breasts are stuck together, submerge the package in warm water for about 5 minutes. Then, open them up and carefully pry the breasts apart with a fork or knife.
What Is Rotisserie Chicken
Rotisserie chicken is cooked on a spit or rotisserie rod that rotates directly in front of or over a heat source. The chicken is seasoned and cooked until it is fully cooked and the skin is crispy. Rotisserie chicken is often sold at delis, supermarkets, and restaurants and can be served hot or cold.
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Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are an incredibly crunchy and flavorful homemade version of every kids favorite restaurant meal. Save money and time by cooking in air fryer at home. Chicken tenders in air fryer are easy to make and are a serious upgrade from frozen chicken tenders. You wont believe you can air fry your own chicken tenders that are so crunchy.
Do You Have To Clean Air Fryer After Every Use
And those bits trapped in the baskets holes will keep on cooking and can burn to a crisp. Thats why you should clean your air fryer after every use. Our testers found that the nooks and crannies on some air fryer components are a bear to clean, and the crevices on the exterior take effort, too.
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More Ways To Season Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe
- Parmesan Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Add 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese to your spice mixture.
- Spicy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Add 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper to the spice mixture.
- Brown Sugar Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Add 2 teaspoons of brown sugar to the spice mixture.
- Italian Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Add 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning to the spice mixture.
- Curry Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Add 2 teaspoons curry powder to the spice mixture.
- Garlic Butter Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Omit the smoked paprika, add an extra teaspoon of garlic powder, and swap the olive oil for melted butter.
- Lemon Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Add zest of 1 lemon to the spice mixture.
Try These Sides With Your Fried Chicken
Alternative Pan Fry Method: If you dont have access to an air fryer, you can make this fried chicken using a traditional pan fry method. Add enough oil to a cast iron skillet so the oil is about 1 1/2 inches up the side of the skillet. Heat oil until it reaches 350°F. Add chicken pieces and fry for 8 minutes. Flip, and fry for another 8 minutes until golden brown. Test temperature you might need a few more minutes for the dark meat pieces .
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Can I Roast Them In The Oven Instead
Yes, Roasting the chicken and veggies in the oven is the process is the same as air frying and yields similar results but the air fryer is much faster and easier to clean up.
To bake in the oven, preheat oven to 450F and roast on a sheet pan for 15-20 minutes or until charred and cooked through.
Alternatively, we have a full post on how to make them in the oven here: 15 Minute Chicken and Veggies
How Long To Cook Chicken In The Air Fryer
The basic time for a standard 8-oz portion of chicken is 8 minutes. However, smaller or larger cuts will have differing cooking times:
- Small breasts : 6 to 8 minutes
- Medium breasts : 7-10 minutes
- Large breasts : 10-14 minutes
Since chicken breasts are leaner compared to other proteins, it doesnt take long to cook in the air fryer.
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Can You Cook Two Different Foods At The Same Time In An Air Fryer
Multiple dishes at once
With an air fryer, you can prepare multiple ingredients at the same time. The separator that some of them come with the appliance will enable you to divide the ingredients in the basket or pan and cook both foods at the same time.
Air Fryer Fried Chicken
This Air Fryer Fried Chicken is golden brown, juicy, and full of flavor. Its one recipe you have to try in your Air Fryer.
This post may contain affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here.
Full Recipe/Instructions are available in therecipe card at the bottom of the post.You can find important tips/tricks in theblog post.
If youre living in the South, then knowing how to make fried chicken is a must. I tried for the longest to avoid posting a fried chicken recipe on the blog because, in all honesty, I didnt tend to get excited about fried chicken.
Until now. For years, when my Southern husband requested fried chicken, Id just shrug and make him these air fried chicken wings covered in an Asian sauce instead.
But one day, I went ahead and made a traditional Southern fried chicken recipe right in my Air Fryer. It was phenomenal. I had to apologize for taking so long to make it and I had to apologize for hating on fried chicken all these years. Now its a part of our monthly meal rotation.
I like to cut a whole chicken up into separate portions, its economical and nothing goes to waste. I can make air fryer fried chicken thighs, air fryer fried chicken drumsticks, and also use the breast meat and wings too.
For the juiciest chicken, I like to marinade my Air Fryer Fried Chicken in buttermilk, which tenderizes the chicken and also adds a great tangy flavor.
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How To Cook Chickenbreast In Air Fryer
Pat the chicken breast dry with a kitchen towel, using a meat tenderizer or mallet, pound the chicken a few times to flatten it, so the chicken can have the same thickness, this also helps the bird cook evenly. Then season with salt and pepper
Rub each side of the chicken with vegetable oil and season generously with the Peri Peri seasoning.
Preheat the air fryer at 390F/195C for 3 minutes then spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil. Avoid using cooking spray on your air fryer basket as it can peel off the coating on the basket.
Place the seasoned chicken in the air fryer and cook for a total of 20 minutes, 10 minutes on each side. In other to know that the chicken is completely cooked, the internal temperature must read 165F/75C.
If you will not be eating the chicken immediately, then you can stop cooking the chicken at 160F/70C, the chicken would continue to cook as it rests. Transfer the chicken to a plate with a kitchen tong, serve and enjoy.