8 Air Fryer Chicken Recipes for Easy Weeknight Dinners

Wondering how to level up your weekday chicken dinner game? We have two words for you: air fryer.

The air fryer has become a beloved kitchen appliance for home cooks everywhere, and for good reason: it’s fast, it’s tidy, it’s versatile and it’s a healthier alternative to deep frying. When it comes to chicken, that means you can make a whole array of delicious air fryer chicken dinners without the guilt. Air fryer chicken breast? Check. Air fryer chicken wings? Check. Air fryer chicken tenders? Check, check, check.

If you're looking for new chicken recipes, we’ve got you covered every night of the week, and then some. Read on for a few of our favorites air fryer entrees.

AIR FRYER GARLIC PARMESAN CHICKEN

To make these crowd-pleasing air fryer chicken breasts, you need just 20 minutes and three ingredients: chicken, oil and McCormick® Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Seasoning Mix. The result: crispy yet tender juicy chicken that tastes like it was prepared by a chef. And no one needs to know otherwise! 

AIR FRYER CHICKEN BREAST AND POTATOES

For busy weeknights, this chicken dinner is a real winner. You’ll start out by making your own spice blend to season both the chicken and the potatoes, which can cook side-by-side in the air fryer. If you’re feeling creative, add a dash of this and that to the blend so it’s custom-made to your family’s tastes (we’re fans of cumin and chili powder, for example). Whatever you do, the entire meal will be ready to serve in just 15 minutes.

AIR FRYER CHICKEN TENDERS

Sure, you could buy a big bag of frozen chicken tenders from the supermarket’s freezer section. Or, you could make your own air fryer chicken tenders and taste the difference. With this recipe, strips of chicken are coated in a mixture of buttermilk, egg and garlic powder and then dredged in flour before cooking to a crisp in the air fryer. Serve them with homemade honey mustard sauce for maximum deliciousness. Want something quicker? This recipe is as easy as it gets, with just three ingredients needed: chicken, oil and McCormick Air Fryer Loaded Seasoning Mix. The result: chicken strips so flavorful — and simple — you may never return to the frozen options.

AIR FRYER CHICKEN NUGGETS WITH DIPPING SAUCE

With these Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets, the secret ingredient is pickle juice, which allows for a quick, flavorful brine. The payoff is chicken that’s crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside and keeps the kids coming back for more. And the homemade barbecue honey mustard dipping sauce is [chef’s kiss]!

AIR FRYER BUFFALO WINGS

These Air Fryer Buffalo Wings will score big at your next watch party. They take 20 minutes to cook, which leaves you just enough time to chop the celery and carrots and set out the ranch and bleu cheese as you root for your team.

APPLEWOOD SMOKED BBQ CHICKEN

These air fryer chicken breasts taste like they’re hot off the grill, courtesy of the sweet and smoky McCormick Air Fryer Applewood Smoked BBQ Seasoning Mix. Toss a salad to go with this fork-tender dish and your healthy dinner awaits.

CHEDDAR FRIED ONION CRUNCHY CHICKEN

Kids love this air fryer chicken for the cheddar and fried onion seasoning. And moms love it because they can put dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes. In other words, everybody wins!

GARLIC RANCH CRUNCHY CHICKEN

With McCormick Garlic Ranch Crunchy Seasoning Mix, you don’t have to chop, mix or stir to feed the family. Just brush the chicken breasts with mayonnaise (substitute barbecue sauce, honey mustard or sour cream if you prefer), coat them with the seasoning mix and cook them in the air fryer for 10 to 12 minutes. The result: zesty chicken, happy kids and minimal clean up!