Crispy Fried Chicken Burger (Air Fryer)

The chicken is coated in a crispy rice cereal breading before being cooked in the air fryer, resulting in a super-crunchy texture. When assembling the burger, a tangy and spicy Buffalo sauce is spread over the meat, followed by a creamy blue cheese sauce and marinated onions.

Ingredients

Buffalo Sauce:

• 55 g (1/4 cup) butter
• 125 ml (1/2 cup) hot sauce
• 30 ml (2 tbsp) brown sugar
• 15 ml (1 tbsp) apple cider vinegar

Blue Cheese Sauce:

• 30 g (1/4 cup) crumbled blue cheese, plus more for serving
• 125 ml (1/2 cup) mayonnaise
• 60 ml (1/4 cup) sour cream
• 30 ml (2 tbsp) chopped parsley
• 30 ml (2 tbsp) lemon juice
• 5 ml (1 tsp) honey
• 1 small garlic clove, finely chopped
• 1/2 celery stalk, finely diced (optional)

Marinated Onions (optional):

• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 15 ml (1 tbsp) lemon juice
• 15 ml (1 tbsp) water
• 15 ml (1 tbsp) sugar

Fried Chicken:

• 75 g (1/2 cup) all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs
• 90 g (3 cups) crushed crispy rice cereal
• 7.5 ml (1 1/2 tsp) garlic powder
• 7.5 ml (1 1/2 tsp) onion powder
• 7.5 ml (1 1/2 tsp) crushed red pepper flakes
• 7.5 ml (1 1/2 tsp) dried tarragon
• 2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) salt
• 450 g (1 lb) boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 4-5 thighs)
• 45 ml (3 tbsp) vegetable oil

Burgers:

• 4 soft brioche hamburger buns, toasted
• Romaine lettuce leaves, to taste

Preparation

Buffalo Sauce:
In a small saucepan, combine all the ingredients. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes until the sauce is reduced by half. Set aside.

Blue Cheese Sauce:
In a small bowl, mix all the ingredients. Season with salt and pepper, and mix well. This sauce keeps for 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

Marinated Onions (optional):
In a glass bowl, mix all the ingredients. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave for 1 minute. Let the onions marinate at room temperature while preparing the rest of the ingredients.

Fried Chicken:
Place the flour in one shallow dish, beaten eggs in another, and the crushed cereal mixed with spices and salt in a third. Coat each piece of chicken in flour, shaking off excess, dip in beaten eggs, then coat with the cereal mixture, pressing gently. Place on a plate and brush both sides of the chicken with oil.
Place the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket, spacing them out. Cook at 190°C (375°F) for 15 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for another 10 minutes, until golden and cooked through.

Burgers:
Spread blue cheese sauce on the inside of the buns. Place the chicken on the bottom bun, brush with Buffalo sauce. Add lettuce and marinated onions, then sprinkle with blue cheese. Close the burgers and serve.