Air Fryer Char Siu Chicken – Quick and Easy! (VIDEO)

Ingredient Tips

Refer to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and measurements!

• chicken thighs – use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for the fastest and best results. (If you use bone-in, you will need to add cooking time and the chicken may end up dry.) Depending on how large the chicken thighs are, you may need to adjust time after the first flip.
• oyster sauce – a sauce made from oyster extract; adds color to the marinade. I recommend Lee Kum Kee, specifically the label with the lady on it.
• hoisin sauce – this sauce is made from fermented soybeans along with sugar, garlic and other spices.
• five spice powder – a true five spice powder includes sichuan peppercorn powder. I’ve found that many in grocery stores are not authentic, so I recommend checking the ingredients before purchasing.
• shaoxing wine – if you can’t use shaoxing wine, you can substitute with sherry, mirin, or even chicken stock
• fermented bean curd – this is an essential ingredient for authentic Char Siu chicken to give the marinade umami and unfortunately there isn’t a great substitute. I’ve linked my preferred brand, but my key suggestion would be to find a deep red variety (that comes from red rice), which also adds to the color.
• red gel food coloring – To get the deep red color, it’s a known secret that restaurants will use red gel food coloring. I recommend wearing disposable gloves when mixing the chicken in the marinade, and 2-3 drops is all you need because it’s much thicker than normal food coloring. If you prefer not to use this, you can omit it, but you will not get the bright red color that restaurants are able to achieve.
• Maltose – Maltose is also known as malt sugar, and is used in Chinese cooking to promote browning and caramelization. It’s most commonly used in roast meat dishes like Char Siu and Peking Duck. I get mine from the Asian grocery store and have also seen it on Amazon.

You already know how much I love air fryer recipes – some of my top recipes on my site are Air Fryer Chicken Wings, Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer Tofu, Air Fryer Crispy Pork Belly, and Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts!

1. Marinate the Chicken and Make the Sauce

In a large bowl combine oyster sauce, light soy sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, kosher salt, five spice powder, Shaoxing wine, fermented bean curd and the liquid, and red gel food coloring. Mix until the marinade is smooth.

Add the chicken to the bowl and mix to cover completely in the marinade. Cover and let it marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour or preferably overnight for best results.

In a small bowl, mix together honey, maltose, and the boiling water. Mix until combined and set aside.

2. Air Fry the Chicken

Spray the air fryer basket with a netural oil spray. Lay the chicken down in a single layer and air fry for 5-7 minutes at 400F. Baste with the excess marinade, flip the chicken and baste the other side. Air fry for another 5-6 minutes, or until the chicken reads 155-160F internal temperature on a thermometer. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing. (When resting the chicken, the carryover heat will bring the internal temperature to 165F.)

Serve it with a simple Egg Fried Rice, Garlic Bok Choy (or Bok Choy with Sauce), Gai Lan, and a simple Soy Sauce Pan Fried Noodles for a perfect meal at home!