An air fryer works as a countertop convection oven that cooks food faster than in a typical oven, thanks to its compact size. The rapid circulation of hot air also yields uber-crispy food like amazing baked chicken that usually requires a long time to roast.

　　In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know for baking chicken in the air fryer. We’ll cover:

　　Why we love using the air fryer for baking chicken

　　How to marinate or brine chicken

　　How to bake chicken in the air fryer

　　And frequently asked questions on air fryers

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　　All appliances have their place, but we love cooking chicken in the air fryer for a few reasons. Here’s why:

　　It’s so crispy: It’s hard to achieve the level of crispiness you get with an air fryer unless you use a deep fryer. .

　　It’s fast: Compared to an oven, chicken cooks quite efficiently in the air fryer. Typically, you’ll shave off about 30 percent to 40 percent of the cooking time by using an air fryer. Again, this is thanks to its compact size, which allows hot air to circulate more rapidly.

　　You don’t have to turn on the oven: If you don’t feel like warming up the house, an air fryer is a great option. Plus, the air fryer preheats in a few minutes, while an oven takes a good bit longer.

　　The air fryer will yield crispy and caramelized chicken every time. Use a marinade to pack in some flavor or brine the chicken before cooking to make it extra tender and juicy. If you’re looking for super-crisp chicken, you’ll want to pat it dry after marinating or brining. Don’t worry; it will still have absorbed all those delicious flavors.

　　Here are some great recipes to get you started. Borrow the brine or marinade instructions and air fry your chicken instead:

　　Simple Chicken Brine

　　Garlic and Lemon Marinade

　　Herb and White Wine Marinade

　　Herb and Shallot Marinade

　　Balsamic Herb Marinade

　　Smoky Citrus Marinade

　　Baking chicken in the air fryer couldn’t be easier. Preheat the air fryer, place the prepped chicken in the fryer basket and let the appliance do the work. Be sure to flip your chicken part of the way through the cooking process.

　　How long you cook your chicken will depend on how large it is, whether it’s boneless, and more. This primer on chicken cook times in the air fryer from The Cookful is a helpful resource. Here are the cook times and temperatures for a few common chicken cuts:

　　Whole chicken: 400°F, 30 minutes on the first side, 12–22 minutes on the other

　　Boneless chicken breast: 400°F, 10 minutes on the first side, 5–8 minutes on the other

　　Bone-in chicken thighs: 400°F, 15 minutes on the first side, 10–15 minutes on the other

　　Chicken drumsticks: 400°F, 10 minutes on the first side, 10–12 minutes on the other

　　Chicken should always be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.

　　Now that you understand the steps for baking chicken in the air fryer, you may be wondering if there’s anything else you should know. Check out these common air fryer questions to make sure you’re baking your chicken to caramelized perfection every time.

　　One of the benefits of an air fryer is that it will yield crispy results without the use of oil. Of course, you can opt to use a little oil if you’d like to make things extra crispy and delicious. Make sure you coat your chicken in oil first; don’t add oil into the fryer basket.

　　The standard air fryer is 3–5 quarts and has enough space for 2–4 servings of food. This means that it could hold two chicken breasts, or roughly, one pound of meat. . For instance, a four-pound chicken would fit in a five-quart air fryer.

　　While most air fryers have a maximum fill line, it’s best not to stack chicken up until you reach that point. . Stick to baking a single layer of chicken at a time to get the best results.

　　We hope this easy guide to baking air fryer chicken inspires your kitchen adventures. Enjoy all that crispy chicken!