The Best Buttermilk-Brined Southern Fried Air Fryer Chicken Recipe

Name: The Best Buttermilk-Brined Southern Fried Air Fryer Chicken Recipe
Cuisine: American, Southern
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons paprika; 2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper; 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 2 teaspoons dried oregano; 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 cup buttermilk; 1 large egg; Kosher salt; One whole chicken, about 4 pounds, cut into 10 pieces or 3 1/2 pounds bone-in, skin-on breasts, legs, drumsticks, and/or wings; 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour; 1/2 cup cornstarch; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 4 cups vegetable shortening or peanut oil; A large wok or cast-iron chicken fryer

5 steps

I have modified the original recipe to work in an air fryer. An intensely flavored buttermilk brine tenderizes the chicken while keeping it moist. Adding wet ingredients to the dry flour coating ensures an extra-craggy crust with lots of nooks and crannies. NOTE: The chicken is considered cooked when the internal temperature (using a digital instant-read thermometer, reaches 165° consistently among all of the Chicken pieces.

Updated at: Thu, 17 Aug 2023 06:03:32 GMT

Nutrition balance score

Unbalanced

Glycemic Index

Moderate

Nutrition per serving

Calories11153.1 kcal (558%)

Total Fat1016.1 g (1452%)

Carbs236.4 g (91%)

Sugars14.5 g (16%)

Protein260.9 g (522%)

Sodium2458.8 mg (123%)

Fiber16.7 g (60%)

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Ingredients

0 servings

2 tablespoonspaprika

2 tablespoonsblack pepper

freshly ground

2 teaspoonsgarlic powder

2 teaspoonsdried oregano

½ teaspooncayenne pepper

1 cupbuttermilk

cut into 10 pieces or 3 1/2 pounds bone-in, skin-on breasts, legs, drumsticks, and/or wings

1 ½ cupsall purpose flour

½ cupcornstarch

1 teaspoonbaking powder

4 cupsvegetable shortening

or peanut oil

wok

large, or cast-iron chicken fryer

Instructions

Step 1

Transfer the coated chicken to the foil-lined dish and repeat the process with remaining chicken. Let the coated chicken rest while you preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F for 5 minutes.

Step 2

When air fryer is preheated, use an oil mister to lightly coat the bottom of the air fryer basket with oil. Lightly coat both sides of the chicken with oil and transfer them to the preheated air fryer. It's okay if the chicken is touching but the pieces should not overlap. Set the air fryer to 390 degrees F for 25 minutes, see note.

Step 3

Check on the chicken about halfway through the cooking time and spray any dry spots with additional oil.

Step 4

The internal temperature of the fried chicken should read at least 165 degrees F at the end of the cooking.

Step 5

Roast at 390° for approx 40 minutes? The time & temp for this recipe are educated guesses on my (Diane's) part.

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