Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 2 pounds chicken thighs, skinless, boneless
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 2 teaspoons Chinese five spice powder
- 3 tablespoons garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons ginger, minced
- 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 1/2 cups potato starch, coarse
- 2 egg, whites only
- 2 seconds cooking oil spray, as needed
For the Toppings
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon five spice powder
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 2 cups Thai basil
Instructions
- 1
Dice the chicken thighs into small 1-inch pieces.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
In a large bowl, combine 1 teaspoon white pepper, 2 teaspoons Chinese five spice powder, 3 tablespoons minced garlic, 2 tablespoons minced ginger, 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine, 4 tablespoons soy sauce, and the egg whites from 2 eggs to create the marinade.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Add the diced chicken pieces to the marinade, ensuring they are well coated. Cover the bowl and set aside to marinate for at least 30 minutes at room temperature, or refrigerate overnight for best results.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Pour 1 1/2 cups coarse potato starch onto a large plate or shallow dish. Take each marinated chicken piece and fully coat it in the potato starch, pressing gently to adhere.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
Lightly coat your air fryer tray with cooking oil spray. Arrange the potato starch-coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer tray, ensuring not to overcrowd. Lightly spray the chicken pieces with additional cooking oil.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Cook the chicken in the air fryer at 390°F for 13-15 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through, or until it is crispy and golden brown.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 390
- 7
Once the chicken is cooked, add 2 cups of fresh Thai basil on top of the chicken in the air fryer and air fry for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until the basil is fragrant and slightly crispy.
⏱️ 3 min•🌡️ 390
- 8
While the basil is air frying, in a small bowl, mix together 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon five spice powder, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon white pepper to create the seasoning mix. Once the chicken and basil are done, sprinkle the seasoning mix generously over the cooked chicken and basil. Serve immediately and enjoy!
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
For the Chicken
- 2 pounds chicken thighs, skinless, boneless
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 2 teaspoons Chinese five spice powder
- 3 tablespoons garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons ginger, minced
- 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 1/2 cups potato starch, coarse
- 2 egg, whites only
- 2 seconds cooking oil spray, as needed
For the Toppings
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon five spice powder
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 2 cups Thai basil
Instructions
- 1
Dice the chicken thighs into small 1-inch pieces.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
In a large bowl, combine 1 teaspoon white pepper, 2 teaspoons Chinese five spice powder, 3 tablespoons minced garlic, 2 tablespoons minced ginger, 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine, 4 tablespoons soy sauce, and the egg whites from 2 eggs to create the marinade.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Add the diced chicken pieces to the marinade, ensuring they are well coated. Cover the bowl and set aside to marinate for at least 30 minutes at room temperature, or refrigerate overnight for best results.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Pour 1 1/2 cups coarse potato starch onto a large plate or shallow dish. Take each marinated chicken piece and fully coat it in the potato starch, pressing gently to adhere.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
Lightly coat your air fryer tray with cooking oil spray. Arrange the potato starch-coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer tray, ensuring not to overcrowd. Lightly spray the chicken pieces with additional cooking oil.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Cook the chicken in the air fryer at 390°F for 13-15 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through, or until it is crispy and golden brown.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 390 - 7
Once the chicken is cooked, add 2 cups of fresh Thai basil on top of the chicken in the air fryer and air fry for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until the basil is fragrant and slightly crispy.
⏱️ 3 min•🌡️ 390 - 8
While the basil is air frying, in a small bowl, mix together 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon five spice powder, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon white pepper to create the seasoning mix. Once the chicken and basil are done, sprinkle the seasoning mix generously over the cooked chicken and basil. Serve immediately and enjoy!
⏱️ 2 min