Air Fryer Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
Taiwanese popcorn chicken is a uniquely crunchy and incredibly addicting snack. This recipe uses the Air Fryer, which makes it a slightly healthier alternative without the mess of deep frying.
Equipment
Air Fryer
Ingredients
For marinating the chicken
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cubed
- 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon Chinese five spice powder
- 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
For the salt and pepper mixture
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
For Air Frying the chicken
- 1 cup sweet potato starch
- cooking spray (use canola or avocado oil)
- 1/4 cup Thai basil leaves
Instructions
- Gather the ingredients.
- Marinate the chicken. In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients for marinating the chicken (chicken thighs, garlic, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, sesame oil, sugar, five-spice powder, garlic, and white pepper). Thoroughly mix together and set aside to marinate for at least 20 minutes up to overnight.
- While the chicken marinates, combine the ingredients for the salt and pepper mixture (salt, white pepper, five spice powder, and garlic). Set aside until the chicken is cooked.
- When the chicken is done marinating, it's time to coat the chicken and Air Fry. Prepare your Air Fryer tray by coating the basket or rack with cooking spray. In a medium dish, pour in the sweet potato starch. Take out a piece of chicken and dredge the chicken in the starch. Press the coating into the chicken with your fingers to ensure it's thoroughly coated.
- Place the coated chicken onto the Air Fryer basket in a single layer. Be sure not to overcrowd the basket. Generously coat the chicken pieces with cooking spray.
- Pop the tray into the Air Fryer and cook at 400°F for 5-7 minutes. Once done, take out the tray, flip the chicken over, and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes.
- In the last minute of cooking, add the Thai basil leaves and give a slight spray with the cooking oil before popping back into the Air Fryer.
- When the chicken is done cooking, remove from the basket and top with the salt and pepper mix to taste (use as little or as much as you'd like). Enjoy!
Notes
If you don't have an Air Fryer, you can use the oven. Place the chicken on a wire rack of a foil-lined baking sheet. Cook the chicken at 450 degrees F for 15 minutes, flip and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
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