Fried Chicken is a big thing in the South. You’ll find a KFC, Bojangles, and Popeye’s in almost every Southern town that’s big enough to attract a fast-food chain. Of course, most families have a “secret” recipe for their crispy, fried deliciousness, whether it’s a buttermilk batter, secret spices, or a certain cooking style. Fried chicken-though a beloved family favorite-didn’t grace our table often. Too much fat and calories! When we discovered air frying, the world changed. We experimented until we developed an Air Fryer Classic Southern Fried Chicken recipe. We’re sharing our recipe with you so you can enjoy the amazing taste of fried chicken too.
Air Fryer Classic Southern Fried Chicken
Our recipe is an adaptation of my mom and my mother-in-law’s recipe. I’ve added panko bread crumbs to give it a satisfying crunch, while the flour and “secret” blend of herbs and spices gives it an authentic flavor.
Printable Recipe
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 2 whole boneless skinless chicken breasts, (about 2-lbs) halved
- 1 to 2 tablespoons oil
- In a shallow bowl, whisk the flour, salt, pepper, and paprika until blended. Place the beaten eggs in a second shallow bowl and the bread crumbs in a third shallow bowl.
- One at a time, dip the chicken pieces in the flour mixture, the beaten egg, and the bread crumbs, coating thoroughly.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Line the air fryer tray with parchment paper.
- Place the coated chicken on the parchment and spritz with oil.
- Cook for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken, spritz it with oil, and cook for 10 minutes more until the outside is crispy and the inside is no longer pink.
Cooking Tips:
*Need the chicken to be gluten-free? Use gluten-free all-purpose one-to-one baking flour and gluten-free panko.
*Garlic-Ginger Chicken Variation– Reduce the paprika to 1/2 teaspoon. Add 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, and 1 teaspoon ground coriander to the flour mixture.
*You can use whatever type of oil you prefer for this recipe, but it needs to have a high smoke point. Good choices include canola oil, corn oil, peanut oil, sesame oil, and safflower oil. All of these have a smoke point of 400°F or higher.
*For a thicker coating, roll the chicken in the flour, then the egg, then the flour again, before dipping in the panko.
Our New Cookbook
This recipe came for our new cookbook, The Southern Air Fryer Cookbook. It’s available now on Kindle and will be available in print TODAY, July 21st. We’ve shared 75 classic Southern recipes adapted for the air fryer. With recipes for everything from appetizers to desserts, you’ll learn new uses and tips for the fryer. You can purchase it on Amazon now.
Do you have an air fryer? What are some of your favorite recipes to use in the fryer?
Want more air fryer tips and ideas? Check out these posts:
Air Fryer Tips:
6 Things To Consider When Purchasing an Air Fryer
8 Kitchen Tools You Need For Your Air Fryer
10 Air Fryer Cooking Tips You Need To Know
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OK now this sounds like it is right up my street! I have to admit I didn’t know you could do so much with an air fryer I think I might have to treat myself so I can make these.
I have been craving fried chicken lately! And I love my air fryer so I will definitely be trying this!
I love fried chicken. It is one of my favorites. Chicken is probably my favorite meat too. I have always wanted to try it in the air fryer, but haven’t yet. I’m going to try out your recipe.
Sounds great! I will try this,my sisters will surely love it.
I am so loving this recipe! It will be definitely the new favorite of the family .This Air Fryer Classic Southern Fried Chicken looks really scrumptious.
We as family we are not going to say NO for a fried chicken and this one really makes us so happy, so delicious!
Class Southern fried Chicken are really good. My husband and kids loves this.
I really like the idea of making fried chicken in the airfryer. It is a healthier and neater way to make something delicious!
Love love love my air fryer!! Can’t wait to make this chicken, it looks so crispy and delicious!
That chicken looks amazing! I’ve been wanting to get an air fryer, but I’ve heard mixed reviews.
I have an air fryer and it’s one of my best Kitchen investments. That chicken recipe looks so delicious
Fantastic recipe… I have been considering getting an air fryer and recipes like this make me want to take the bullet and get one
I love fried chicken but have been avoiding it because of high cholestrol. I’m excited to get an air fryer.
That sounds so good! I love the idea of being able to make tasty fried chicken without so many excess calories.
I know I am behind the times because I do not have an air fryer. That chicken does look so good and must be less fattening than traditional frying.
Love our air fryer. This reminds me that I need to try a new recipe in it. I haven’t actually ever done chicken in it. This is a recipe I will try. LOVE fried chicken but not the weight of it or the grease so air fryer is perfect for this kind of recipe.
Yum! This looks delicious. We have an air fryer so will definitely be trying this out – thanks for the recipe!
I LOVE using the air fryer, it makes cooking things so much easier. This recipe looks so good!
This sounds so good! I haven’t had fried chicken in ages. We definitely need to get an air fryer.
My air fryer is legit my BEST FRIEND! 🙂