Burger King Chicken Fries are good. I'll admit it. But, they aren't exactly good for you. So, I created a healthier variation of this fast food favourite that you can make from the comfort of your kitchen.
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Why should you try this recipe?
Here's why you'll love these chicken fries in air fryer:
- They're easy to make. All you need is 10 ingredients and 15 minutes of prep time to make a batch of healthier chicken fries. They're almost as easy as fast food.
- They're a healthy alternative to deep-fried chicken fries. This homemade chicken fry recipe is made without oil. And, more importantly, without highly refined oil that leads to inflammation in the body and a host of chronic health problems.
- It'll satisfy your fast food craving. Despite being oil free, these chicken fries are still delicious. That's all thanks to the air fryer (and my delicious seasoning, of course). It circulates hot air to give us extra crispy, totally delicious chicken fries.
Scroll down to see the printable recipe with nutritional information.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need for the air fryer chicken fries.
- Chicken breast: Chicken breast are best for this recipe. But, any chicken cut will do. You can use thighs or tenders if they're what you have in the freezer. Use organic, antibiotic free meat whenever possible.
- Flour: Adds a dry layer to the chicken fries that will help the egg mixture adhere to it. It wicks away any excess moisture left after you've patted the chicken breasts dry.
- Eggs: The eggs help the breadcrumbs (the crust) stick to the chicken fries.
- Breadcrumbs: I use panko breadcrumbs because they have a really crisp texture that adds more crunch to your final creation.
- Garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, italian seasoning: A basic spice rub that brings a lot of flavour when complemented with the additional spices below.
- Smoked paprika: In this recipe, smoked paprika gives a sweet and smoky flavour. It also colours the breadcrumb mixture to give the chicken fries a just-fried golden hue.
- Chili powder: Brings a litt bit of heat! You can leave the chili powder out if you're not a fan of spice. If it's not spicy enough for you, feel free to add more, along with a dash of cayenne pepper.
Scroll down to find the printable recipe with ingredient measurements.
Recipe Variations
Looking to customize these chicken fries in air fryer? Here are a few ideas:
- Make them keto: Use pork rinds instead of panko crumbs. If you can't find them in your grocery store, can buy a jar of crushed pork rinds from Amazon. You may even get a crispier result with pork rinds.
- Customize the seasonings in the breadcrumb mixture: As with all spice rubs, you can customize the blend to your own taste. If you don't like the seasonings I used, feel free to play around or get inspired by my chicken wing rub recipe. Here are a few more ideas.
- Add herbs likes basil, parsley, marjoram and sage to give the spice rub a herbal note.
- Include lemon, lime or orange zest to add citrus notes.
Instructions
Let’s break it down step by step to take any guesswork. Here's how to cook these chicken fries in air fryer.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F.
- Set up your stations. To do so, you'll need to get three shallow dishes. In the first, add the flour. In the second, add the beaten eggs. In the third, combine the breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, italian seasoning and chili powder.
- Coat the chicken fries. Dip a chicken fry into the flour mixture, turning to coat evenly. Then place it into the beaten eggs, again turning to coat evenly. Finally, transfer this chicken fry to the third dish and coat thoroughly in the breadcrumb mixture. Place aside on an empty plate. Repeat this process with all remaining chicken fries.
- Transfer the breaded chicken fries to the air fryer basket. Ensure they're placed in a single layer without overlap. This will achieve the crispiest results.
- Air fryer the chicken fries for 12 minutes, flipping at the halfway mark.
- Remove from air fryer and serve with your favourite dipping sauce. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- Pat-dry chicken with paper towels. Before starting the recipe, dry the chicken thoroughly with paper towel. This step is will ensure crispier, perfectly browned chicken fries.
- Use fresh chicken breasts if you can. Fresh meat will make juicier, more tender chicken fries.
- Be sure to discard leftover breading as it has been contaminated by raw chicken and egg.
- If you have time, chill the breaded chicken fries in the fridge for 30 minutes before air frying. This helps the crust bind together, giving you a crispier exterior. It's not a must, but can make these chicken fries even tastier.
How To Store
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Set air fryer temperature to 350 degrees F. Place chicken fries in the basket in a single layer and reheat for 5 minutes.
For the full ingredient list and step-by-step directions, scroll down to view the recipe card.
Equipment
Here's what you need to make these chicken fries in air fryer.
- Air fryer: If you don’t have an Air Fryer yet, I suggest you add one to your kitchen equipment collection pronto. It lets you eat your favourite fried foods - like Burger King - without guilt. If you’re not sure what the hype is all about, I wrote a piece comparing the air fryer and the pressure cooker. Feel free to use it as a resource. I own the Ninja AF161 Max XL Air Fryer. It's large enough to cook for two people, but small enough to fit in my cupboard. This is the ideal chicken fries air fryer!
FAQs
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about these air fryer chicken fries.
If you're not getting the crispy exterior you're after, there are a couple things you can try. First, be sure you're patting the chicken breast dry before starting the recipe. Second, be sure you aren't overcrowding your air fryer basket. The air needs to be able to circulate so it can crisp the chicken fries up.
When breading chicken, an egg wash helps the breadcrumbs stick. If you can't eat eggs, the best alternatives are milk, heavy cream, melted butter, olive oil, yogurt, or a non-dairy milk.
If you're touching the chicken fries a lot while preparing them or they're overcrowded in your air fryer basket, then the breading is likely to start falling off. Be sure to stay hands off as much as possible once they're coated and give them space while they're cooking.
If you don't have time to defrost the chicken breast, no problem. Use this recipe as is, but double the cooking time in the air fryer and be sure to use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches 165 degrees F before eating.
Note: because the chicken will release moisture as it defrosts in the air fryer, you may not get the same crispy exterior as when you cook from fresh.
How To Serve
Now that you have crispy, copycat Burger King Chicken Fries, it’s time to build the perfect meal with them. Here are a few delicious ideas.
- Pair with a side of fries: Try my air fryer sweet potato fries, curly fries or waffle fries.
- Dip in a healthy condiment: Try my lightened up tartar sauce or vegan chipotle ranch. Or, keep it simple and go with a healthy store bought alternative.
Similar Recipes
Still hungry? If you enjoyed this recipe for healthier chicken fries, I invite you to browse my collection of other air fryer recipes or check out some of my other chicken recipes that I hand selected for you below.
If you make these air fryer chicken fries, please consider leaving a star rating and a comment. Don't forget to tag @caiteyjay on Instagram or @caiteyjay on Pinterest so I can see your creations.
Print
Easy Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Fries
- Prep Time: 13
- Cook Time: 12
- Total Time: 25
- Yield: 10 Fries 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Description
Burger King Chicken Fries are good. I'll admit it. But, they aren't exactly good for you. So, I created a healthier variation of this fast food favourite that you can make from the comfort of your kitchen.
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast, cut into 1-inch wide strips lengthwise (approximately 5 per breast)
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup coarse breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- 2 eggs, beaten
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F.
- Set up your stations. To do so, you'll need to get three shallow dishes. In the first, add the flour. In the second, add the beaten eggs. In the third, combine the breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, italian seasoning and chili powder.
- Coat the chicken fries. Dip a chicken fry into the flour mixture, turning to coat evenly. Then place it into the beaten eggs, again turning to coat evenly. Finally, transfer this chicken fry to the third dish and coat thoroughly in the breadcrumb mixture. Place aside on an empty plate. Repeat this process with all remaining chicken fries.
- Transfer the breaded chicken fries to the air fryer basket. Ensure they're placed in a single layer without overlap. This will achieve the crispiest results.
- Air fryer the chicken fries for 12 minutes, flipping at the halfway mark.
Notes
- Pat-dry chicken with paper towels. Before starting the recipe, dry the chicken thoroughly with paper towel. This step is will ensure crispier, perfectly browned chicken fries.
- Use fresh chicken breasts if you can. Fresh meat will make juicier, more tender chicken fries.
- Be sure to discard leftover breading as it has been contaminated by raw chicken and egg.
- If you have time, chill the breaded chicken fries in the fridge for 30 minutes before air frying. This helps the crust bind together, giving you a crispier exterior. It's not a must, but can make these chicken fries even tastier.
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