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air fryer shake and bake chicken
Carmen Spillette

Easy Air Fryer Shake and Bake Chicken Recipe

5 from 3 votes
If you want a juicy chicken with healthier option, you're in the right place. I'm going to show you how awesome my shake and bake chicken recipe is in the air fryer!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course: Air Fryer
Cuisine: Air Fryer

Ingredients
  

  • 4 chicken quarters cut into chicken thighs and drumsticks
  • ½ cup bread crumbs
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
Butter Mixture:
  • ½ cup melted butter
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
Honey Butter:
  • ½ cup melted butter
  • 1 tablespoon honey or hot honey for extra kick
Garnish:
  • Fresh parsley choppedDrizzle of honey butter

Method
 

Prepare Chicken:
  1. Rinse the chicken quarters under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels.
  2. Using a sharp knife, cut each chicken quarter into thighs and drumsticks, separating them at the joint.
Prepare Breadcrumb Mixture:
  1. In a shallow dish, combine bread crumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Whisk the mixture until fully incorporated.
Prepare Butter Mixture:
  1. In a separate bowl, melt the butter in the microwave or on the stovetop.
  2. Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper until well combined.
Coat the Chicken:
  1. Preheat your air fryer to  375°F (190°C).
  2. Dunk each piece of chicken into the butter mixture, ensuring it's thoroughly coated.
  3. Immediately press the butter-coated chicken into the breadcrumb mixture, ensuring an even coating on all sides.
  4. Place the coated chicken on a plate or tray.
Air Fry:
  1. Once all the chicken pieces are coated, place them in the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not overcrowded.
  2. Cook the chicken in the air fryer according to your air fryer's instructions or until they are golden brown and cooked through. This typically takes about 25-30 minutes at 375°F (190°C), flipping halfway through cooking for even crispiness.
Prepare Honey Butter:
  1. While the chicken is cooking, prepare the honey butter by mixing melted butter with honey in a small bowl. Adjust the sweetness by adding more or less honey according to your taste preference.
  2. Use hot honey if you want a little spice. 
Serve:
  1. Once the chicken is cooked through and crispy, remove it from the air fryer and transfer it to a serving platter.
  2. Drizzle the honey butter over the crispy chicken pieces.
  3. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley for a pop of color and flavor.
  4. Serve immediately, and enjoy your deliciously crispy and flavorful buttery breadcrumb chicken quarters with a hint of sweetness from the honey butter drizzle!

Notes

  • Preheat for success. Fire up that air fryer before you start. Getting it nice and hot ensures your chicken gets that perfect crunch for your delicious meal.  
  • Coat it right. Don't hold back on the breadcrumb mix! Make sure each piece of chicken is fully coated for maximum flavor and bake seasoning mix. Shake off any excess to keep things crispy.  
  • Temperature matters. Keep an eye on the temp! Use an instant-read thermometer or meat thermometer to check that your chicken hits 165 degrees °F (74°C) inside. That way, you'll know it's cooked through and totally safe to eat.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!