Air Fryer Curry Chicken

This air fryer curry chicken marinates overnight with most incredible sauce blend that is put under and over the skin and then its ready to pop in the air fryer and in no time you have the most crispy skin and juicy tender chicken! The leftovers make the best chicken salad for lunches too! Being able to air fry a dinner in no time is the best! Try these other delicious air fryer meals. Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken or these Lemon Pepper Scallops.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

You will love that you can air fry a five pound chicken: in less than an hour and feed your family the most flavorful, moist, chicken dinner! Hopefully you have enough left overs to make a delicious chicken salad like this Curry Chicken Salad.

It’s Paleo and Whole30: Having no gluten, grains, or dairy, it is the perfect dish if you need to keep it Paleo or Whole30 friendly.

Ingredients You Will Need

Whole chicken: is an uncut, bird with the carcass intact for roasting, baking, or breaking down into parts. I like Grass Roots Coop for my meat purchases.

Curry powder: is a blend of spices, typically made with turmeric, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, and other aromatic ingredients.

Garlic: is best for when you want a milder flavor that will also coat meats easier for sautéing or quickly frying.

Onion powder: adds a sweet and savory flavor to certain dishes that you can’t get from fresh onions.

Ground cinnamon: has a warm, sweet flavor and aroma. It is perfect in both sweet and savory dishes.

Ground ginger: adds a warm and aromatic flavor, enhancing the overall taste profile of the dish.

Salt: always salt in moderation in accordance with your dietary preferences.

Fresh cilantro: has a flavor that is often described as bright, herbaceous, and citrusy.

Avocado oil: is extracted from the pulp of the avocado. It is delicious and nutritious and easy to use.

Instructions

Combine all ingredients: except chicken, in a blender till smooth.

Wearing rubber gloves: carefully lift the chicken skin and rub the marinade under the skin and over the skin on both sides of the chicken.

Cover and marinate: 12-24 hours in the fridge. The longer the better.

Place the chicken: in the air fryer basket breast side down.

Set the air fryer: to 360˚ and cook for 30 minutes.

Carefully flip the chicken over: and cook for another 25-30 minutes or until temperature reads 165˚ at the thickest part.

Allow to rest: 15 minutes before carving.

Enjoy!

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Easy Cleanup: I use a foil liner under the basket manage messy sauce cleanup.

Rub the curry sauce: over and under the skin and if you have enough, inside the bird cavity as well.

Recipe Variations

Olive oil: makes a great alternative to the avocado oil.

Chicken pieces: such as thighs, drum sticks or breasts can be used if you do not want to use a whole chicken. Choose skin on and bone in so you can marinate with the curry sauce and adjust air frying time accordingly.

Storage Tips

You can store the air fryer curry chicken in the fridge for up to 4 days when placed in an air tight glass container. It also freezes well for up to 6 months.

FAQ’s About Air Fryer Curry Chicken

What if the sauce is too thin? 

Stir in a arrowroot slurry (arrowroot mixed with cold water) and blend again.

Should I marinate the chicken first?

While not strictly required, marinating for at least a few hours (or overnight) is highly recommended to tenderize the meat and infuse deeper curry flavor.

How do I know when it’s done?

Chicken is safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.