Air fryer Chicken Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken)
This air fryer chicken karaage is crispy, juicy, super flavorful, and undeniably as addictive as the classic chicken karaage, which is deep fried. Our air fryer version is easier to make, uses the minimal oil, and the best part — no oil clean up afterwards! If you're looking for more recipes to make in your air fryer, also try our air fryer chicken katsu, crispy pork belly, and char siu chicken!
- Prep time
- 14 min
- Cook time
- 16 min
- Yield
- 3 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs (cut into 1 inch pieces)
- ¼ cup sake
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (light sodium)
- 2 teaspoons ginger (grated)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- ¾ cup potato starch
- Cooking spray (any neutral oil spray with high smoke point is fine)
- Kewpie mayo
- Shichimi togarashi
- Lemon (cut into wedges)
Instructions
- 1
Place the chicken thigh, sake, soy sauce, grated ginger, salt, and sugar into a glass mixing bowl and mix well. Cover and allow the chicken to marinate at least 1 hour on the kitchen counter, but best overnight in the fridge.
- 2
Generously spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- 3
Coat each piece of marinated chicken well with potato starch. Make sure to allow the excess marinate drip off before putting the chicken in the potato starch.
- 4
Arrange the dredged chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket and spray the top of the chicken generously with cooking spray. DO NOT overlap!
- 5
Air fryer the chicken karaage at 375°F for 8 minutes without flipping. Then flip each piece of chicken and spray the top with cooking spray. Air fry for another 8 minute at 400°F without flipping.
- 6
Remove the chicken karaage and enjoy while hot by itself or with a spritz of lemon and some kewpie mayo topped with togarashi.