If you want a tasty meal that combines crispy fried chicken and savory rice, this air fryer fried chicken rice is perfect. The air fryer cooks the chicken with less oil but keeps it crunchy outside and juicy inside. Paired with simple, flavorful rice, it makes a great lunch or dinner.
Ingredients You Need
For the Fried Chicken:
- 2 chicken thighs or breasts (skin on or off)
- 1 cup buttermilk (or plain yogurt as a substitute)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried herbs (optional)
- Cooking spray or oil to spray the chicken
For the Rice:
- 1 cup uncooked rice (long grain or jasmine works well)
- 2 cups water or chicken broth
- 1 tbsp oil or butter
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Salt to taste
- Optional: chopped vegetables like peas, carrots, or bell peppers
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Marinate the Chicken
Put the chicken pieces in a bowl and pour buttermilk over them. Let it soak for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours) to tenderize and flavor the chicken.
2. Prepare the Coating
In a separate bowl, mix flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and dried herbs. This will be the crispy coating.
3. Coat the Chicken
Take each chicken piece from the buttermilk and dredge it well in the flour mixture. Make sure it is fully covered for a crispy crust.
4. Preheat the Air Fryer
Set your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) and let it preheat for 3-5 minutes.
5. Cook the Chicken
Place the coated chicken in the air fryer basket. Spray lightly with cooking oil. Cook for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway through, until the chicken is golden and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F or 74°C).
6. Cook the Rice
While the chicken cooks, rinse the rice under cold water until water runs clear. In a pot, heat oil or butter over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic until soft.
Add rice and stir to coat in oil. Pour in water or broth and add salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover. Cook for 15-18 minutes until rice is fluffy and water is absorbed.
(Optional) Stir in cooked or steamed vegetables for extra flavor and color.
7. Serve
Plate the crispy fried chicken alongside the fluffy rice. Garnish with fresh herbs or a squeeze of lemon if you like.
Tips & Tricks
- Use buttermilk or yogurt to keep chicken juicy and tender.
- Spray oil on chicken to get a crispy outside without deep frying.
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket for even cooking.
- Fluff rice with a fork after cooking to keep it light.
- Add veggies to rice for a balanced meal.
Air Fryer Fried Chicken Rice
Crispy fried chicken cooked in the air fryer, served with flavorful, fluffy rice.
- Time: 40 minutes (including marination)
- Serves: 2
Ingredients
Chicken:
- 2 chicken thighs or breasts
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Cooking spray
Rice:
- 1 cup rice
- 2 cups water or broth
- 1 tbsp oil or butter
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Marinate chicken in buttermilk for 30 min.
- Mix flour with spices. Coat chicken well.
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- Air fry chicken 20-25 min, turning halfway, spray with oil.
- Cook rice: sauté onion and garlic in oil, add rice, water, and salt. Cover and simmer 15-18 min.
- Serve chicken with rice.
