🍗 Air Fryer KFC-Style Fried Chicken (Copycat)
✅ Ingredients (Serves 3–4)
Chicken
6–8 pieces chicken (drumsticks, thighs, or breast pieces)
Buttermilk Marinade
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp paprika
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
Crispy Coating (KFC-Style Spice Blend)
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp paprika
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
½ tsp basil
½ tsp white pepper
½–1 tsp cayenne (optional heat)
Salt & black pepper to taste
For Air Frying
Cooking spray or brush of oil
👨🍳 How to Make It
1️⃣ Marinate (Flavor + Juiciness)
Mix buttermilk, egg, and spices.
Add chicken, coat well, cover, and refrigerate at least 1 hour (overnight = elite level flavor).
2️⃣ Bread It (Crunchy Magic)
Mix all coating ingredients in a bowl.
Take chicken from marinade, let excess drip off.
Dredge in flour mix, pressing firmly so it really sticks.
For extra crunch: dip back into marinade → flour again (double coat).
3️⃣ Air Fry
Preheat air fryer to 180°C / 360°F for 3–5 minutes.
Lightly spray basket and chicken with oil.
Air fry 12–15 minutes per side (24–30 min total), flipping halfway.
Spray lightly again after flipping for that fried look.
4️⃣ Check Doneness
Chicken should be golden, crispy, and cooked through
Internal temp: 75°C / 165°F
🔥 Pro Tips (This is the “better than KFC” part)
Cornstarch hack: Replace ¼ cup flour with cornstarch for ultra crunch
Extra crispy: Let coated chicken rest 10 minutes before air frying
Spicy KFC vibe: Add 1 tsp chili powder + extra cayenne
No buttermilk? Use milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar
🍽️ Serve With
Fries
Coleslaw
Biscuits
Honey, hot sauce, or garlic mayo for dipping
If you want, tell me what air fryer model you’ve got and I’ll dial in the exact timing so it comes out perfect on your first try 😄
