Here are 23 air fryer chicken recipes to add to your weekly lunch and dinner menu! Chicken is a budget-friendly and versatile protein that can be transformed into a wide variety of dishes. Whether you’re looking for appetizers, sides, or entrees, day-to-day dishes, or something special for the holidays, this round-up has a recipe for every occasion. The best part is, all these dishes are cooked in the air fryer, so expect them to contain very little to no oil. Hurray for dishes that are delicious, healthy, and easy to make at the same time. Say hello to your new favorite air fryer chicken dishes – and yes – this list has more than just fried chicken.
Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Breasts and More!
1. Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Let’s get the show on the road with something extremely addictive. Chicken tenders are the kind of dish you can’t stop eating. Whether they’re dipped in ketchup, ranch, aioli, or devoured on their own, it doesn’t matter. Chicken tenders are the perfect representation of the phrase, “winner winner, chicken dinner.” Imagine all that crispy-fried goodness, but without the oil. Now, you can finally enjoy these ridiculously scrumptious finger foods without the guilt.
2. Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Here’s another thing I love about the air fryer, besides the fact that it crisps up food without the need for oil: it does the job in no time. Can you believe that these chicken wings are ready in just 20 minutes? And I’m talking start to finish! The result is beyond impressive. They’re crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, and wonderfully savory in every bite.
3. Air Fryer Buffalo Wings
If you’re a huge fan of the classic Frank’s RedHot buffalo wings, but trying to cut back on calories, this recipe has you covered. Thanks to the air fryer, you can still enjoy your favorite chicken wings, even when you’re on a diet. And mind you, this isn’t your typical bland healthy food. Believe me, they’re just as good as any buffalo wings.
4. Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Chicken breast is notorious for being prone to dryness and blandness. But with this recipe, you don’t have to worry about either. Flavored with nothing but salt, pepper, and a few other seasonings, you’ll be surprised at how flavorful this dish is. As for the texture – expect it to be nothing short of moist, tender, and juicy. Just follow the recipe to the tee and you’re golden.
5. Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
I grew up gobbling up one chicken nugget after another, so this recipe brings me back to my childhood days. If you find chicken nuggets a nostalgic snack, as well, you’re in for a treat! These nuggets are just as scrumptious as the ones you devoured as a kid, but better because they’re not greasy at all.
6. Air Fryer Fried Chicken
A line-up of chicken recipes won’t be complete without the classic fried chicken, now, is it? Of course, there has to be at least one fried chicken recipe on this list. If you still don’t believe in the power of the air fryer, this recipe will convert you. This fried chicken is so good, it can fool you into thinking it was deep-fried.
7. Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Chicken thighs are a tender and juicy cut of meat, so you already know this dish will be a hit. Seasoned with paprika, oregano, onion, and garlic, this dish is simple, but it sure hits the spot. The air fryer crisps up those skins nicely, giving you a wonderful, crunchy bite. Waiting inside is moist and succulent meat in which your palate will surely delight.
8. Air Fryer Chicken Schnitzel
Today, on images you can hear. Yep, just by looking at this schnitzel, I can already hear that loud crunch produced when you take a bite. How can you go wrong with moist and juicy, boneless chicken covered in breadcrumbs and fried to perfection? This chicken schnitzel is the stuff of legends.
9. Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken
This list just gets better and better! Popcorn chicken is yet another insanely addictive snack. No matter what you do, it’s simply impossible to stop at one piece. While I’m a huge fan of popcorn, I also know that it doesn’t hold a candle to popcorn chicken. It has that same, crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside thing going on, just like the many other dishes on this list. But what makes it extra-special is its bite-sized charm. For some reason, it makes it, even more, to die for.
10. Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Wings
While the majority prefer the classic buffalo wings, I’m more partial to garlic parmesan. I don’t know what it is, but I find the combination of garlic, parmesan, and butter to be 200% irresistible. Whenever this is on the menu, I already know that all my self-control will get thrown out the window. So, the fact that this recipe doesn’t use oil at all gives me a bit of reprieve.
11. Honey BBQ Chicken Wings
It’s sweet, smokey, and savory, all at the same time. It’s so scrumptious that despite its sticky sauce, you wouldn’t mind decimating it with your hands.
12. Teriyaki Chicken Wings
Give your dinner a delicious Asian twist with teriyaki chicken wings! The wings have the perfect crispy and tender texture, but what sets this dish apart is that wonderfully sweet and sticky glaze.
13. Air Fryer Orange Chicken
I think the combination of citrus, sugar, and soy sauce is a match made in heaven. Case in point – orange chicken! Just the thought of orange chicken gives me joy. It has that perfect combination of sweet, umami, and tangy, and is just downright delicious and refreshing.
14. Air Fryer Whole Chicken
I didn’t want to believe it myself, either. But yes, you can cook an entire chicken in the air fryer, and very successfully so, at that. The chicken is massaged with a blend of salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, basil, oregano, and thyme. So flavorwise, it’s very much on point. What’s so shocking, though, is how perfectly cooked it is, despite having been cooked in the air fryer. To this day, I’m still amazed at the many things the air fryer can do.
15. Lemon Pepper Wings
In this recipe, lemon and pepper join forces to create a mind-blowing explosion of flavors. These wings are salty and savory, with a wonderful combo of spicy and tangy. Despite being peppered with… well… pepper, the heat doesn’t overpower the flavor because it is beautifully balanced by the lemon. What a fantastic duo these two make.
16. Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Chicken
Sweet and sour chicken seems like a dish that only master chefs can cook. But with this recipe, you can feel like a pro without actually being one. As it turns out, sweet and sour chicken is super easy to make, especially when you have your air fryer to help you out.
17. Chicken Kebabs
Here’s another seemingly complicated dish that’s shockingly easy to make. There’s more than just chicken in these skewers, though. Also loaded with bell peppers, zucchini, onions, and tomatoes, these kabobs are the bomb.
18. Chicken Parmesan
Chicken parmesan consists of moist and tender chicken encased in a crisp and crunchy parmesan breading that’s smothered with marinara and finished with stringy mozzarella. This is the ultimate definition of comfort food.
19. Air Fryer Chicken Legs
In my household, the drumstick is everybody’s favorite cut of chicken. It’s no surprise why these air fryer chicken legs were such a huge hit. Rubbed with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder, this dish is savory with a bit of a kick. Feel free to dial down the spices if you can’t handle the heat.
20. Sesame Chicken
Coated with a glaze of soy sauce, brown sugar, orange juice, hoisin sauce, and spices, this sesame chicken is undeniably delicious. Serve this sweet and savory sesame chicken on a bed of rice for a scrumptious Asian meal. It’s hearty, scrumptious, and gluten-free, to boot.
21. Air Fryer Copycat KFC Chicken
Can anyone say no to KFC chicken? I don’t think so, so wouldn’t it be great if you could make this iconic dish at home? There are thousands of copycat recipes claiming to have discovered KFC’s secret recipe, but out of the many ones I’ve tried, I think this is the one that nailed it. Don’t take my word for it, though! Try it and see for yourself.
22. Thai Peanut Chicken
Here’s another fantastic Asian recipe for you. This time, let’s take a culinary journey to Thailand with this mouthwatering but shockingly easy-to-make Thai peanut chicken. What takes this dish to a whole new world of deliciousness is the peanut sauce, which is a mix of peanut butter, sriracha, soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, garlic, ginger, and lime. You can just imagine how wonderfully complex its flavor is!
23. Air Fryer Chicken Sandwich (Chick-fil-A Copycat)
Love Chick-fil-A’s chicken sandwich, but too lazy to head out? No problem – just make it yourself. This recipe makes an impressive replica of the original and is a lot cheaper to boot. Oh, and it’s super easy to pull off, too. You couldn’t ask for anything more in a copycat recipe! Click on a star to rate it!
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