Delicious Air Fryer Southern Fried Chicken Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 pounds Whole chicken (Notes: Divided into 8 pieces.)
• 3 cups Buttermilk (Notes: For brining and egg wash.)
• 1 cup Hot sauce (Notes: Adds a hint of spice.)
• 3 cups All-purpose flour (Notes: For breading.)
• 0.5 cups Cornstarch (Notes: For added crispiness.)
• 3.5 teaspoons Seasoned salt (Notes: Divided for seasoning.)
• 2 teaspoons Black pepper (Notes: Divided for seasoning.)
• 1 teaspoon Granulated garlic or garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Onion powder
• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• 3 Large eggs (Notes: For egg wash.)
• Vegetable oil spray (Notes: For spraying chicken.)

Instructions

1. 1
   Season chicken pieces on all sides with seasoned salt and black pepper. Arrange in a shallow dish.
2. 2
   Whisk together buttermilk and hot sauce, pour over chicken. Chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.
3. 3
   In a separate bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, seasoned salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
4. 4
   In another bowl, whisk together eggs, salt, pepper, and buttermilk.
5. 5
   Dredge chicken pieces in flour mixture, then in egg wash, and back into flour. Arrange on a baking sheet and let stand for 15 minutes.
6. 6
   Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3 minutes. Spray basket with cooking spray.
7. 7
   Spray chicken pieces liberally with oil and arrange in air fryer, leaving space between pieces.
8. 8
   Cook at 375°F for 15 minutes. Turn pieces gently, spray with oil, and continue cooking for another 10-15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
9. 9
   Let chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Tips & Variations:

• Use buttermilk for marinating to ensure tender chicken.
• Be generous with the oil spray to achieve a crispy coating.
• Cook chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer.