11 air fryer chicken recipes for quick weeknight meals | CNN (2024)

Fried chickenis a crowd favorite among all types of cuisines and cultures and the irresistible menu item is versatile enough to be adapted with many different ingredients and flavors. While enjoying those crispychicken wingsorthighsis easy,frying chicken in oilcan be messy and inconvenient.The air fryeris a simple alternative that streamlines the process while delivering the same crispy, crunchy results with a perfectly-tender center.

Just take this panko- and parmesan-coated version, for example.

The parmesan adds a salty flavor to the chicken that getscooked to perfection in an air fryerrather than pan or pot of oil. Serve with steamed broccoli and tangy yogurt sauce for achicken dinnerthat can be enjoyed all week long.

Get the Recipe:Healthy Air Fryer Parmesan Chicken with Broccoli

Air Fryer Roast Chicken

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If you’re favorite part of roasted chicken is the crispy skin, you’ll love this whole-roasted chicken recipe. The rapid movement of air in an air fryer is perfect for cooking roast chicken—The fat in the skin renders and gets perfectly crispy while the inside stays incredibly moist and flavorful.

Get the Recipe:Air Fryer Roast Chicken

Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Crispy, crunchy fried wings are an irresistible snack, but being left with greasy fingers after diving into a dozen can be a hassle. That’s why we love these chicken wings that get crisped up in the air fryer rather than a pot of oil. They’re crunchy and tender, and they leave your fingers covered in flavor rather than oil.

Get the Recipe:Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

This easy recipe can be whipped up in just 35 minutes, which means it’s ideal for busy weeknights. Even better, it’s a super versatile dish that can be adapted with many different flavors. Serve these lightly seasoned chicken thighs as is or toss them while still hot with your favorite barbecue or buffalo sauce to give this quick and easy anytime meal an extra kick.

Get the Recipe:Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

This super-easy recipe is a lightened-up version of the kid-favorite. Chicken tenders first get tossed in a buttermilk brine then coated in parmesan and panko, then crisped to perfection in an air fryer. Serve with homemade dipping sauce.

Get the Recipe:Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Air Fryer Thai Curry Party Wings

If you’re tired of standard Buffalo wings, switch up the flavor with another fun wing recipe. These party wings are drenched in a bright, vibrant curry paste that’s sweet, spicy and tangy. Serve with extra sliced scallions and Thai chiles.

Get the Recipe:Air Fryer Thai Curry Party Wings

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs with Salsa Verde and Lemony Kale Salad

This tasty recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner or special occasion meal alike. The crispy chicken thighs are savory and succulent, and the accompany kale salad is crunchy and bright. Ready in just 45 minutes, this easy recipe puts your air fryer to good use.

Get the Recipe:Air Fryer Chicken Thighs with Salsa Verde and Lemony Kale Salad

Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast

If you’re short on time and need to cook a batch of frozen chicken breasts quickly, let the air fryer do the work for you. This easy recipe takes just 25 minutes to cook chicken breasts directly from frozen, just make sure to stack them in one even layer, rather than on top of each other.

Get the Recipe:Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast

Air Fryer Fried Chicken

This fried chicken takes most of the hassle out of typical process of frying chicken—there’s no mess or hot, dripping oil to deal with, and each piece gets cooked evenly and thoroughly. Thanks to the fast circulation of air, cooking this chicken in an air fryer allows the coating to quickly crisp up while cooking the chicken itself thoroughly and completely, without sacrificing flavor or moisture.

Get the Recipe:Air Fryer Fried Chicken

Air Fryer Chicken Wings with Soy Glaze

Air fryers are perfect for cooking chicken wings because they produce crispy, crunchy wings that are tender and juicy on the inside. This recipe employs a soy glaze that gets delightfully sticky when cooked. Fresh ginger adds a bright kick to the tangy marinade.

Get the Recipe:Air Fryer Chicken Wings with Soy Glaze

Air Fryer Taquitos and Charred Salsa

Taquitos are the ultimate finger food, and cooking these in the air fryer rather than a deep fryer helps keep your fingers clean. These are filling with chunks of chicken and melty Colby jack cheese, so they’re filling and irresistible at the same time. Serve with homemade salsa and chopped romaine lettuce.

Get the Recipe:Air Fryer Taquitos and Charred Salsa