Air fryer KFC Southern Fried Chicken Drumsticks (2024)
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This healthy copycat KFC Southern fried chicken recipe will blow your mind! The air fryer buttermilk marinated chicken drumsticks are juicy, crispy, tender and so easy to make! The BEST homemade Fried Chicken you will ever make!
Fried chicken is my most favourite food EVER! I’ve been making the delish dish for over 15 years and over this period I have perfected the most amazing and slightly healthier homemade recipe cooked via an air fryer!
These delicious buttermilk chicken drumsticks are also a copycat of the very popular KFC style fried chicken!
They taste so good!
Let’s deep dive into how to make the BEST homemade fried chicken you’ve ever tasted!
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Why buttermilk for fried chicken?
Homemade Buttermilk fried chicken tastes amazing, juicy and tender! There is also a science behind why buttermilk can elevate southern style fried chicken to the next level!
What does buttermilk do to chicken
Buttermilk, which is traditionally made from lemon and cows’ milk, is used as a marinade to tenderise poultry and other meats. The science behind buttermilk is that it has an acidic and also creamy nature which breaks down the fibres of chicken or meat, resulting in tenderisation. Another benefit of marinating with buttermilk is that the flesh stays juicy and does not dry out as the acidity levels in buttermilk is quite mild.
How long to marinate chicken in buttermilk
You can marinade chicken for up to 3 – 4 days in buttermilk. The longer the chicken is marinating in buttermilk the more tender the chicken becomes and also takes on any additional flavourings added to the buttermilk even more intensely, as opposed to marinating chicken for 24 hours for example.
Do you wash buttermilk off chicken
When preparing fried chicken which has been marinating in buttermilk, you do not wash off the buttermilk before adding to flour. When preparing chicken pieces to be dredged in seasoned flour you just simply shake off the excess buttermilk before dipping into flour. You still want buttermilk on the chicken because as well as acting as a probiotic tenderiser, the buttermilk also helps the seasoned flour adhere to the chicken pieces. This will also help the chicken get really crispy whilst cooking.
Can I use milk instead of buttermilk for fried chicken
If you can’t get hold of buttermilk or would prefer to make southern fried chicken without buttermilk, you can definitely just use milk as an alternative. The crispy batter will be slightly thinner and lighter in texture compared to buttermilk as plain milk is quite thin in consistency.
Where does southern fried chicken come from
Southern fried chicken is typically marinated in buttermilk before dredging in seasoned flour and then fried in oil. This delicious crispy fried chicken originates from the southern states of America.
Fried chicken is an amazing dish or appetiser eaten on its own! However southern fried chicken can be paired with so many other dishes or sauces. Here’s some ideas to pair KFC style chicken with a meal;
Fried chicken and gravy
Fried chicken served with pickles
Great when served with French fries /chips
Fried chicken and waffles
Served with mac and cheese
Chicken in burgers is also a classic combination
What is KFC secret recipe ingredients
One of the most sort after commercial culinary secrets is the KFC original recipe fried chicken recipe. The global fried chicken restaurant and take out brand is widely popular throughout the world. It’s said the secret recipe includes 11 top secret spices / seasoning to give the chicken its amazing moreish taste! Opinions vary on the exact recipe however I have tested and found the combination of spices below to get you pretty close to the notorious original Kentucky fried chicken flavour.
Salt
Dried thyme
Dried Basil
Oregano
Celery salt
Dried mustard
Paprika
Marjoram
Ginger
White pepper
Ground black pepper
What is seasoned flour
Seasoned flour is flour that has been mixed with herbs, spices and salt for extra flavour. Usually, all purpose flour/plain flour is used when making buttermilk KFC style fried chicken. By seasoning both the chicken, the buttermilk marinade and the flour you ensure the fried chicken drumstick, wings, breasts, etc. are packed full of flavour with every bite
How to season flour for fried chicken
Simply add spices, herbs and salt to flour and mix until fully combined. Seasoned flour can be stored in an air tight jar when made in bulk, ready for your nextfried chicken meal!
How to make air fried chicken like KFC original recipe
To achieve crisp delicious coating like KFC for fried chicken when cooking in an air fryer, follow the steps below; (for more detailed recipe steps including ingredient amounts, timing and temperatures please scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post)
Preheat – Preheat the air fryer (if this setting is available on the model your using)
Buttermilk Marinade– Add the buttermilk, egg and hot sauce to a large bowl. Whisk until combined then add the chicken drumsticks to the bowl, stir and set aside to use straight away or for the best results marinate overnight in the fridge.
Making the Copycat KFC Original Recipe Seasoned Flour– Add flour into another large bowl alongside with the all the 11 KFC spices & salt to make the seasoned flour. Mix until all the spices have combined with the flour evenly. Add 4 x tablespoons of the buttermilk marinade to the seasoned flour and mix. Little crumb will form which will help with the overall crispiness’ of the chicken.
Dredging the chicken– Using hands take one drumstick out of the buttermilk marinade, shake of the excess liquid, then add to the seasoned flour. Use your hands to cover the drumsticks with the flour, apply pressure to ensure the flour adheres fully. Shake off the excess and place into the air fryer basket.
Air frying the chicken drumsticks– Spray the dredged chicken drumsticks generously with vegetable oil, then air fry for 10 minutes at 180c/350f . After the initial 10minutes of cooking stop the air fryer and turn the chicken drumsticks over to crisp up the other side of the chicken. Spray the chicken with oil to cover any flour patches. Then air fry for a further 7-8 minutes at 180c/350f degrees until cooked.
How does KFC cook their chicken
KFC deep fry their chicken drumsticks in large industrial pressure cooker fryers, this helps give the chicken a super crispy skin whilst the chicken flesh inside remains very moist. The cook time is usually slightly less than a traditional deep fat fryer or shallow frying via a cast iron skillet. Although traditional fried chicken will always have a fatty nature due to the deep-frying cooking process, pressure frying is known to alleviate some of the greasiness.
Do Air fryers work for fried chicken?
Air frying is a great alternative to deep frying chicken. You can achieve pretty similar results to traditionally fried chicken. As well as being healthier due to; the reduced oil used during the cooking process & air frying negates the oil smells that can fill the kitchen when deep frying or using a cast iron skillet to make fried chicken.
How to make crispy fried chicken drumsticks in air fryer
Air fryers are such a great kitchen gadget for achieving crispy results without the hassle of deep frying or longer cook times via a traditional oven. There are a few key tips to achieving crispy, KFC style, Southern fried chicken drumsticks results when using an air fryer ;
Coating seasoned chicken in a seasoned flour dredge
Ensure the air fryer basket is not overcrowded with chicken. If there are too many pieces at one time in the air fryer the chicken batter will stick together. Also a steaming effect will occur resulting in soggy batter and you don’t want that!
Generously spraying the chicken with oil to help the flour crisp up whilst cooking
For the crispiest results I prefer not to use a greaseproof air fryer liner. When testing I found moisture would form at the base of the chicken pieces, making the KFC style batter slightly soggy. Most air fryer baskets are made from non-stick materials, so a liner is not required. Also, residual oil that releases from the chicken during the cooking process also helps prevent the southern fried chicken from sticking to the air fryer base.
How long to cook fried chicken in air fryer
How long the cooking time would be for fried chicken in the air fryer will depend on the sizes of chicken you are using and whether or not the chicken pieces are on the bone. For my KFC style buttermilk southern fried chicken recipe, I air fry the chicken drumsticks for a total of 18 minutes, flipping the chicken over at the 10-minute mark. If you were cooking boneless fried chicken thighs or wings, I’ve found the timings in the air fryer are a lot less, for example between the 13-15 minute mark. (subject to the temperature you’re cooking at)
At what temperature do you cook fried chicken in the air fryer
I’ve tested multiple air fryer temperatures to achieve the best southern fried chicken results! The sweet spot in my opinion is 180c/350f, the chicken drumsticks, thighs, breast or wings cooked at this level achieve an even golden and crispy texture on the surface of the surface, whilst also being cooked in the centre.
I love to use my air fryer to reheat KFC style fried chicken. Its way quicker than using an oven, results in even cooking and also eliminates sogginess that occurs when reheating fried food in a microwave. To reheat crispy fried chicken place the chicken drumsticks or other cuts of chicken into the air fryer basket, ensure you do not overcrowd!Set the temperature to 180c/350f and air fry for 5-7 minutes.
Can you fry frozen chicken in air fryer
You most definitely can air fry frozen chicken in the air fryer. If you would like to reheat frozen pieces of KFC style buttermilk chicken place the chicken pieces back into the air fryer straight from the freezer. Air fryer for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through, at 180c/350f.
Thank you so much for reading along. I hope you making your AIR FRYER KFC COPYCAT SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN!
If you try this recipe, I would be grateful if you could leave a review and star rating, you can find this at the bottom of the page and recipe card
You can also share via social media. If you can take a photo and hashtag#prettydeliciouseats — I would love to see your meals onInstagram,Pinterest, Facebook!
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Air fryer KFC Buttermilk Southern Fried Chicken Drumsticks
★★★★★5 from 4 reviews
Author:Catherine
Total Time:25 minutes
Yield:8-9 Pieces of chicken
Print Recipe
Description
This Healthy Copycat KFC Southern Fried Chicken recipe will blow your mind! The Air Fryer Buttermilk marinated Chicken Drumsticks are juicy, crispy, tender and so easy to make! The BEST homemade Fried Chicken you will ever make!
Ingredients
Chicken Drumsticks:
Chicken drumsticks – 1kg /2.2pounds
Hot sauce* (Franks hot sauce works well) – 75ml / 1/3 cup
Egg – 1 x egg
Buttermilk – 250ml (if making your own buttermilk – 250ml / 1 cup of whole milk + the juice of 1 x lemon, leave for 5 minutes to thicken)
Vegetable oil for spraying the chicken
KFC Original Recipe Copycat Seasoned flour:
Plain/All-purpose flour – 272g / 2 x cups
Salt – 3 x teaspoons
Dried thyme – 2 x teaspoons
Dried Basil – 2x teaspoons
Oregano – 1 x teaspoon
Celery salt – 2 x teaspoons
Dried mustard – 1 x teaspoon
Paprika – 3 x teaspoons
Marjoram – 2 x teaspoons
Ground ginger – 1 x teaspoon
Ground white pepper – 2 x teaspoons
Ground black pepper – 2 x teaspoons
Instructions
Preheat prep: Preheat the air fryer (if this setting is available on the model your using)
Buttermilk Marinade: Add the buttermilk, egg and hot sauce to a large bowl. Whisk until combined then add the chicken drumsticks to the bowl, stir and set aside to use straight away or for the best results marinate overnight in the fridge. (Optional – Check out the recipe notes section further down the recipe card for instructions on how to make your own buttermilk)
Making the Copycat KFC Original Recipe Seasoned Flour: Add flour into another large bowl alongside with the all the 11 KFC spices & salt to make the seasoned flour. Mix until all the spices have combined with the flour evenly. Add 4 x tablespoons of the buttermilk marinade to the seasoned flour and mix. Little crumb will form which will help with the overall crispiness’ of the chicken.
Dredging the chicken: Using hands take one drumstick out of the buttermilk marinade, shake of the excess liquid, then add to the seasoned flour. Use your hands to cover the drumsticks with the flour, apply pressure to ensure the flour adheres fully. Shake off the excess and place into the air fryer basket.
Air frying the chicken drumsticks: Spray the dredged chicken drumsticks generously with vegetable oil, then air fry for 10 minutes at 180c/350f . After the initial 10 minutes of cooking stop the air fryer and turn the chicken drumsticks over to crisp up the other side of the chicken. Spray the chicken with oil to cover any flour patches. Then air fry for a further 7-8 minutes at 180c/350f degrees until cooked
Serving Suggestion: Remove the cooked pieces of chicken from the air fryer basket and serve straight away.
Notes
How to make homemadeButtermilk – (if making your own buttermilk – 250ml / 1 cup of whole milk + the juice of 1 x lemon, leave for 5 minutes to thicken)
Hot sauce – I like to use the Franks Hot Sauce for the buttermilk marinade
Prep Time:8
Cook Time:17
Category:Dinner
Method:Air Frying
Cuisine:American
Keywords: air fryer, fried chicken, kfc recipe, buttermilk, southern fried chicken, copycat recipe, take out, take away, air fryer recipes
Preheat air fryer to 400ºF. Toss drumsticks with oil and then sprinkle and rub with spices. Place in air fryer in a single layer. Cook for 10 minutes, turn drumsticks over, and cook for another 8-10 minutes, or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF.
Easy to follow instructions and tips showing you the best way to reheat fried chicken leftovers. Whether you have KFC chicken to reheat, homemade or another brand, all will work well with this air fryer method.
Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F (for 5 minutes, air fryer setting).Place chicken on the air fryer tray or in the air fryer basket.Set the time for 20 minutes.
Preheat air fryer at 400 for 2-10 minutes.Place drumsticks in air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes on 400.Remove basket and flip chicken drumsticks.Cook at 400 for another 10 minutes.
Lining it with foil can constrict the air flow and your food won't cook properly. If you are going to use foil, use a small amount in the bottom of the basket, making sure not to cover the food. This will help make the cleanup even easier while still allowing the hot air to circulate and heat your food.
During the air frying process, if you pull out the chicken and notice any dry flour spots on the chicken, spray those spots lightly with oil. The breading will never crisp up if it doesn't have a tiny bit of oil to hydrate it. It will just burn.
However, you have to mix oil with your ingredients before putting them in the fryer. Oil cannot be put inside the fryer pan. Adding cooking oil before air-frying will add an extra crunchy layer to your food.
If you happen to own an air fryer, you can certainly reheat your fried chicken in its basket. Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and let the fried chicken come to room temperature. Next, arrange the fried chicken in a single layer and cook it for about four minutes, flipping it once to ensure even cooking.
Place the frozen breaded chicken breasts in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure they aren't overlapping. No oil spray is needed. Air Fry at 380°F/193°C for 10 minutes.
For best results cook from frozen. Place the southern fried chicken fillets on a baking tray in the centre of a pre-heated oven at 200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6 and cook for approximately 25-30 minutes. Pack of 4 southern fried chicken fillets.
Whether you're cooking finger foods for a party or serving up snacks for the fam; Air-Fryers are perfect for cooking frozen foods. Find cook times and temperatures quickly with this convenient easy-to-use chart.
Yes you can. Every frozen food that we have tried to cook in the air fryer has been a success. We love cooking frozen food in the air fryer and the results are amazing. Think deep fried favourites but with the calories of baking them in the oven.
Set the air fryer temperature to 400 degrees. Preheat for 5 minutes, then place the chicken legs in the basket. Cook for 10 minutes, flip the chicken and continue to cook for 10 minutes. If chicken has not reached 165 degrees, cook for an additional 3-5 minutes at 400 degrees.
I like to cook my boneless, skinless chicken breasts for 10 minutes at 380℉, then flip and cook for an additional 5-6 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165℉. Can you put raw chicken in the air fryer? Absolutely!
Make sure to coat the entire drumstick in both the egg and the breadcrumbs. Then place the breaded chicken in the air fryer basket. Now, do the same for the remaining drumsticks. To cook, put the basket into the air fryer, set the temperature to 390°F, and set the timer for 25 minutes.
No, using baking paper and tin foil in your Philips Airfryer is not recommended for the following reasons: If you cover the bottom of the basket, the airflow inside the Airfryer is reduced. This results in the diminished cooking performance of your Philips Airfryer.
Depending upon the sturdiness of the glass dish, you can decide whether Glass Pyrex can be used in an air fryer. If the dish is oven-safe, made of borosilicate or tempered glass, it can work in an air fryer. However, if the dish is made of soda-lime glass, it can't withstand high temperatures in an air fryer.
Keep Air Circulating Freely: Only Use Foil in the Basket Cooking Compartment. The best way to use foil is to place a single layer on the bottom of the basket. Do not cover the foil all the way to the basket edge. This will prevent air from flowing freely, which will result in unevenly cooked food.
“A quick spritz will give your air fried food that nice golden color and crispy texture.” Really, that is it! A simple mist of cooking spray over the top of your food will give your favorite air fryer recipes that just-right color without adding any significant calories or fat.
Biting into a piece of chicken right out of the fryer isn't the smartest idea. At Kentucky Fried Chicken, they “hold” the chicken in an oven set to 175 degrees for about 20 minutes, according to a former employee. This allows the chicken to finish cooking while keeping it warm and the skin crunchy.
While using oil is second nature while cooking in the oven or on the stovetop, air fryers don't always require it. Some foods you cook in your air fryer already have oil, and any excess oil can make your food too greasy.
Perfect Cook – When you want fried eggs sunny side up the air fryer cooks them perfectly. The golden runny yolk and tender egg whites will certainly brighten your breakfast. Fast – Cooking eggs in the air fryer takes on about 5 minutes, no preheating is needed.
This recipe for cooking scrambled eggs in the air fryer is so quick and easy that you are sure to be amazed! You just whisk some eggs together with some milk, add to a pan, and cook in the air fryer for just 6 minutes! Then add some toast and a side of bacon or sausage and you have a complete breakfast.
For example, if you use a 1500W air fryer for an average of one hour per day, it will use roughly 1.5 kilowatts of electricity when you use it. Most air fryers use between 1.4 and 1.7kWh (kilowatts of energy per hour).
My personal preference is to use canola oil, extra virgin olive oil, or avocado oil. I use both a refillable spray bottle like the Evo one pictured below and non-propellant extra virgin olive oil, which has no harmful aerosols or chemicals.
The good news, however, is that you can still enjoy some of your favorite oils in the air fryer. In fact, the best oils to use in your air fryer are avocado oil, extra light olive oil, peanut oil and sesame oil.
Do I Need To Preheat My Air Fryer Before Cooking in It? Yes. In most cases preheating helps your recipes get that signature crispiness we all love. Thick cuts of raw and frozen meats like frozen bone-in chicken breasts and ribeye steaks benefit from preheating.
Place frozen chicken drumsticks in air fryer basket.Set your air fryer to 360° and cook for 15 minutes. Sprinkle 1/3 of seasoning on top, then flip the chicken legs over and top with one third of seasoning.
Set the temperature at which you are cooking the food. Or at the temperature that the recipe states.
Click “on” and let the air fryer heat for 3-5 minutes. We suggest 2 minutes for small air fryers less than 3 qts. And for larger air fryers, we suggest about 5 minutes.
What is the difference between fried chicken and Southern fried chicken? Southern fried chicken and fried chicken are the exact same thing. Both dishes are made by battering, then frying pieces of chicken.
Should I thaw the food? You should generally never thaw frozen pre-cooked food you want to cook in an air fryer *. Cook them straight from frozen for the very best result.
Place the pizza in the air fryer, and cook at 375 C / 180 C for 8 minutes, or until the crust is golden. Add mozzarella chunks or burrata chunks on top of the pizza base and cook for 1-2 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Remove the pizza from the air fryer, allow it to cool slightly, and serve.
Yes, both the Marie Callender's brand and Banquet brand cooks up great in the air fryer. Other brands also can be cooked. What to serve with pot pie? The great thing about these delicious little pies is that they are a meal in themselves.
Preheat an air fryer to 390 degrees F (200 degrees C) according to manufacturer's instructions. Lay bacon in the air fryer basket in a single layer; some overlap is okay. Fry for 8 minutes. Flip and continue cooking until bacon is crisp, about 7 minutes more.
To make delicious frozen burgers in the air fryer, cook at 350° for 8-10 minutes. You may need to adjust the cook time depending on the size and thickness of your burger. It is best to use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should be 160°.
Most frozen foods do not need added oil when being air fried. Foods like frozen sweet potato fries when cooked in an air fryer already have oil in their ingredients and don't need an extra spritzing while cooking.
Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees. Place the frozen pizza in the air fryer and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until pizza is hot and cheese has melted. Remove the pizza from the air fryer and enjoy!
Here are some of the best frozen food for the air fryer that can be cooked quickly and easily. They include fries, hash browns, tater tots, Trader Joe's snacks like samosa and gyoza, chicken snacks like popcorn chicken and nuggets, egg rolls, and kid-friendly snacks like pizza rolls.
Place in the air fryer basket and cook at 370-degrees for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for an additional 4-8 minutes cooking time, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160-degrees on an instant read thermometer.
How long does it take for drumsticks to cook in the oven? Typically it takes around 40-45 minutes to bake medium drumsticks at 400°F, although if your oven cooks hot or the drumsticks are on the smaller side they might be done sooner than that.
Using the suggested baking time given for the conventional oven recipe will probably result in overbaking. To prevent this from happening, reduce the suggested baking time by approximately 20% or one-fifth. If the original recipe suggests baking for 20 minutes, 16 minutes would be enough in the air fryer.
This all may sound self-explanatory, but it's an important fact to remember: Even if your air fryer has top-notch air circulation from its fan, you need to give most larger pieces of food (such as pork chops, burgers, and chicken cutlets) a turn about halfway through cooking.
Place chicken in air fryer basket, standing against sides of basket if necessary. Set to 350°F; cook 15 minutes. Turn chicken; cook 5 to 8 minutes longer or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F).
For properly cooked chicken, if you cut into it and the juices run clear, then the chicken is fully cooked. If the juices are red or have a pinkish color, your chicken may need to be cooked a bit longer.
Cook the chicken until the pieces are crispy and brown, about 15 minutes, turning occasionally. To test for doneness: Cut into the thickest part of a drumstick.The juices should run clear and the meat should be opaque throughout.
Usually it takes about 40 to 45 minutes to cook average size bone-in chicken legs in a pre-heated 400º F oven although the time may vary depending on the size of the drumsticks and how hot your oven runs. I always recommend you take a quick peek after 35 minutes of baking to make sure the legs aren't browning too fast.
Because of the smaller cooking chamber and superconvection (intense fan blowing heat into food), air fryers generally cook foods much faster than your traditional gas or electric stove. Often in about half the time it takes to make a similar recipe in a full oven.
You can use your air fryer to cook recipes that have instructions for cooking in the oven. Because the heat in the air fryer is more intense than a standard oven, reduce the suggested temperature by 25ºF to 50ºF and cut the time by roughly 20%.
Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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