Air Fryer Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
Air Fryer Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
Ingredients
For the Chicken and Marinade
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken thighs, boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon garlic, grated
- 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
- 1 egg white
For Coating and Frying
- 1 cup coarse sweet potato flour
- as needed neutral oil spray
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
For the Seasoning Mix
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon five spice powder
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
Instructions
- 1
Place the cut chicken thigh pieces into a large bowl. Add the soy sauce, grated garlic, grated ginger, 1/2 teaspoon white pepper, Shaoxing wine, and the egg white.
⏱️ 3 min
- 2
Mix all the ingredients well by hand until the chicken is thoroughly coated. Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes at room temperature, or for maximum flavor, cover and refrigerate for up to overnight.
⏱️ 2 min
- 3
After marinating, place the coarse sweet potato flour in a shallow dish. Take each chicken piece and coat it completely in the flour, ensuring each piece is fully covered. Shake off any excess flour.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Spray the air fryer basket with a neutral oil spray.
⏱️ 2 min•🌡️ 350
- 5
Lay the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring not to overcrowd it (cook in batches if necessary). Spray the top of the chicken pieces with neutral oil spray. Air fry for 10 minutes.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 350
- 6
After 10 minutes, open the air fryer. Using tongs, give the chicken pieces a quick flip. Spray them again with neutral oil spray. Increase the air fryer temperature to 400°F and air fry for another 6 to 8 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and crispy.
⏱️ 8 min•🌡️ 400
- 7
Once the chicken is done, remove it from the air fryer and set aside. Add the fresh basil leaves to the air fryer tray. Spray the basil leaves with neutral oil spray. Air fry for 2 minutes at 400°F until crispy.
⏱️ 2 min•🌡️ 400
- 8
While the basil is air frying, in a small bowl, mix together 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon white pepper, five spice powder, and granulated sugar.
⏱️ 1 min
- 9
Transfer the cooked popcorn chicken and crispy basil to a serving bowl. Sprinkle the prepared seasoning mix generously over the chicken and basil. Serve immediately and enjoy!
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Air Fryer Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
For the Chicken and Marinade
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken thighs, boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon garlic, grated
- 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
- 1 egg white
For Coating and Frying
- 1 cup coarse sweet potato flour
- as needed neutral oil spray
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
For the Seasoning Mix
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon five spice powder
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
Instructions
- 1
Place the cut chicken thigh pieces into a large bowl. Add the soy sauce, grated garlic, grated ginger, 1/2 teaspoon white pepper, Shaoxing wine, and the egg white.
⏱️ 3 min - 2
Mix all the ingredients well by hand until the chicken is thoroughly coated. Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes at room temperature, or for maximum flavor, cover and refrigerate for up to overnight.
⏱️ 2 min - 3
After marinating, place the coarse sweet potato flour in a shallow dish. Take each chicken piece and coat it completely in the flour, ensuring each piece is fully covered. Shake off any excess flour.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Spray the air fryer basket with a neutral oil spray.
⏱️ 2 min•🌡️ 350 - 5
Lay the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring not to overcrowd it (cook in batches if necessary). Spray the top of the chicken pieces with neutral oil spray. Air fry for 10 minutes.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 350 - 6
After 10 minutes, open the air fryer. Using tongs, give the chicken pieces a quick flip. Spray them again with neutral oil spray. Increase the air fryer temperature to 400°F and air fry for another 6 to 8 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and crispy.
⏱️ 8 min•🌡️ 400 - 7
Once the chicken is done, remove it from the air fryer and set aside. Add the fresh basil leaves to the air fryer tray. Spray the basil leaves with neutral oil spray. Air fry for 2 minutes at 400°F until crispy.
⏱️ 2 min•🌡️ 400 - 8
While the basil is air frying, in a small bowl, mix together 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon white pepper, five spice powder, and granulated sugar.
⏱️ 1 min - 9
Transfer the cooked popcorn chicken and crispy basil to a serving bowl. Sprinkle the prepared seasoning mix generously over the chicken and basil. Serve immediately and enjoy!
⏱️ 2 min