Air Fryer Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
Air Fryer Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 500 grams boneless chicken thighs
For the Marinade
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice wine
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon five spice powder
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
- 1 egg
- 3 tablespoons water
For the Coating
- 1/2 cup tapioca starch
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
For the Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 teaspoon five spice powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- as needed chili flakes, optional
Other
- as needed fresh basil
- as needed oil spray
Instructions
- 1
Cut the 500 grams of boneless chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
In a bowl, combine the chicken pieces with the marinade ingredients: 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon rice wine, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1 teaspoon five spice powder, 1/2 teaspoon white pepper, 3 cloves minced garlic, 1 tablespoon grated ginger, 1 egg, and 3 tablespoons water.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Mix all the marinade ingredients thoroughly with the chicken and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
In a separate bowl, prepare the coating by mixing 1/2 cup tapioca starch and 1/4 cup all-purpose flour.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
Dredge the marinated chicken pieces in the dry coating mixture, ensuring each piece is fully coated.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Spray the coated chicken pieces generously with oil.
⏱️ 1 min
- 7
Preheat an air fryer to 180°C. Air fry the chicken for 5-8 minutes, then flip the pieces.
⏱️ 8 min•🌡️ 180
- 8
Increase the air fryer temperature to 200°C and continue air frying for another 2-3 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and crispy.
⏱️ 3 min•🌡️ 200
- 9
While the chicken is cooking, prepare the seasoning blend by combining 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon white pepper, 1 teaspoon five spice powder, and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in a small bowl. Add chili flakes if desired.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
In the air fryer, cook fresh basil leaves at 180°C for 2 minutes until they are crispy.
⏱️ 2 min•🌡️ 180
- 11
Serve the air-fried Taiwanese popcorn chicken hot, sprinkled with the prepared seasoning and garnished with the crispy basil leaves.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Air Fryer Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
For the Chicken
- 500 grams boneless chicken thighs
For the Marinade
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice wine
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon five spice powder
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
- 1 egg
- 3 tablespoons water
For the Coating
- 1/2 cup tapioca starch
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
For the Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 teaspoon five spice powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- as needed chili flakes, optional
Other
- as needed fresh basil
- as needed oil spray
Instructions
- 1
Cut the 500 grams of boneless chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
In a bowl, combine the chicken pieces with the marinade ingredients: 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon rice wine, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1 teaspoon five spice powder, 1/2 teaspoon white pepper, 3 cloves minced garlic, 1 tablespoon grated ginger, 1 egg, and 3 tablespoons water.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Mix all the marinade ingredients thoroughly with the chicken and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
In a separate bowl, prepare the coating by mixing 1/2 cup tapioca starch and 1/4 cup all-purpose flour.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Dredge the marinated chicken pieces in the dry coating mixture, ensuring each piece is fully coated.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Spray the coated chicken pieces generously with oil.
⏱️ 1 min - 7
Preheat an air fryer to 180°C. Air fry the chicken for 5-8 minutes, then flip the pieces.
⏱️ 8 min•🌡️ 180 - 8
Increase the air fryer temperature to 200°C and continue air frying for another 2-3 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and crispy.
⏱️ 3 min•🌡️ 200 - 9
While the chicken is cooking, prepare the seasoning blend by combining 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon white pepper, 1 teaspoon five spice powder, and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in a small bowl. Add chili flakes if desired.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
In the air fryer, cook fresh basil leaves at 180°C for 2 minutes until they are crispy.
⏱️ 2 min•🌡️ 180 - 11
Serve the air-fried Taiwanese popcorn chicken hot, sprinkled with the prepared seasoning and garnished with the crispy basil leaves.
⏱️ 1 min