Air Fryer Southern Fried Chicken

 Air Fryer Southern Fried Chicken

A healthier twist on classic Southern Fried Chicken—you still get the crispy, flavorful coating but with much less oil thanks to the air fryer.

 Ingredients

• 6–8 chicken pieces (drumsticks or thighs)

• 1 cup buttermilk

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• ½ cup cornstarch

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 tsp black pepper

• 1 tsp paprika

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• ½ tsp onion powder

• ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional for heat)

• Cooking spray or a little oil

 Instructions

1. Marinate the chicken

   • Place chicken in a bowl with buttermilk.

   • Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (overnight is best).

2. Prepare the coating

   • In another bowl mix: flour, cornstarch, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne.

3. Coat the chicken

   • Remove chicken from buttermilk.

   • Dredge each piece in the flour mixture, pressing well so the coating sticks.

4. Preheat the air fryer

   • Set to 180°C (360°F) for about 3–5 minutes.

5. Air fry

   • Lightly spray chicken with oil.

   • Place in the basket (don’t overcrowd).

   • Cook 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway through and spraying lightly again.

6. Finish

   • Cook until the internal temperature reaches 75°C (165°F) and the crust is golden and crispy.

 Serving Ideas

Serve with:

• Mashed Potatoes

• Coleslaw

• Cornbread

 Tips for Extra Crispiness

• Add cornstarch to the flour (key trick).

• Spray a light coat of oil before cooking.

• Let coated chicken rest 10 minutes before air frying so the crust sticks better.

If you want, I can also show you:

• KFC-style air fryer chicken recipe

• 10-minute crispy chicken air fryer trick

• 🇵🇰 Spicy Pakistani-style air fryer fried chicken.