Keep a Man Chicken (AKA buttermilk paprika fried chicken) is so juicy, flavorful and tender. Make this for your man or your woman and win their hearts forever!
Air Fryer Buttermilk Paprika Chicken
I found a recipe for something called “keep a man chicken” on Pinterest and knew that I needed to make my own version. Funny names aside my husband and son absolutely LOVED this chicken. I did too! So if you’re looking to wow your sweetheart this is the recipe to make!
I cooked half of the chicken pieces in the oven and half of the chicken in my air fryer just to see which one was better. They were both tasty but the air fryer version was over the top flavorful and the texture was perfect. I have an Instant Pot brand air fryer*. You could also make this in your Duo Crisp* and use the air fryer lid. The only problem with the air fryer is that you will probably have to work in batches because it is not large enough to do all the chicken at the same time. So consider that when deciding whether to air fry or to bake in the oven.
What ingredients do I need?
For brining
- Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs–or chicken drumsticks
- Buttermilk
- Kosher salt–or sea salt
To cook the chicken
- Olive oil–or another type of oil like vegetable or canola oil
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Seasoned salt–I used Lawry’s brand
- Smoked paprika–don’t substitute with regular paprika, it’s not the same flavor
How do you make air fryer chicken thighs?
- Brine: Place pieces of chicken in a large airtight container. Pour the butter milk and kosher salt into the container and stir to incorporate. Cover and refrigerate overnight. This step takes some forethought but I promise it is worth it!
- Pat dry: When ready to cook discard the buttermilk mixture and place the pieces of chicken on a baking sheet. Pat the pieces of chicken dry with paper towels.
- Season: Drizzle the top of the chicken with the olive oil. In a small bowl stir together the onion powder, garlic powder, seasoned salt and smoked paprika. Sprinkle the mixture over the chicken and season both side of the chicken.
- If cooking in your oven preheat the oven to 450° F. Bake chicken for 20 minutes, flip the chicken over and bake for another 20 minutes. Test the chicken for doneness by using a digital thermometer* to see if the internal part of the chicken is 165° F. Some pieces of chicken are larger than others and may take longer to cook than smaller pieces of chicken. If cooking in an air fryer (you may have to work in batches) air fry for 10 minutes at 350° F and then flip the chicken over and air fryer for 10 more minutes. Test the chicken for doneness by using a digital thermometer to see if the internal part of the chicken is 165° F. Some pieces of chicken are larger than others and may take longer to cook than smaller pieces of chicken.
- Serve and enjoy!
Common Questions
What does soaking in buttermilk do for chicken?
Soaking the chicken in buttermilk keeps it moist and adds flavor. I used a large rubbermaid* container to fit all my chicken in overnight with the buttermilk brine. Don’t skip this step!
How long can you leave chicken in buttermilk for?
You should marinate chicken in buttermilk for 12-24 hours. When using a probiotic marinade for your chicken, it is a good idea to let it work overnight.
Can you freeze buttermilk soaked chicken?
Buttermilk has a very low fat content and freezes well, but even if it separates a little on defrosting it will not affect the cooked chicken. Put the marinade in a large airtight container or a tough resealable bag and add the chicken. Seal tightly and freeze for up to one month. Then thaw overnight in the refrigerator before going on with the recipe.
What is the difference between smoked paprika and regular?
Flavor! Smoked paprika has a richer, heavier flavor that is popular in BBQ dishes. Regular paprika contains crushed dried chili peppers. Smoked paprika is made from smoke-dried chili peppers that were dried over an oak fire before being ground into a powder. I like to buy smoked paprika in the bulk bins at Winco for a bargain price.
Can I make this chicken in the Instant Pot or slow cooker?
You could pressure cook (15 minutes) or slow cooker (4-6 hours) this chicken but it won’t be the same texture and flavor. By using your oven or air fryer the skin gets crispy and flavors get more intense.
What should I serve with air fryer chicken?
I suggest serving with mashed or baked potatoes and a green vegetable like asparagus.
How to store and reheat leftovers?
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat in the air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 375° F and let the chicken come to room temperature. Arrange the chicken in a single layer and cook it for about four minutes, flipping it once to ensure even cooking. To reheat in the oven: Take the chicken out of the fridge 20 to 30 minutes before reheating. Place chicken on a wire rack with a baking sheet underneath and preheat oven to 400°F.
Bake chicken for 12 to 20 minutes.
More Air Fryer Recipes…
Air Fryer Sunday Dinner Chicken
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Keep a Man Chicken (Air Fryer or Oven)
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
Juicy, flavorful and tender chicken. Make this for your man or your woman and win their hearts forever!
Ingredients
For brining
- 1 (5 pound) package of bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1 1/2 Tbsp kosher salt
To cook the chicken
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
- 1 Tbsp smoked paprika
Instructions
- Place pieces of chicken in a large airtight container. Pour the butter milk and kosher salt into the container and stir to incorporate. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- When ready to cook discard the buttermilk mixture and place the pieces of chicken on a baking sheet. Pat the pieces of chicken dry with paper towels.
- Drizzle the top of the chicken with the olive oil. In a small bowl stir together the onion powder, garlic powder, seasoned salt and smoked paprika. Sprinkle the mixture over the chicken and season both side of the chicken.
- If cooking in your oven preheat the oven to 450° F. Bake chicken for 20 minutes, flip the chicken over and bake for another 20 minutes. Test the chicken for doneness by using a digital thermometer to see if the internal part of the chicken is 165° F. Some pieces of chicken are larger than others and may take longer to cook than smaller pieces of chicken. If cooking in an air fryer (you may have to work in batches) air fry for 10 minutes at 350° F and then flip the chicken over and air fryer for 10 more minutes. Test the chicken for doneness by using a digital thermometer to see if the internal part of the chicken is 165° F. Some pieces of chicken are larger than others and may take longer to cook than smaller pieces of chicken.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Category: Chicken or Turkey
- Method: Air Fryer or Oven
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Do you think this could be made with boneless breasts? What, if any, changes would you make? Thanks!
I haven’t tried it but I think it would be tasty. In the air fryer I would do 10 minutes then flip and 10 more minutes. Check for doneness with a digital thermometer.
I have eaters who won’t take bone in chicken. Any changes for boneless skinless breasts or thighs?
I haven’t tried it but I think it would be tasty. In the air fryer I would do 10 minutes then flip and 10 more minutes. Check for doneness with a digital thermometer.
Would like more recipes for chicken and pork. Thank you
Hi Pam, if you go here: https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/recipes/
you and filter by type of meat! This should be helpful to you.
Is there an alternative to buttermilk? I am allergic to dairy.
I bet you could soak in another type of milk like soy or almond milk. I’m not 100% sure though
Could you maybe cook the seasoned chicken in the Instant Pot and then finish/crisp it in the air fryer?
Yes you can do this. I actually tried this at the same time as I cooked the other in the oven and air fryer. I cooked the chicken on a trivet for 12 minutes with a 10 minute natural pressure release. Then I used the air fryer lid to crisp it up. It was good but far inferior to the air fryer and even the oven method. That’s why I didn’t include the info in the recipe.