KFC Chicken in the Air Fryer

Ingredients:

• 4-6 chicken drumsticks (or any cut of chicken you prefer)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme (optional)
• 1/2 tsp dried basil (optional)
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for a little heat)
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup buttermilk (or regular milk if you don’t have buttermilk)
• Cooking spray (or olive oil spray)

Instructions:

1. Prep the Chicken:
   
   • Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels. This will help the coating stick better. If using drumsticks, you can leave the skin on or remove it, depending on your preference.
3. Prepare the Coating:
   
   • In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, basil, and cayenne pepper. This will be your dry coating mixture.
5. Prepare the Wet Mixture:
   
   • In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg and buttermilk (or regular milk). This will help the coating stick to the chicken.
7. Coat the Chicken:
   
   • Dip each piece of chicken into the wet mixture (egg and buttermilk), ensuring it’s fully coated. Then, roll it in the dry flour mixture, pressing gently so the coating sticks well. Make sure each piece is evenly coated.
9. Preheat the Air Fryer:
   
   • Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (193°C) for 5 minutes. This ensures the chicken starts cooking immediately once placed inside.
11. Spray the Chicken:
    
    • Lightly spray the coated chicken pieces with cooking spray or olive oil spray. This helps achieve a crispy golden-brown texture.
13. Cook the Chicken:
    
    • Place the coated chicken pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Be sure not to overcrowd the basket so that the hot air can circulate and cook the chicken evenly.
    • Air fry at 380°F (193°C) for 25-30 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through the cooking time. The exact time may vary depending on the size of your chicken pieces, so check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer—it should reach 165°F (74°C) for fully cooked chicken.
15. Serve:
    
    • Once the chicken is crispy and golden brown, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This helps the juices settle in the meat.

Tips:

• For extra crispiness: After coating the chicken, you can refrigerate it for about 30 minutes before air frying. This helps the coating stick better and crisp up more.