This Air Fryer Korean Fried Chicken is made crispy, chewy, and flavorful without frying. The chicken is grilled golden brown in the air fryer and finished with a spicy and glossy gochujang sauce.
Traditionally fried twice, this air fryer version provides the same crispy texture with significantly less oil and dirt. You can easily make Korean-style fried chicken at home using simple ingredients.
The secret to crispy Korean fried chicken
Crispy chicken in the air fryer depends on two things: the dry coating and the two-step cooking process. The chicken is first cooked at a low temperature to release the fat, then cooked again at a high temperature to crisp up the outside.
To coat, just mix cornflour or potato starch, baking powder, and seasoning. Baking powder plays an important role here. It helps dry out the surface of the chicken slightly, promoting a crispy, crackly finish similar to traditional Korean fried chicken.
sticky gochujang sauce
The sauce is what makes it so delicious. Once the chicken is cooked, it is coated with a sticky, spicy gochujang sauce that has a good balance of spiciness, sweetness, and umami.
sauce ingredients
Gochujang is a Korean chili paste made from chili powder, sticky rice, fermented soybeans, malted barley, and salt. It’s dark red in color and has a warm, pleasant spiciness rather than being really spicy. This ingredient gives Korean fried chicken its unique flavor and can be easily found in most supermarkets.
Device
Air Fryer – This recipe was tested in a 5.8 quart air fryer. If your airfryer is small, cook the chicken in batches to ensure it gets properly crispy.
method
Add the dry coating to the chicken and mix until evenly coated.
Cook in a single layer in the air fryer over low heat to help render the fat.
Increase the heat and continue air frying until the chicken is golden brown, crispy and cooked through.
Combine all gochujang sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
Pour the sauce over the hot chicken and stir until well coated.
Serve in a bowl and garnish with shredded green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately while hot and sticky.
keep
Leftover Korean fried chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Heat in the air fryer to 180℃ and heat again until lightly crispy.
More enjoyable recipes
If you like this air fryer Korean fried chicken, you might also like these recipes that make great use of the air fryer, whether it’s a dessert or a meatless main.
air fryer korean fried chicken
This Air Fryer Korean Fried Chicken is made crispy, chewy, and flavorful without frying. The chicken is grilled golden brown in the air fryer and finished with a spicy and glossy gochujang sauce.
chicken
1 kg chicken wings or snacks1 tablespoon vegetable oil1/4 cup cornstarch1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon baking powder
sauce
2 tablespoon Gochujang paste1 tablespoon granulated sugar1 tablespoon ketchup1 tablespoon water1 tablespoon honey1/2 tablespoon soy sauce1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar1 cloves garlic finely chopped1 teaspoon ginger finely chopped
Using a paper towel, lightly sauté the chicken wings or thighs and place in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with vegetable oil and coat the chicken.
In a small bowl, combine cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Sprinkle this over the chicken and mix well to coat the dry mixture.
Place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer as close together as possible. Don’t worry if it fits snugly, it will shrink during cooking.
Air fry the chicken at 350°F/180°C for 5 minutes. Remove the air fryer basket and use tongs to flip the chicken over. Fry for another 3-4 minutes at 180°C/350°F. This low heat will help remove the fat from the chicken.
Increase heat to 400°F/200°C and fry chicken for another 10-12 minutes. Turn the chicken halfway through and fry until golden and crispy. This high temperature creates a crunchy texture. Cooking times vary from fryer to fryer and depending on the size of the chicken.
While the chicken is roasting, make the sauce. Combine all sauce ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
When the chicken is finished frying, place it in a large clean bowl. Pour in the sauce and stir to coat the chicken thoroughly.
Place the battered chicken in a bowl and top with the green onion slices and sesame seeds.
This recipe goes well with chicken wings, drummettes, or boneless chicken thighs. Try to make the pieces the same size so they cook evenly in the air fryer.
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