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    Home » Chicken & Turkey » Air Fryer Fried Chicken (Gluten-Free)

    Air Fryer Fried Chicken (Gluten-Free)

    Oct 21, 2020 · by Valentina · 28 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Air Fryer Fried Chicken is gluten-free and seasoned with lemon and herbs. With next to no oil, it's crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside. Perfect!
    Yellow rimmed bowl full with Air Fryer Gluten-Free Lemon Fried Chicken breasts, and GoWISE air fryer box.

    This is a sponsored post brought to you by GoWISE USA. All opinions are my own, based on my experience with the product. Thank you for supporting my sponsors, who help make Cooking On The Weekends possible.

    I work with – and love – traditional cooking equipment and methods.

    So when I was given a GoWISE USA Air Fryer (the Touch Screen 3.7-Quart 7-in-1), I was a bit skeptical. I was however intrigued because I knew Air Frying was becoming a big cooking trend.

    How does the air fryer work?

    • Air fryers have a fan that circulates hot air around the food at a high speed. The combination of this rapid air, and targeted heat, the air fryer cooks foods quickly and efficiently.

    How is an air fryer different than a convection oven?

    • Air fryers have a smaller area where food is held, and the air circulates at a higher speed than in a convection oven. Therefore, in an air fryer, it takes less time to cook foods.

    White plate of cornmeal, lemon zest, thyme and a few spices for Air Fryer Gluten-Free Lemon Fried Chicken.

    Beyond fried chicken, what can you cook in an air fryer?

    • Almost anything -- from bacon and rack of lamb, to cakes and pizza. It’s not just for "fried” foods!

    While it’s possible to cook a variety of foods in the air fryer, my goal was to make something that's normally cooked in oil, by deep frying and have it taste really good!

    I’m happy to report that my Air Fryer Fried Chicken is not only really good — it's delicious!

    What's in this recipe?

    • chicken
    • corn meal
    • thyme
    • smoked paprika
    • garlic powder
    • lemon zest
    • salt, pepper

    2 raw, coated chicken breasts in an air fryer basket, for Air Fryer Gluten-Free Lemon Fried Chicken.

    When I hit "start" on the screen, I wondered if the chicken would actually look and taste fried.

    Honestly, I was a bit surprised when I saw how crispy the “crust” became. And even more so when I cut into the chicken to find it very juicy -- super succulent, in fact.

    2 golden brown, crispy chicken breasts in air fryer basket, for Air Fryer Gluten-Free Lemon Fried Chicken.

    Recipe Substitutions

    • I used cornmeal in my recipe, to keep in gluten-free. You can use gluten-free bread crumbs also, and of course, any breadcrumbs you’d like to. If keeping it gluten-free isn’t important, I’d suggest Panko.
    • I love the thyme with the lemon, but you can use any fresh herbs you like. Oregano and/or rosemary would also be lovely.

    Benefits to Cooking in the Air Fryer

    • Generally, 75% to 80% less oil is required. (In the case of my Air Fryer Fried Chicken recipe, about 90% less!) I found that the best way to use a minimal amount of oil in the air fryer is to use a spray. I used an olive oil spray, which worked perfectly to evenly coat the basket and food.
    • It’s incredibly easy to clean.
    • There's no preheating, and cooking times are fast.

    Sliced Air Fryer Gluten-Free Lemon Fried Chicken breasts in a yellow rimmed dish with GoWISE USA box.

    Making Air Fryer Fried Chicken

    When I set the cooking time and temperature, I felt like I was taking a risk because I rarely put exact times on my recipes. I say, “about” followed by the estimated time. (Things are done when they’re done, not when a certain amount of time is up.)

    However, when I was making my gluten-free Air Fryer Fried Chicken, I used the Chicken Preset, and it came out perfectly! I'd been expecting to have to play around with the time, but I didn't.

    Did the air fryer know how thick it was? How much it weighed?  I can’t tell you for sure, but what I can tell you is that for 2, 8 to 10-ounce, boneless, skinless chicken breasts, the Preset Chicken time and temperature of 20 minutes at 400°F, was spot on.

    This should definitely be one of your top GoWISE Air Fryer recipes!

    GoWise Air Fryer and sliced AIr Fryer Gluten-Free Lemon Fried Chicken with fresh thyme.

    Storing the Air Fryer

    It’s small enough to sit on the counter or be stored without taking up too much room. (Mine fits perfectly on a shelf in the pantry.)

    • It has 2 removable parts, and both are dishwasher safe, but I found there’s no need because they clean up so easily and quickly int he sink.
    • It comes with a small book of air fryer recipes.
    • There are 7 Presets: Fries/Chips, Meat, Shrimp, Cake, Chicken, Steak, Snacks and Fish.

    Yellow rimmed bowl full with Air Fryer Gluten-Free Lemon Fried Chicken breasts, with lemons in background.

    Side note: I've also been making bacon in the air fryer. Sure it's greasy in and of itself -- but all of the fat drips into the pot (lined with foil for easy clean-up) as it drains through the basket. It comes out just as crispy as it does in a pan, but without the mess or need to drain it on paper towels before serving.

    And now, let's try the oh-so-delicious gluten-free Air Fryer Fried Chicken recipe!

    More mouth-watering air fryer recipes:

    • Pumpkin Glazed Air Fryer Donut Holes
    • 2-Ingredient Air Fryer Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken Fingers

    More gluten-Free Fried Chicken Recipes:

    • Tortilla Chip Crusted Chicken Strips
    • Quinoa Fried Chicken
    bowl with a few fried chicken breasts with lemons

    Air Fryer Fried Chicken (Gluten-Free)

    Valentina K. Wein
    Using next to no oil, this Air Fryer Fried Chicken is crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside, and it's chock-full of delicious, fresh flavors!
    5 from 12 votes
    Print
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 284 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ cup corn meal
    • 2 tablspoons fresh lemon zest
    • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
    • ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • ¼ cup gluten-free all purpose flour
    • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
    • 2 large (approximately 10-ounce) chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
    • olive oil cooking spray

    Instructions
     

    • Add the corn meal, lemon zest, thyme, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper to a large, shallow bowl. Mix to blend evenly and set aside.
    • Add the flour to a second large, shallow bowl, and the egg to a third.
    • Sprinkle the chicken breasts lightly with salt and pepper, and one at a time, coat them with the flour lightly and evenly. Then dip them into the egg, being sure they’re well coated. Now place each breast on top of the corn meal mixture and gently press down so that it adheres to it, and do the same thing on the other side, and edges.
    • Remove the basket from the pot of the air fryer, and line the pot with foil. Return the basket and spray the bottom of it with the olive oil. Place the coated chicken breasts in the basket and then spray the top surface with the olive oil.
    • For the GoWISE USA Air Fryer, use the Preset Chicken setting for 20 minutes at 400° F.
    • Let the air fryer cool down and wait for the indicator that it’s ready to open.
    • Serve!
    Keywords light and healthy, chicken for family dinner, air fryer recipes
    Have you tried this recipe?I'd love to see it on Instagram! Tag me at @cookingontheweekends or leave a comment & rating below.

    Cooking On The Weekends is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. 

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Diana

      March 23, 2018 at 10:03 am

      Chicken looks PERFECTLY cooked! Now i'm thinking that i need to get myself an air fryer.

      Reply
    2. Jill

      March 23, 2018 at 10:31 am

      That sliced chicken looks perfect! I always wondered how an air fryer worked. Maybe I need to invest in one.

      Reply
    3. Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious

      March 23, 2018 at 10:35 am

      I'm certain I'd make your chicken recipe first...who could resist lemon fried chicken? No doubt spuds would come next.

      Reply
    4. Judy Lyness

      March 23, 2018 at 10:46 am

      Looks fantastic. Love lemon fried chicken.

      Reply
    5. Christina Conte

      March 23, 2018 at 11:12 am

      This is what I've been waiting for: a review on air frying from someone I trust! Sounds absolutely brilliant, Valentina! That chicken looks and sounds perfect, so I can just imagine all the other things I normally deep fry or even pan fry being cooked in the air fryer! My friend was telling me that she got one the other day, but I think she'd only tried one thing in it so far.

      Thanks so much for this post, it's so helpful. 🙂

      Reply
    6. Jayme

      March 23, 2018 at 11:15 am

      Yummy! My hubby cooks french fries in a pan with oil. This would be much less calories! 🙂

      Reply
    7. Lisa | Garlic & Zest

      March 23, 2018 at 11:29 am

      I don't have an air fryer, but the way you describe it, it makes me think of a convection oven. Is it the same concept or does it work differently? Entering the contest!

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 23, 2018 at 3:52 pm

        Hi Lisa, Yes, it's totally similar to a convection over, but air fryers have a smaller area where food is held, and the air circulates at a higher speed than in a convection oven. Therefore, in an air fryer, it takes less time to cook foods.

        Reply
    8. Jeanne @JollyTomato

      March 23, 2018 at 2:52 pm

      This looks AMAZING! I'm hooked! Would love to try it!

      Reply
    9. Sara

      March 23, 2018 at 3:32 pm

      Your "fried" chicken looks perfect! Thank you for your review. I'm dying to try one of these but do worry about the space for another gadget. I'm also so intrigued by the instantpot 😉

      Reply
    10. Alan Marvin

      March 24, 2018 at 11:03 am

      Sounds like it would be a healthy way to cook. I'd first make the lemon chicken.....that's a great recipe.

      Reply
    11. sippitysup

      March 25, 2018 at 1:31 pm

      Like you I'm a traditionalist, but this device looks very interesting indeed. GREG

      Reply
    12. Hannah

      March 25, 2018 at 3:18 pm

      Oh gosh, this looks amazing...do want!

      Reply
    13. Anna

      November 25, 2018 at 6:10 pm

      This is my first ever air fryer recipe. Loved it!

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 25, 2018 at 8:26 pm

        Hi Anna, That's awesome! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    14. Dan

      January 31, 2019 at 5:43 pm

      This was my first air fryer recipe and I’m in love! Probably the best gluten free fried chicken I’ve ever had! Thank you for the detailed recipe.

      Reply
      • valentina

        January 31, 2019 at 8:22 pm

        Thanks so much, Dan! You made my day. 🙂 I'm so happy you tried the recipe and loved it. ~Valentina

        Reply
    15. Kelly | Foodtasia

      October 22, 2020 at 5:22 am

      It looks so crispy and juicy, Valentina! I still need to get one!

      Reply
      • valentina

        October 25, 2020 at 6:31 pm

        Thanks, Kelly! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    16. Jeff the Chef @ Make It Like a Man!

      October 22, 2020 at 7:53 am

      I've resisted the air fryer, taking it to be just another fad - but man, that chicken looks fantastic!

      Reply
      • valentina

        October 25, 2020 at 6:31 pm

        Thanks, Jeff. It's pretty cool if you're looking to cook with less fat and still have delicious food. And for a super easy clean up. Otherwise, I'm an old fashioned cooking girl. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    17. Dawn - Girl Heart Food

      October 23, 2020 at 5:23 am

      So freaking golden and crispy, Valentina! Can't believe this is made in an air fryer! It's not even lunch time and totally craving (and could eat) for breakfast right about now 😉

      Reply
      • valentina

        October 25, 2020 at 6:28 pm

        Yes, so cool how crispy it gets in an air fryer. Enjoy and thank you! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    18. Kim Lange

      October 23, 2020 at 6:13 am

      Sounds out of this world yummy! We have an air fryer and always looking for recipes! Thank you!

      Reply
      • valentina

        October 25, 2020 at 6:27 pm

        Hope you love it. Thanks, Kim. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    19. Karen (Back Road Journal)

      October 27, 2020 at 7:50 am

      I was just talking with a friend yesterday about Instant Pots and Air Fryers...I'll have to share your post with her.

      Reply
      • valentina

        October 27, 2020 at 10:32 am

        That would be great! Thank you Karen. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    20. cathy

      November 10, 2020 at 9:49 am

      That chicken looks better than traditionally fried!

      Reply

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