🍗 Crispy Air Fryer Chicken

Golden, Juicy & Extra Crispy Without Deep Frying

Craving crispy fried chicken without all the extra oil? This Crispy Air Fryer Chicken recipe delivers perfectly seasoned chicken with a crunchy coating and juicy center — all made right in the air fryer. It’s quick, easy, and perfect for lunch, dinner, or game-day snacks.

The combination of flour, cornstarch, and seasonings creates a light, crispy crust that tastes just like classic fried chicken, but with less mess and less oil.

✨ Ingredients

• 6 chicken drumsticks or thighs
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil (30 ml)
• ½ cup all-purpose flour (60 g)
• ¼ cup cornstarch (30 g)
• 1 tbsp paprika (7 g)
• 1 tsp garlic powder (3 g)
• 1 tsp onion powder (3 g)
• ½ tsp black pepper (1 g)
• 1 tsp salt (6 g)
• ½ tsp baking powder (2 g)

👩‍🍳 How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Chicken

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken

Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels, then lightly coat them with vegetable oil. This helps the coating stick and creates a crispier finish.

Step 2: Make the Seasoned Coating

In a large bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, and baking powder.

Mix well until evenly combined.

Step 3: Coat the Chicken

Press each chicken piece firmly into the dry mixture, making sure every side is fully coated.

Shake off any excess coating before placing the chicken into the air fryer basket.

Step 4: Air Fry Until Crispy

Arrange the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each piece for proper airflow.

Cook at 180°C (360°F) for 15 minutes.

Flip the chicken and continue cooking for another 10–12 minutes until golden brown, crispy, and fully cooked through.

Step 5: Rest & Serve

Allow the chicken to rest for about 3 minutes before serving. This helps keep the inside juicy while the coating stays crispy.

Serve hot with fries, coleslaw, dipping sauce, or your favorite side dishes.

💡 Tips for Extra Crispy Chicken

• Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket.
• Pat the chicken dry before coating for better crispiness.
• Cornstarch helps create a lighter, crunchier texture.
• Spray lightly with oil during cooking if needed for extra golden color.