Air Fryer Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken

5 from 150 votes

Air Fryer Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken

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!

Prep Time30

Cook Time20

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Chinese

Servings:

Author: Chris Joe

Equipment

Air Fryer I recommend this high capacity air fryer because it's easy to clean and completely nonstick
Neutral Oil Spray For cooking spray, I always use a neutral oil spray such as avocado or vegetable oil

Ingredients

1 lb chicken thigh cut into 2" pieces
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp ginger grated
1 tbsp garlic grated
1/2 tsp white pepper
1/2 tbsp shaoxing wine
1 egg white
2 cups coarse sweet potato flour
1/2 tsp five spice powder
1/2 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1 cup fresh basil
Neutral oil spray such as avocado or vegetable oil

Instructions

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

Opt for boneless, skinless chicken thighs, as they are juicier and more flavorful than breast meat. Cut them into uniform, 2 inch bite-sized pieces for even cooking.

After seasoning the chicken, you will ideally want to marinate the chicken pieces for at least 30 minutes covered in the fridge. You can marinate the chicken for up to overnight, and I would not marinate for more than 24 hours. Doing so will result in juicy, flavorful chicken that is perfect for frying!

If you can't find coarse sweet potato flour, I recommend the following substitutions: cornstarch, potato starch, or rice flour

When making Air Fryer Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken, you will want to use a neutral tasting oil that has a high smoke point. You can use avocado oil, peanut oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil spray.

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.

After frying, season the chicken with a generous sprinkle of the seasoning mix. Achieve the right balance of flavors to suit your taste preferences, and serve the popcorn chicken hot for the best experience.

Nutrition