Air Fryer Chicken Fritters
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Air Fryer Chicken Fritters are what I make when I have cooked chicken in the fridge and want dinner to feel fun and a little different from the usual. Each one comes out golden and tender, seasoned with garlic, thyme, Dijon mustard, and fresh parsley. The air fryer gets them done quickly and they disappear fast.
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I make these for weeknight dinners, game day spreads, and parties because they’re easy to make in a big batch, fun to eat as finger food, and the sweet and sour dipping sauce makes them a hit with kids and adults alike. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat in the air fryer.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Fritters with Step-By-Step Instructions
Scroll down for the full recipe card containing a full printable recipe and measurements in both US customary and metric units.
Here’s everything you need to know to get these fritters golden and crispy every single time.
Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and thyme until evenly combined.
Combine the Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the beaten egg, milk, Dijon mustard, and fresh parsley until smooth. I always use my batter bowl for the wet ingredients since the pour spout makes transferring the mixture into the dry bowl so much cleaner and easier.
Make the Batter
Pour the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and stir just until combined, then fold in the chopped cooked chicken until evenly coated.
Prep the Air Fryer
Lightly brush or spray a piece of parchment paper with vegetable oil and place it in the bottom of the air fryer basket to prevent sticking.
DO MORE WITH YOUR
AIR FRYER
This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.
Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.
∙ Cheesy Egg Bites
∙ Broccoli Cheddar Soup
∙ Asparagus Casserole
∙ Crack Chicken Casserole
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Add the Fritters
Drop spoonfuls of the chicken mixture onto the lined basket, spacing them out slightly so hot air can circulate around each one. A cookie scoop is a great way to portion the batter quickly and get evenly sized fritters that cook at the same rate.
Air Fry the Fritters
Air fry at 400ºF (200°C) for 7 minutes, then flip each fritter and cook for another 5 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. I use a basket-style air fryer for this recipe since the wide base gives you enough room to space the fritters out without crowding.
Heat-resistant silicone tipped tongs make flipping the fritters easy without damaging the crust you’ve just built up.
Serve
Serve hot with your favorite sweet-and-sour sauce for dipping. Enjoy!
If you’re bringing these to a potluck or game-day spread, pack them in a single layer in an airtight container lined with paper towels to keep them from going soggy. Tuck the container into an insulated casserole bag to hold the heat during transport. If you have access to an air fryer at your destination, a quick 3-minute reheat at 350°F brings the crispy exterior right back.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound cooked chicken breast finely chopped
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 large egg beaten
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped
- Vegetable oil
- Sweet and sour sauce
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and thyme.½ cup all-purpose flour, ¼ cup cornstarch, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon thyme
- In a separate bowl, mix the beaten egg with milk, Dijon mustard, and fresh parsley.1 large egg, ¼ cup milk, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Fold in the chopped cooked chicken, making sure everything is evenly coated.1 pound cooked chicken breast
- Lightly brush or spray a piece of parchment paper with vegetable oil and place it in the bottom of the air fryer basket to prevent sticking.Vegetable oil
- Drop spoonfuls of the chicken mixture onto the lined basket, spacing them out slightly.
- Air fry at 400ºF (200°C) for 7 minutes, then flip each fritter and cook for another 5 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Serve hot with your favorite sweet and sour sauce for dipping.Sweet and sour sauce
Notes
- Use cooked chicken: Pre-cooked chicken breast works best here since it’s already tender. Rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut and adds extra savory flavor without any extra prep.
- Don’t overmix the batter: Stir just until the wet and dry ingredients come together. Overmixing the flour develops the gluten and can make the fritters tough rather than tender.
- Use perforated parchment: Placing oiled perforated parchment in the basket keeps the fritters from sticking while still allowing air to circulate beneath for an even golden crust.
- Space them out: Drop the fritters with enough room between them so hot air can circulate freely. Crowding the basket causes steaming rather than crisping.
- Flip at the halfway mark: Flipping after the first 7 minutes gives both sides equal exposure to the hot air, resulting in an evenly golden, crispy exterior all the way around.
- Freeze individually first: Flash freeze cooked fritters in a single layer on a baking sheet for 1 hour before transferring them to a freezer bag so they don’t clump together.
Nutrition
DO MORE WITH YOUR
AIR FRYER
This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.
Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.
∙ Cheesy Egg Bites
∙ Broccoli Cheddar Soup
∙ Asparagus Casserole
∙ Crack Chicken Casserole
∙ Coffee Cake
...and much more!
Includes ad-free recipes like:
How to Store Leftovers
Let the fritters cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container and refrigerating. They’ll stay fresh for up to 3 days and reheating them in the air fryer brings them right back to crispy.
For anything beyond a few days, the freezer works really well. Arrange the cooled fritters in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid, then transfer them to a freezer-safe zip-top bag to keep them fresh and prevent sticking. They’ll keep well for up to 2 months, so thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the air fryer for the best texture.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Chicken Fritters
Sweet and sour sauce is the obvious choice here and works perfectly every time, but they’re versatile enough to go with plenty of other dipping sauces. Ranch, honey mustard, or a simple sriracha mayo are all great options, and the herby, savory flavor in every fritter goes really well with anything tangy or creamy.
For a more complete meal, serve them alongside a simple green salad, a bowl of coleslaw, or some roasted vegetables. They also pair well with steamed rice or roasted corn if you want to make it a fuller meal.
More Easy Recipes for You to Try at Home
If you loved these fritters, here are a few more easy air fryer recipes to try.
