The Ultimate Air Fryer « Fried » Chicken: Crispy, Juicy & Guilt-Free

You’ve discovered the holy grail of healthy comfort food. This method brilliantly uses the air fryer’s convection power to render fat and create a shatteringly crisp crust without the vat of oil. Let’s refine this excellent recipe into a foolproof, restaurant-quality technique.

🍗 Air Fryer « Fried » Chicken (Better-Than-Takeout)

Prep: 15 mins (+ optional brine) | Cook: 25-30 mins | Serves: 2-4

Ingredients (The Optimized List)

  • 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or drumsticks (~2 lbs)

    • Thighs are superior for juiciness; legs for classic appeal.

  • 1 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil

  • FOR THE DRY BRINE (Highly Recommended):

    • 1 tsp kosher salt

  • FOR THE SEASONING BLEND:

    • 1 tsp fine sea salt (use ½ tsp if you dry-brined)

    • 1 tsp smoked paprika (for depth)

    • 1 tsp garlic powder

    • 1 tsp onion powder

    • ½ tsp black pepper

    • ½ tsp dried thyme or oregano (optional)

  • FOR THE CRISP COATING:

    • 2 tbsp cornstarch OR 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese (for keto)

    • Why cornstarch? It creates a crispier, more delicate crust than flour without gluten heaviness.

Essential Tools

  • Instant-read thermometer (non-negotiable for perfect doneness)

  • Wire rack (for drying the chicken pre-cook)

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