You just brought home your very own Cuisinart air fryer – congratulations! Now I’m sure you’re wondering: where do I start? Well have no fear, we’ve compiled the best Cuisinart air fryer chicken recipes you can try with your newest appliance.
Once you’ve whipped up a new favorite recipe, we can also help you learn how to clean your Cuisinart air fryer so it’s ready to go for the next meal!
Now, let’s talk about cooking up some tasty chicken!
1. Cuisinart Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
If you’re a fan of dark meat, then you’re going to love these air fryer chicken thighs cooked in your Cuisinart air fryer!
The recipe calls for boneless and skinless thighs, but honestly you can use whatever you prefer. Air fryers help get a great crispy skin on your chicken thighs if you leave them on!
You’re going to rub the chicken in some oil, herbs and spices, and a little bit of brown sugar. That’s going to create great flavor and the sugar will carmelize for a delicious finish. If desired, you can also add a bacon wrapping!
You’ll need to cook your chicken thighs at 350 degrees for around 20 minutes, flipping at the halfway mark.
The Cuisinart’s system of trays and baskets makes both cooking and cleanup quick and easy. If your air fryer is smoking from the grease coming off the thighs, it’s also convenient to dump the crumb tray at the halfway mark to help.
Try some crispy chicken with pepper jelly drizzle from your favorite TV Chef in our best Emeril Lagasse air fryer recipes!
If you’re ready to enjoy some delicious Cuisinart air fryer chicken thighs, get the full recipe here.
2. Cuisinart Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Chicken wings have to be one of the most iconic game day snacks. However, they make a great appetizer or even a meal with some fries on the side.
The Cuisinart air fryer is the perfect way to make some chicken wings. They’ll come out super crispy, and you can fry in quantity thanks to the convenient rack and basket system.
All you need to do is toss the wings in a little oil and any seasoning you want, then spread them on the racks and start air frying.
If you prefer dry rubbed wings, add some barbecue rub, lemon pepper, cajun seasoning, or another blend of your choice. I, however, like a sauced wing. I’ll cook them plain or with a little salt and pepper.
Once cooked, toss the wings in your favorite sauce. Go classic with buffalo, or enjoy other fun flavors like garlic parmesan, honey sriracha, sweet chili, and more!
Make sure to check out my air fryer honey sriracha chicken recipe too – you could use the sauce on wings as well as chicken breast!
I actually love the garlic parmesan wings I found in our best Crux air fryer recipes!
You’ll need to cook the chicken wings in your Cuisinart air fryer for about 20 minutes at 400 degrees, flipping halfway through. For very large wings, sometimes I need to do 30 minutes to get them cooked all the way.
If you’re ready to get your game on, check out the full recipe for air fryer chicken wings you can make in your Cuisinart air fryer oven here.
For any vegetarians in the family, check out the alternative cauliflower wings, featured over in our best Breville air fryer recipes. You can even use the same sauce to finish them!
Speaking of sauces, you could always go boneless by cooking up some highly dippable frozen chicken tenders in the air fryer.
3. Cuisinart Air Fryer Whole Chicken
One of the things I love about the counter oven style of the Cuisinart air fryer is that you can cook a whole chicken in it. Around a 4 lb frying chicken fits in the basket on the lowest rung!
I personally like to brine my chicken a day ahead of time for that super juicy, tender meat when it’s cooked.
However, you can skip over that if you’re short on time. Just rub the chicken down in oil or melted butter and season with your favorite herbs and spices. Make sure to work it in well so it doesn’t fly off in the air fryer!
The recipe calls for you to cook the whole chicken in your Cuisinart air fryer at 350 for about an hour and a half total. However, I prefer to do the first 30 minutes at 400 degrees to get really crispy skin. Finish at 350 for 30-45 minutes, until the chicken reaches 165 degrees.
No matter what, you should flip the chicken halfway through, and I like to give it an additional baste then for added flavor and moisture.
You can find the full recipe for air fryer whole chicken made easily in your Cuisinart air fryer oven here.
For more bold flavors on your chicken, check out the whole Peruvian chicken featured in our best Pampered Chef air fryer recipes.
You an also try cooking a whole roaster chicken in my best T-Fal air fryer recipes!
4. Fried Chicken in the Cuisinart Air Fryer
You have to love the crispy classic fried chicken, which is another thing your Cuisinart air fryer is great at making.
I love how versatile this recipe is as well. You can make your fried chicken with thighs, breasts, or even drumsticks if preferred.
Simply season your chicken with some salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, or any other blend you like. You’ll need a binder as well – mayonnaise works, or you can use an egg instead.
Finish by dredging in breadcrumbs, or flour if you prefer more of the battered consistency. I like to spritz everything with a little oil before placing it in the air fryer to make sure I get that golden brown crust.
Cook your fried chicken for about 15 minutes at 375 degrees in the Cuisinart air fryer, or until cooked through. Make sure to flip about halfway through to get that nice crispy exterior all around.
Get the full recipe for air fryer fried chicken made in the Cuisinart air fryer oven here.
For another variation, check out the version of air fryer fried chicken over in our best Bella air fryer recipes list.
5. Cuisinart Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Air fryer chicken breasts cooked in the Cuisinart air fryer are so easy to make. They come out juicy and delicious, with not a lot of fuss involved.
In fact, I love to batch cook them for use in other dishes later in the week. Add some Italian seasoning for topping a salad, or southwest inspired seasonings to put your chicken in a quesadilla!
If you make extra, learn how to reheat quesadillas in the air fryer, and enjoy warm and crispy leftovers!
Thanks to the lovely rack and tray system in the Cuisinart air fryer, you’ll be able to get 6-8 chicken breasts in there at a time (depending on size of course). Meal prepping for lunches and dinners throughout the week has never been easier.
Once you rub your chicken in some olive oil and whatever seasonings you like (go ahead and mix and match too) you’re ready to cook. It should take between 15-20 minutes at 360 degrees to fully cook your chicken breasts.
Then they’re ready to enjoy for dinner, or store in the fridge or freezer for meals later on. Making chicken this way is also friendly for those with gluten sensitivities! Check out more of our favorites in our best gluten free air fryer recipes.
In Conclusion
The Cuisinart air fryer oven is an incredibly useful kitchen appliance. Our picks for the 5 best air fryer chicken recipes really showcase the variety of meat cuts you can cook with it.
Of course, that’s not to say there aren’t other foods you can cook with one if you’re tired of chicken. Check out our best Cuisinart air fryer recipes to see some other delicious choices!
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
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