25 Air-Fryer Chicken Recipes

Taste of Home

Air-Fryer Chicken Tenders

Crushed cheese crackers, panko bread crumbs, potato sticks and bacon take these chicken strips to the next level. If you don’t have sour cream or potato sticks, try making buttermilk chicken tenders and adapting them with the air-fryer cooking methods.

These crispy air-fryer chicken tenders are perfect for dipping. Try with your favorite honey mustard, ranch or barbecue sauce. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Air-Fryer Chicken Cutlet Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Air-Fryer Chicken Cutlet

Cook a batch of chicken cutlets in advance with this air-fryer chicken recipe, then eat them for weeknight dinners for the next three to four days. You can also freeze cooked chicken in freezer-safe bags for up to four months.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy lunch or dinner, these air-fryer chicken cutlets are just the thing. I love the Parmesan cheese in the coating combined with the chicken. —Recipe contributor Marie Hoyer, Lewistown, Montana

Air-Fryer Chicken Thighs

Believe it or not, you only need a tablespoon of olive oil to achieve crispy skin. And with this recipe, you don’t even need to flip the chicken to brown it evenly.

This air-fryer chicken thighs recipe creates meat that is crispy on the outside but super juicy on the inside. The paprika and garlic seasoning blend comes through beautifully. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Air-Fryer Fajita-Stuffed Chicken

Once you’ve gotten the hang of making fajitas, it’s time to take things up a notch. These impressive-looking stuffed fajitas are a complete meal and are secretly easy to pull off.

I had all the ingredients for fajitas, but instead of heating up my big oven, I tried a different version in the air fryer. Since my air fryer is small, I wanted to put as much filling as possible in each stuffed chicken breast. This worked nicely by cutting slits in the breasts and then filling them. —Recipe contributor Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

Asparagus-Stuffed Air-Fryer Chicken Rolls

Asparagus-stuffed chicken rolls look fancy, but the air fryer makes them so easy. In only 35 minutes, these gorgeous roulades will be on the table and ready to eat. They’re great for company or a romantic date night.

This is an elegant-looking dish but is really quite simple to make. I serve it to company a lot but also make it many weeknights, especially when asparagus is in season. —Recipe contributor Louise Ambrose, Kingston, New York

General Tso’s Chicken Sandwich with Broccoli Slaw

While you could easily use store-bought sauce in a pinch, you won’t regret whipping up this six-ingredient sauce made with honey, ginger, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, red pepper flakes and garlic.

I turned a classic takeout dinner into this General Tso’s chicken sandwich that’s simple to make at home. We like spicy foods, so the sauce uses a good amount of heat, but you can adjust the sauce for your family’s taste buds. —Recipe contributor Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland

Air-Fryer Chicken Wings

To ensure the crispiest wings possible, pat them dry before you apply any oil and don’t overcrowd the basket. This way, the hot air can circulate properly throughout the air fryer.

You can’t go wrong with these crispy air-fryer chicken wings. Our spice rub has a nice kick from the cayenne seasoning. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Air-Fryer Chicken Taco Pockets

Thanks to store-bought crescent rolls and rotisserie chicken, dinner can be on the table in only 25 minutes. Serve with guacamole and sour cream.

We love these easy taco-flavored sandwiches made with crescent dough. They make a quick and easy lunch or supper with a bowl of soup or a crisp salad. I also like to cut them into smaller servings for parties. —Recipe contributor Donna Gribbins, Shelbyville, Kentucky

Game-Day Thai Chicken Meatballs

Whether you serve them with toothpicks during the holidays, on a snack plate for game day or on a piece of crusty bread for an everyday snack, these Thai-inspired meatballs are total winners. Serve with extra-sweet chili sauce for dipping.

These Thai chicken meatballs make a great game-day snack. We also like to serve them as a main dish over stir-fried veggies. —Recipe contributor Merry Graham, Newhall, California

Air-Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken

Nashville hot chicken is coated in spices and hot sauce before it’s fried—or in this case, air-fried—then coated again in additional hot sauce. Include a dash of brown sugar or use up leftover pickle juice for an added depth of flavor.

I live in Tennessee and absolutely love our state’s famous Nashville hot chicken. To make cooking it easier, I thought I’d try air-frying. I’m so glad I did—this Nashville hot chicken recipe is almost better than the original. —Recipe contributor April Lane, Greeneville, Tennessee

Easy Chicken Pesto Stuffed Peppers Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Easy Chicken Pesto Stuffed Peppers

With only six ingredients, these flavorful stuffed peppers are decidedly quicker and easier to make than many stuffed pepper recipes. If you have any extras, one reader recommends storing them in the fridge and reheating them for lunch.

On busy weeknights, I don’t want to spend more than 30 minutes preparing dinner or washing a towering pile of dishes. This recipe delivers on both counts without having to sacrifice flavor! —Recipe contributor Olivia Cruz, Greenville, South Carolina

Air-Fryer Chicken Parmesan

If “chicken parm” conjures up memories of messy dredging and frying followed by endless baking, this air-fryer version will change your life. In only 20 minutes, this simplified chicken Parmesan will be ready to eat.

Quick, simple and oh-so-tasty, this air-fryer chicken Parmesan recipe is the perfect weeknight dish to have on hand. It’s just as crispy as the classic, if not crispier! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Air-Fryer Chicken Legs

If there are any leftovers, you can store these drumsticks in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. You can also freeze the cooked drumsticks without sauce for up to four months, then make a new batch of sauce whenever you’re ready to eat them. Explore this list of the air fryer’s cooking times!

For years, I tried to find the perfect bottled barbecue sauce for chicken legs. After a few years, I threw in the towel and created my own using ketchup, honey and spicy brown mustard. It works perfectly with this air-fryer chicken legs recipe. —Recipe contributor Kathleen Criddle, Lake Worth, Florida

Air-Fryer Fiesta Chicken Fingers

This chicken dish will make any night feel like a celebration. There’s an extra crispy crust thanks to crushed corn chips and a richer flavor thanks to buttermilk.

Chicken fingers have long been a favorite of mine. Actually, almost any finger-shaped deep-fried goodie seldom escapes my reach. These air-fryer chicken fingers have taken a lot of the guilt out of my guilty pleasure. —Recipe contributor Dianne DeGarmo-Carr, Alexander, Arkansas

Air-Fryer Chicken Fajitas

If fajitas are your favorite Mexican restaurant order, you can now make them in the air fryer anytime. Serve with a Mexican street corn bake, black beans and more of our favorite Mexican-inspired side dishes.

Do you have fajitas only if you go to a Mexican restaurant? Then this air-fryer chicken fajitas recipe is just what you need. It’s simple to put together, and you avoid a lot of the mess by cooking the fajitas in an air fryer. —Recipe contributor Ashley Lecker, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Air-Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu

After making this showstopper, your family will be convinced you’re ready to open a restaurant. It can be our secret that it took only 30 minutes to prep and cook.

My son loves chicken cordon bleu, but I’m not a fan of store-bought versions. This air-fryer chicken cordon bleu recipe has all the yummy flavors in a 30-minute meal. Best of all, any leftovers freeze well. —Recipe contributor Ronda Eagle, Goose Creek, South Carolina

Taste of Home

Air-Fryer Almond Chicken

If you’re gluten-free or looking to cut carbs, fried chicken is usually off-limits. This chicken, however, is crusted with chopped, slivered almonds instead of flour (aka, it’s an even tastier alternative). Find more of our favorite gluten-free chicken recipes here.

My husband bought an air fryer about 6 months ago after seeing it on television. We have used it at least twice a week and love how delicious the food has been. The chicken recipes that we have tried are especially good because of how moist the chicken remains. We started a low-carb diet and did not want to use bread crumbs, so we tried the chicken with almonds. It’s a favorite now. —Recipe contributor Pamela Shank, Parkersburg, West Virginia

Air-Fryer Chicken Strips

Cooking these chicken strips in the air-fryer cuts out most of the grease compared to deep frying, leaving room for all the seasonings to come through instead.

These crispy air-fryer chicken tenders are perfect for dipping. Try with your favorite honey mustard, ranch or barbecue sauce. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Air-Fryer Southern-Style Chicken

The secret ingredient to this irresistibly crunchy air-fried chicken recipe is crushed Ritz crackers. That’s a pretty genius way to use up pantry snacks. Pair this chicken with your favorite Southern sides like green beans and corn fritters.

I call this America’s best-loved air-fryer chicken recipe. The secret is in the herby, golden brown breading that makes the chicken super moist and flavorful. —Recipe contributor Elaina Morgan, Rickman, Tennessee

Air-Fryer Southwestern Chicken Enchiladas

Yes, you can cook enchiladas in the air fryer! You don’t even have to preheat them. Just line the fryer basket with foil, grease the foil, then place batches of three rolled-up enchiladas in the air fryer at a time to cook.

These air-fryer enchiladas are quick and easy and a perfect dinner for Taco Tuesday or any day of the week. Use rotisserie chicken for a quick source of cooked chicken. Dinner will be on the table in less than half an hour. —Recipe contributor Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

Air-Fryer Lemon Feta Chicken

Tangy lemon and zippy feta cheese give this dish plenty of flavor with absolutely no butter or oil. The result is a protein-packed main dish with only 142 calories and 4 grams of fat per serving.

This bright, Greek-inspired chicken has only five ingredients—it’s a busy-day lifesaver! And popping it into the air fryer makes it even easier. —Recipe contributor Ann Cain, Morrill, Nebraska

Chicken Yakitori

This Japanese-inspired chicken dish is all about the yakitori sauce, which is typically made of soy sauce, mirin, sake and sugar. Give your sauce a teriyaki twist by adding garlic, ginger or Sriracha to spice things up.

I grew up in Tokyo, and some of my favorite memories include eating street food like this dish with my friends. Although we now live thousands of miles apart, my friends and I still reminisce about our nights sharing secrets and bonding over delicious meals. This one is easy to re-create at home, making it perfect for when I feel homesick. I like to serve it with rice. —Recipe contributor Lindsay Howerton-Hastings, Greenville, South Carolina

Air-Fryer Hoisin Chicken Wraps

These quick wraps are based on the Vietnamese banh mi sandwich. They’re an easy, portable choice for lunches or for a snack spread at a party.

I was inspired by the iconic Vietnamese banh mi sandwich, particularly the fresh carrot, cucumber and radish topping. It adds so much fresh flavor, color and crunch! —Recipe contributor Debbie Glasscock, Conway, Arkansas

Air-Fryer Whole Chicken Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Air-Fryer Whole Chicken

Yep, you can pop an entire chicken in the air fryer. Just use a three or four-pound chicken, and make sure your air fryer has a five-quart capacity. It will be all ready to eat in a little over an hour.

This air-fryer whole chicken is so crispy yet succulent. I serve it straight up, but you can also shred it and add it to tacos, soups, pasta salads and so much more. —Recipe contributor Dawn Parker, Surrey, British Columbia

Air-Fryer Pecan Chicken Sliders

You’ll want to slather the recipe’s homemade bourbon berry jam on everything. Make it with a package of frozen unsweetened mixed berries, sugar and bourbon—and maybe save some for pancakes tomorrow morning.

I love coating chicken in pecans instead of bread crumbs because it gives you such a wonderful crunch and nutty flavor. The sweet berry-bourbon truly pops on these fun sliders—they feel like fancy party fare! —Recipe contributor Amy Freeze, Avon Park, Florida

Air-Fryer Chicken FAQ

How long should you cook chicken in the air fryer?

It depends on the size and cut of the chicken and the air fryer you’re using.

• A small, 4-ounce chicken breast takes about 10 minutes to cook at 360°F, while a larger breast might cook for 20 minutes.
• Chicken tenders should cook at 400° for 5 to 8 minutes on each side.
• Chicken thighs should cook at 400° for 10 to 20 minutes, depending on size.

No matter the cut, the chicken is ready when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°.

How do you keep air-fryer chicken from being dry?

Chicken becomes dry when it is overcooked. If the meat thermometer reads 165° when you remove it from the air fryer but the chicken still seems dry, carryover cooking could be the culprit. To prevent the meat from overcooking as it rests, try removing the chicken from the air fryer when the internal temperature reads 160°. Then place it on a cutting board to rest.

How do you cook frozen chicken tenders in the air fryer?

Great news! You can cook frozen chicken tenders in the air fryer without thawing them. Frozen chicken tenders generally cook at 400° for 5 to 8 minutes on each side. You’ll know the chicken is ready when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°.

Note that cooking temperature and time will vary depending on the size of the chicken strips and the model of air fryer.