What’s All the Fuss About Air Fryers? + Crispy Air Fried Chicken

Your neighbour’s sister loves hers; your brother is obsessed with his, and your best friend is continuously raving on about theirs. No, I’m not talking about the latest mobile phone, I’m talking about air fryers.

So are they really worth the fuss? And do you think it's a good time for me to join the air force?  With these questions in mind, I recently road tested one and created an absolutely delicious Crispy Air Fried Chicken recipe to share with you guys.

Air fryers are touted as the healthier alternative to deep fryers, helping to create your chewy, crispy favourite meals like potato chips or chicken schnitzels, at home without all the fat.

Air fryers circulate hot, dry air to produce golden, crispy food with little to no oil. Sounds pretty great, right?

As you all know, I’m a fan of wholesome home-made cooking. Cooking at home liberates you to understand what goes into the food you’re consuming. It tends to leave out the high amounts of sodium, additives and trans fats that you typically find in meals that you order out or on delivery apps.

Air fryers are safer than deep fryers and make crispy goodies available and accessible at home. They also cook a lot quicker than a conventional oven. Because of this, I think they’re marvellous especially for busy families and people wanting quick and easy meals.  

That being said, using nutritious ingredients will really take your air fryer to the next level.  Using an air fryer doesn’t automatically ensure that your meals are more nutritious, but they do encourage more people to cook from home and be less reliant on takeaways.

As you already know, the best kind of diet is one that is diverse and focusses on fresh fruit and vegetables, lean protein, good fats and whole grains and there's no reason at all that you can't cook healthy meals in an air fryer.

When choosing an air fryer some can be fairly bulky and take up alot of space on the bench top, so it's a good idea to look for a compact model that doesn't look like an out of place coatrack every time you open the door!

If you’re all about the air fryer, you’re not alone. It’s the perfect appliance for getting that indulgence without the added extras.

I road tested the Ultimate Fry Deluxe air fryer from Tefal as it looks good on the bench and is super compact.  It also has a 2-in-1 bowl and basket system so you can cook sweet potato fries in the basket whilst the chicken is roasting in the bowl. Even though its small and compact, it still has a 1.2kg capacity, which makes it enough for 6 servings if you have a big family. It can also fry, grill, roast and bake and there are 8 preset modes  for popular items like fries, fish, bake, chicken, cutlet, vegetable, snacks and defrost on the digital touchscreen.

So will making chicken inspired by Kentucky Fried Chicken in an air fryer be healthy? Today I put that very question to the test and created a healthy and tasty alternative that you can make at home. 

If you’re in the mood for something that tastes a little bit naughty, get around my Crispy Air Fried Chicken. It’s a must-try air-fryer recipe that brings you all the flavour, crispiness and juicy goodness in every single bite. It’s also a meal that puts dinner on the table in less than 25 minutes; a real miracle. 

I used Extra virgin olive oil spray to coat the chicken as it contains anti-inflammatory properties and is excellent for your skin and your hormones. I also added some delicious spices and gluten free self-raising flour. 

Enjoy and let me know what you think in the comments section below.

Crispy Air Fried Chicken

• 1/2 cup gluten free flour 
•  1 egg beaten 
•  4 chicken thighs skin on 
• 1 tsp garlic powder 
• 1 tsp oregano 
• 1 tsp paprika (optional) 
•  Pinch Celtic Sea salt 
•  Olive oil cooking spray   

Pre-heat air fryer to 180 degrees. 

In a separate bowl mix flour, salt and seasonings.

Working with one at a time, place chicken pieces into the flour mixture then dip into the egg mixture than again in the flour mixture until covered. 

Spray with olive oil or oil of choice. 

Place chicken into the air fryer and cook for 20-25 minutes until chicken is golden.  The internal temperature should reach 180 degrees. 

Plate and serve with fresh salad.