Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken thighs, skinless, boneless, raw
For the Marinade
- 2 egg whites
- 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine, or mirin
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
For the Breading
- 1 cup potato starch
For the Seasoning
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons five spice powder
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
For Frying
- 2 cups Thai basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil, for air fryer/stir fry
Instructions
- 1
Cut the 2 pounds of skinless, boneless chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Place the cut chicken into a large bowl.
⏱️ 1 min
- 3
Add the marinade ingredients to the chicken: 2 egg whites, 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine (or mirin), 1 teaspoon white pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, and 2 tablespoons sesame oil.
⏱️ 2 min
- 4
Mix the chicken thoroughly with the marinade until all pieces are well coated. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes while preparing other ingredients.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
Pour 1 cup of potato starch onto a plate or shallow dish.
⏱️ 1 min
- 6
Take each marinated chicken piece and coat it completely in the potato starch, ensuring it's fully covered. Shake off any excess starch. Repeat for all chicken pieces.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Place the breaded chicken pieces into the air fryer basket in a single layer, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
⏱️ 3 min•🌡️ 375
- 8
Air fry the chicken for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until lightly golden.
⏱️ 12 min•🌡️ 375
- 9
While the chicken is air frying, prepare the seasoning mix. In a small bowl, combine 2 teaspoons salt, 2 teaspoons five spice powder, and 1 teaspoon white pepper. Mix well.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
After the initial air frying, add 2 cups of fresh Thai basil leaves and 2 tablespoons of neutral oil to the air fryer basket with the chicken.
⏱️ 1 min
- 11
Continue air frying for another 3-5 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and crispy, and the basil leaves are fragrant and slightly crispy.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 12
Remove the air-fried chicken and basil from the air fryer. Transfer to a large bowl.
⏱️ 1 min
- 13
Sprinkle the prepared seasoning mix evenly over the hot chicken and basil.
⏱️ 1 min
- 14
Toss everything together to ensure the seasoning is well distributed.
⏱️ 1 min
- 15
Serve immediately and enjoy!
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
- 2 pounds chicken thighs, skinless, boneless, raw
For the Marinade
- 2 egg whites
- 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine, or mirin
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
For the Breading
- 1 cup potato starch
For the Seasoning
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons five spice powder
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
For Frying
- 2 cups Thai basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil, for air fryer/stir fry
Instructions
- 1
Cut the 2 pounds of skinless, boneless chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Place the cut chicken into a large bowl.
⏱️ 1 min - 3
Add the marinade ingredients to the chicken: 2 egg whites, 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine (or mirin), 1 teaspoon white pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, and 2 tablespoons sesame oil.
⏱️ 2 min - 4
Mix the chicken thoroughly with the marinade until all pieces are well coated. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes while preparing other ingredients.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Pour 1 cup of potato starch onto a plate or shallow dish.
⏱️ 1 min - 6
Take each marinated chicken piece and coat it completely in the potato starch, ensuring it's fully covered. Shake off any excess starch. Repeat for all chicken pieces.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Place the breaded chicken pieces into the air fryer basket in a single layer, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
⏱️ 3 min•🌡️ 375 - 8
Air fry the chicken for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until lightly golden.
⏱️ 12 min•🌡️ 375 - 9
While the chicken is air frying, prepare the seasoning mix. In a small bowl, combine 2 teaspoons salt, 2 teaspoons five spice powder, and 1 teaspoon white pepper. Mix well.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
After the initial air frying, add 2 cups of fresh Thai basil leaves and 2 tablespoons of neutral oil to the air fryer basket with the chicken.
⏱️ 1 min - 11
Continue air frying for another 3-5 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and crispy, and the basil leaves are fragrant and slightly crispy.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 12
Remove the air-fried chicken and basil from the air fryer. Transfer to a large bowl.
⏱️ 1 min - 13
Sprinkle the prepared seasoning mix evenly over the hot chicken and basil.
⏱️ 1 min - 14
Toss everything together to ensure the seasoning is well distributed.
⏱️ 1 min - 15
Serve immediately and enjoy!
⏱️ 1 min