You loved my Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken recipe, so I had to develop an Air Fryer Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken that came out JUST as crispy as the regular version! The chicken is juicy and delicious, with my tips for making the air fryer popcorn chicken below! You'll love the crispy texture - I guarantee it!
Cut 1 lb chicken thigh into similar sized 2" pieces.
Marinate chicken pieces with soy sauce, grated ginger, grated garlic, white pepper, Shaoxing wine, and an egg white. Mix to combine and marinate for at least 30 minutes (up to 24 hours) in the refrigerator.
Mix together five spice powder, white pepper, salt, and sugar. This will be your seasoning. Set aside.
Dredge marinated chicken in sweet potato flour and pack well, leaving no bald spots.
Spray the chicken pieces with a neutral oil spray. Spray the air fryer basket then place the chicken pieces on a single layer. Air fry the chicken at 350F for 10 minutes. Give the chicken a flip, then spray the other side with more neutral oil spray.
Air fry again, this time at 400F for another 6-8 minutes until golden and crisp.
Wash and pat the basil leaves dry. Spray both sides with a neutral oil spray and air fry at 400F for 2 minutes until crispy and wilted.
Sprinkle seasoning on chicken immediately after air frying, serve with crispy basil and enjoy!
Notes
Be sure to lay the chicken on the rack in a single layer. Try to avoid having the chicken touch each other to allow for maximum crispiness!
Be generous with the neutral oil spray when spraying the chicken. This is needed to achieve a crispy exterior.