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Home » Blog » Recipes » Chicken » Crispy Chicken Skin Chips (Air Fryer or Oven)

Crispy Chicken Skin Chips (Air Fryer or Oven)

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If your favorite part of Ollie’s Cracklin’ Chicken is the crispy chicken skin, you should make these light and crunchy chicken cracklings (a.k.a. chicken skin chips) in an air fryer or oven! 

A woman holding a piece of crispy chicken skins cooked in an air fryer.

These two-ingredient crispy chicken skin chips are the perfect paleo, low carb, gluten free, keto friendly and Whole30-compatible snack. Although homemade chicken skins have the crunchy texture of potato chips, they’re actually a high protein snack (similar to jerky)! If you like Flock Chicken Chips, my recipe is so easy to make and there’s no icky soybean oil.

An overhead shot of a tray of crispy chicken skins cooling on a wire rack.

Ingredients

You only need two simple ingredients to make crispy chicken chips:

  • 8 chicken skins (I normally use skins from chicken thighs)
  • Diamond Crystal kosher salt

Where do you buy chicken skins?

Most butchers and grocery stores don’t sell chicken skins by themselves, but you can always buy bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. When you’re already removing the skins for a particular recipe (e.g. Super Easy Tandoori Chicken, Instant Pot Lemongrass + Coconut Chicken, or Doro Wat), save those skins so you can bake or air fry a batch of chicken cracklings.

By cooking up the skins, you’ll cut down on food waste and make an amazing snack—win win! (Don’t like thighs? You can use the skins from chicken breasts.)

Can you fry chicken skin cracklings on the stovetop?

Yes, you can fry them in a dry skillet on the stovetop on medium heat until they get crispy, but there can be a lot of splatter and the chicken cracklings can burn if you aren’t paying attention. Plus, the skins have a tendency to curl up in a pan, unless you’re vigilant about keeping them flat. That’s why the stovetop method’s not my favorite.

Is it better to cook chicken skin cracklings in an air fryer or an oven?

Hmmm…that’s a tough question! The crispy chicken skins are quicker to cook and have a more delicate crunch when they’re made in an air fryer, but you can only make four skins at a time due to the size constraints of the appliance. On the other hand, you can cook a whole tray of crisp cracklings when you’re baking the chicken skins in the oven. The common denominator for both methods is that the chicken skins need to be elevated—in an air fryer basket or on a wire rack in the oven—so the chicken fat can render and the cracklings get super crispy!

How can you make clean-up easier?

You can line the bottom of the air fryer or rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper before adding the raw chicken skins on top of the air fryer basket or stainless steel wire rack. When you’re done cooking, just carefully lift up the foil or parchment paper and toss it!

Can you use different seasonings?

I don’t recommend seasoning the chicken skins with anything other than salt when you’re cooking them in the air fryer or oven because spices and herbs can burn. If you want, you can sprinkle on your favorite seasoning (e.g. nutritional yeast, tomato powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, or freshly cracked black pepper) after the crispy chicken skins are out of the oven.

What do you serve with chicken cracklings?

These crispy cracklings taste delicious on their own, but they’re even more amazing dipped in Guacamole, Spicy Pineapple Salsa, Whole30 Sriracha, or your favorite hot sauce. The chicken cracklings also taste great crumbled on top of salads as a low-carb crouton substitute.

How do you store leftovers?

Leftover cracklings can get rubbery the next day, so I recommend eating them all up on the day you cook them. If you insist on keeping leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container on the counter with a desiccant packet for up to 2 days.

How to make crispy chicken skin chips!

Pat the chicken skins dry with a paper towel and sprinkle salt on both sides.

A hand is sprinkling salt on raw chicken skin.

Using an air fryer?

Lay three or four chicken skins in a single layer, skin-side down, on the air fryer basket and program the air fryer to cook at 400°F for a total of 12 minutes.

A person is programming an air fryer to cook at 400°F for 12 minutes

At the halfway point (i.e. 6 minutes), flip the chicken skins over so they are skin-side up.

Flipping the chicken skins in an air fryer at the halfway point.

Air fry the chicken skins the remaining 6 minutes or until crispy. Add a minute or two to the cooking time if the skin is still a little flabby in parts.

An overhead shot of air fryer Chicken Cracklings that are golden brown and crispy

Remove the chicken cracklings from the air fryer and place on a wire rack to cool.

A pair of tongs are removing crispy chicken skins from an air fryer.

Dump out any chicken fat on the bottom of the air fryer before repeating the steps with the remaining chicken skins.

Baking crispy chicken cracklings in the oven?

Heat the oven to 400°F convection or 425°F (non-convection) with the rack in the middle. Place the chicken skin in a single layer, skin-side down, on top of stainless steel wire rack on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet.

A hand placing raw chicken skins on a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet to make oven-baked crispy chicken skins.

Pop the tray in the oven and bake for 10 minutes.

Placing a tray of chicken skins into the oven to make a keto snack.

Then, flip the chicken skins skin-side up…

A person is using a pair of tongs to flip over chicken skins that are baking in the oven.

…and bake for 10 more minutes or until golden and crispy.

A tray of crispy chicken skin chips cooling on a wire rack.

Whether you choose to cook chicken cracklings in an air fryer or bake them in an oven, you can’t go wrong!

An overhead shot of golden brown chicken cracklings cooling on a wire rack, the perfect paleo, Whole30, keto, and low carb snack.

[Originally posted on August 10, 2020. Updated with new information and photos on April 16, 2022.]


Looking for more recipe ideas? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You’ll also find exclusive recipes on my iPhone and iPad app, and in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013), Ready or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017), and Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2022).


PRINTER-FRIENDLY RECIPE CARD

An overhead shot of Crispy Chicken Skin on a wire rack, the perfect paleo, Whole30, keto, and low carb snack.
Print Recipe
4.81 from 21 votes

Crispy Chicken Skin Chips (Chicken Cracklings)

These two-ingredient crispy chicken skin chips can be made in an air fryer or oven. I bet you can’t eat just one chicken crackling!
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Air Fryer, chicken, cracklings, keto, low carb, paleo, Whole30
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 260kcal
Author: Michelle Tam

Ingredients

  • 8 chicken skins I normally use skins from chicken thighs
  • ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt 

Instructions 

  • Pat the chicken skins dry with a paper towel and sprinkle salt on both sides.

Air Fryer instructions

  • Lay three or four chicken skins in a single layer, skin-side down, on the air fryer basket and program the air fryer to cook at 400°F for a total of 12 minutes.
  • At the halfway point (i.e. 6 minutes), flip the chicken skins over so they are skin-side up.
  • Air fry the chicken skins the remaining 6 minutes or until crispy. Add a minute or two to the cooking time if the skin is still a little flabby in parts.
  • Remove the chicken cracklings from the air fryer and place on a wire rack to cool.
  • Dump out any chicken fat on the bottom of the air fryer before repeating the steps with the remaining chicken skins.

Oven instructions

  • Heat the oven to 400°F convection or 425°F (non-convection) with the rack in the middle. Place the chicken skin in a single layer, skin-side down, on top of stainless steel wire rack on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet.
  • Pop the tray in the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
  • Then, flip the chicken skins skin-side up and bake for 10 more minutes or until golden and crispy.

Video

Tried this recipe?Mention @nomnompaleo or tag #nomnompaleo!

Nutrition

Calories: 260kcal | Carbohydrates: 0g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 24g

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Donna Gettings Apperson says

    August 11, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    Now to figure out where to buy skins locally.

    Reply
  2. Carena says

    August 11, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    I made mini cracklings with the excess skin I trimmed from some thighs when I made Ollie’s Cracklin’ Chicken tonight. Delicious!

    Reply
  3. Space Chicken says

    August 11, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    Is this possible with any fish skins…say salmon?

    Reply
    • Samantha says

      September 10, 2020 at 4:01 am

      Yes!! I make fish chips with salmon skins… they are amazing. You can cook them on medium/high heat in a skillet with olive oil or coconut which is my favorite!! Add some paprika, onion powder, pepper, and garlic powder and let it cook till it sticks really well! It’s amazing. I usually don’t add salt because salmon is a bit salty !

      Reply
  4. Judy says

    August 11, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    It never occurred to me til I was eating these that they would be so similar to fried pork skins–but DUH! that is what they remind me of. Chicken-y instead of pork-y, but similar in texture and crunch. What’s not to like? If you like pork skins you’ll also enjoy these.

    Reply
  5. Jenn Westbetter says

    August 13, 2020 at 8:27 pm

    5 stars
    Michelle really nailed this recipe! It’s reason enough to go out and buy an air fryer (I love the Breville) because you will want to make this delicious situation at least weekly. We like to serve it with a big salad and always make at least 8 thighs for the four of us.

    Reply
  6. Christine says

    January 18, 2021 at 10:47 pm

    Any advice on if these keep for more than a day and, if so, how to store? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Michelle Tam says

      January 19, 2021 at 5:58 pm

      They don’t stay crispy if you store them!

      Reply
      • Elle says

        March 8, 2021 at 7:55 pm

        Can you re-crisp them in the air fryer?

        Reply
        • Michelle Tam says

          March 15, 2021 at 2:05 am

          Probably! They do taste best fresh, though.

          Reply
      • Leda says

        November 2, 2022 at 12:46 am

        5 stars
        Unless when stored in a ring sealed jar & stored in the deep freeze.

        Reply
  7. Renee Causley says

    January 27, 2021 at 5:57 pm

    The parchment caught fire so I guess I won’t be making this again

    Reply
    • Michelle Tam says

      January 27, 2021 at 6:49 pm

      I don’t use parchment for exactly that reason!

      Reply
  8. Elle says

    March 8, 2021 at 7:13 pm

    How can you store these? I would think they don’t keep well and are best fresh?

    Reply
  9. Barbara Gabbe- Harris says

    October 13, 2021 at 2:44 am

    What air fryer do you use?

    Reply
  10. Vera says

    April 22, 2022 at 6:00 pm

    5 stars
    FANTASTIC! I pulled the skin off of some boneless chicken thighs that I was using to make Chicken Satay and fried them up following the instructions exactly in my AF (basket type). I wouldn’t change a thing. I ate some right away, because I couldn’t resist, and when I served the Chicken Satay, along with Peanut Sauce, I had a side of Jasmine rice that I topped with sliced scallions and some of the fried chicken skin slightly crushed for some great crunchy texture.

    Reply
  11. at says

    June 24, 2022 at 4:18 pm

    I love making chicken skin cracklings in the oven! I bake mine between two sheet pans so they cook flat and it minimizes splatter – thank you for the tip about no spices after until they’re done!!

    Reply
  12. Susanna says

    August 10, 2022 at 3:48 pm

    5 stars
    Hi,can you pls link where can I buy the wire rack/ baking tray that you used to bake the chicken skins?

    Thanks,
    Susanna

    Reply
    • Regina Chan says

      August 11, 2022 at 2:06 am

      Michelle has a running list of her favorite kitchen tools and pantry items on this website. Just find “SHOP” at the top of the page!

      Reply
  13. Jan says

    February 28, 2023 at 11:21 pm

    Followed instructions to the letter for air fryer. Set off smoke alarm. Nobody ever tells you this part.

    Reply
    • Michelle Tam says

      March 1, 2023 at 8:59 pm

      Ugh! I always use my air fryer near an open window to make sure that doesn’t happen!

      Reply

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