Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
There are four chicken recipes here, and they do not share a time. Wings take 24 minutes at 400°F. A 6 oz breast takes 18–22 minutes at 375°F. Breaded bone-in fried chicken takes 22–26 minutes at 390°F. A 4 lb whole chicken takes 55–60 minutes at 360°F. Every one of them is done at 165°F (74°C) inside, not when the skin looks brown.
Pick the cut before you pick a temperature
People search “air fryer chicken” and then cook a breast on a wing timer, or a whole bird at 400°F. The breast dries out. The bird burns on the outside while the thigh is still unsafe. Start from the piece in the fridge. The four cards below are the four methods.
If you only need a minute for a food that does not have a full recipe yet — thighs, tenders — use the cooking times chart, then come back here when you want a written method. The chart owns the comparison. This page owns the chicken collection.
The number that is the same on all four
165°F (74°C) in the thickest meat, not touching bone. Wings, breast, fried pieces, and the roast all use it. Color is not a substitute. An instant-read thermometer is the tool these recipes assume you have.
Recipes in this collection
Air Fryer Fried Chicken — 390°F, 40 min
Air fryer fried chicken at 390°F (200°C) for 22–26 minutes, to 165°F (74°C). Bone-in pieces, buttermilk soak, light oil spray.
Air Fryer Whole Chicken — 360°F, 70 min
A 4 lb air fryer whole chicken at 360°F (180°C) for 55–60 minutes, breast-side down first, to 165°F (74°C) in the thigh.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings — 400°F, 29 min
Air fryer chicken wings at 400°F (200°C) for 24 minutes, flipped every 8 minutes, to 165°F (74°C). Baking powder, no sauce until the end.
Air Fryer Chicken Breast — 375°F, 23 min
Juicy air fryer chicken breast at 375°F (190°C) for 18–22 minutes, flipped halfway, to 165°F (74°C). No breading.
Questions
What temperature for air fryer chicken?
It depends on the cut. Breast 375°F, wings 400°F, breaded bone-in pieces 390°F, a 4 lb whole chicken 360°F. All of them finish at an internal 165°F (74°C). Open the matching recipe for the minute range.
Which air fryer chicken recipe should a beginner use?
The plain chicken breast or the wings. Both are short ingredient lists. Fried chicken needs a soak and a coating. A whole bird needs a basket tall enough for a 4 lb chicken.