Air fryer Korean fried chicken is my new obsession. Just like the original deep fried chicken recipe, this Korean fried chicken recipe delivers morsels of chicken that are crunchy, crispy, spicy, and sweet.
air fryer fried chicken is easy to make
This is one of my favorite air fryer recipes. It starts with a basic Air Fryer Fried Chicken and adds a gingery marinade and a spicy-sweet gochujang sauce. Check out my post on How to Make Air Fryer Fried Chicken to learn my tips and tricks for success, and everything else you need to know.
There’s nothing else like Korean Fried Chicken (KFC)
If you’ve never had it, find a Korean restaurant stat. Or make this easy Korean fried chicken recipe! If you like spicy-savory-sweet foods, you won’t be disappointed.
From muffin pans and racks that fit inside your basket to oil sprayers, tongs, skewers, racks, and more, these are the accessories we use the most with our air fryers.
What makes Korean Fried Chicken special?
I’ve been crushing on Korean food for years. I love the super spicy preparations, tangy-spicy kimchi, and all those little banchan side dishes you get at Korean restaurants.
But more than anything, I love gochujang, the fiery Korean fermented chili paste that adds a kick to many Korean dishes.
Gochujang really shows off in Korean Fried Chicken. In the traditional dish, pieces of chicken are marinated and dredged in starch (flour, cornstarch, or potato starch usually) and then double fried.
Once fried, the crunchy pieces of chicken are tossed in a sweet-spicy sauce made of gochujang paste, honey or sugar, garlic, and a few other ingredients.
The result is finger-licking goodness. It is a sticky, crunchy, spicy, sweet pile of chicken that you won’t be able to stop eating.
Can you really make delicious Korean Fried Chicken in an air fryer?
Absolutely. I love classic deep-fried, cripsy Korean Fried Chicken, but I don’t like to eat deep-fried foods too often, and I really don’t like to mess up my kitchen deep frying foods at home. This is my favorite air fryer recipe that I’ve made.
Cooking Korean fried chicken in the air fryer was the perfect solution. And best of all, you can have it on the table in 30 minutes easy.
To get the classic golden brown, crispy, crunchy crust, I dipped my chicken first in egg and then in cornstarch. Frying it in the air fryer was quick and easy. Best of all, my stovetop didn’t end up coated with splatters of oil.
What kind of chicken do you use?
Korean restaurants in my neighborhood usually use bone-in chicken pieces. You can use chicken wings or chicken drumsticks. I like to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs and cut them into bite-sized pieces. That way you get more of the crunchy, sauce-drenched coating.
Once the chicken is air fried to a perfect golden brown, it is tossed with the sweet-spicy sauce and then garnished with toasted sesame seeds and sliced scallions. I’ve also seen it garnished with roasted peanuts and sliced chiles, which is also delicious.
My whole family loves my air fryer version of Korean Fried Chicken. It is spicy, but even my 11-year-old son was immediately hooked (but we do eat a lot of spicy food. If your family is sensitive to spice, tone it down by using less gochujang in the sauce.)
What goes well with Korean Fried Chicken?
I usually serve this dish as an entrée with steamed rice and broccoli or another green vegetable.
It also makes a great snack or appetizer for a party. Pair it with Korean-style pickled vegetables and a cold, crisp lager- or pilsner-style beer. It makes the perfect game day or party spread.
What Ingredients do you need for Air Fryer Korean Fried Chicken?
You’ll be surprised how few ingredients are needed for this flavorful air fryer chicken:
- Chicken
- Rice vinegar
- Soy sauce
- Ginger
- Eggs
- Corn starch
- ketchup
- Gochujang (see below for where to buy)
- Honey (you can substitute brown sugar)
- Soy sauce
- Sesame oil
- Garlic
- Sesame seeds (optional)
- Scallions or green onions (optional)
What is gochujang and where do you get it?
The only specialty ingredient in this spicy Korean fried chicken is gochujang and it totally makes the dish. Gochujang is a korean red chili paste. It is a fermented condiment made from hot chiles, rice, soybeans, and salt. It’s thick, dark red, and spicy, but also full of intense umami and a hint of sweetness.
I buy my gochujang in tubs at a local Korean market (East Bay locals, head to Koreana Plaza on Telegraph and 27th in Oakland. It’s amazing!) It is also available in larger Asian markets or online.
Like miso paste or soy sauce, gochujang lasts a long time in the refrigerator, so go ahead and buy a good-sized tub of it.
You can also use gochujang to make my Gochujang Chicken and other scrumptious Korean dishes.
What is different about Korean Fried Chicken?
American fried chicken is typically made by dunking chicken in a batter, often made with buttermilk, flour, and seasonings. The pieces are then fried in hot oil until crisp and golden brown.
Korean fried chicken is made by seasoning chicken pieces and coating them in a starch like potato starch or cornstarch. The pieces are then fried in oil until lightly golden brown.
But Korean fried chicken pieces are double fried. The first fry seals the crust. The second fry turns the chicken pieces deeply golden brown. The second fry is what makes Korean fried chicken is so crispy.
Finally, Korean fried chicken is tossed with a savory sauce that is spic and sweet and made with the Korean fermented chile paste gochujang. Mmmm… crispy, spicy chicken!
How do you make Air Fryer KFC?
Korean air fryer fried chicken is easy to make. See my post on how to make Air Fryer Fried Chicken for helpful tips.
- Line the air fryer basket with perforated parchment paper or a silicone liner.
- In a medium bowl, combine the marinade ingredients and the chicken. Let marinate for 15 to 20 minutes. If you want to marinate the chicken for longer, cover and refrigerate it for as long as overnight.
- Put beaten eggs in a shallow bowl and the cornstarch in aseparate shallow bowl.
- Dunk the chicken pieces first in the egg and then in the cornstarch to coat. Arrange the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer.
- Once all of the chicken is coated and arranged in the air fryer (you will likely have to do this in 2 batches), spritz or brush the chicken with a bit of cooking oil.
- Air fry the chicken, flipping halfway through.
- While the chicken is cooking, stir the sauce ingredients together to make the sauce. In a small bowl, stir together the ketchup, gochujang paste, honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic until well combined.
- When the chicken is finished air frying, transfer it to a medium bowl and toss with the sauce. Garnish with sesame seeds and scallions, if desired. Serve with extra dipping sauce and an ice cold Korean beer.
Can you make this by deep frying the chicken on the stovetop
For sure. Korean fried chicken is typically double fried to make it extra crispy.
To do it using this recipe, simply leave out the egg and dredge the marinated chicken pieces in the starch directly.
Heat a pot of vegetable or peanut oil, about 2 or 3 inches deep, in a Dutch oven or wok on the stovetop over high heat. You want the oil to be very hot, but not smoking.
Drop the starch-dredged chicken pieces in the hot oil and cook, turning a few times, until golden brown on all sides. Transfer the pieces to a paper towel-lined plate.
Once all the pieces of chicken have been fried, it’s time to fry them again! Drop the pieces into the hot oil and cook until they are deep golden brown and very crisp.
Tips for making Air Fryer Korean Fried Chicken
- I usually like to line my air fryer basket with the rounds of parchment paper that has holes cut in it. This isn’t 100 percent necessary, but it makes the process a whole lot easier and less messy.
- You can marinate the chicken overnight if you like. It will only get more flavorful.
- You can also make the sauce ahead. Make it as long as a few days ahead and keep it covered in the fridge. Bring it to room temperature before tossing it with the cooked chicken.
- Don’t toss the chicken with the sauce until just before serving. This way the coating on the chicken will stay nice and crunchy.
MORE CRUNCHY FRIED CHICKEN RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
If you love these crunchy fried chicken bites, try my Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken, Air Fryer Sesame Chicken, Chinese Salt and Pepper Chicken, and Chicken Pakora.
Air Fryer Korean Fried Chicken
crunchy, crispy, spicy, and sweet. You won't be able to stop eating it.
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 1 cup cornstarch
For the sauce
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 3 tablespoons gochujang
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 4 scallions thinly sliced
- Toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper (see note).
- In a medium bowl, combine the chicken, vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, salt, and pepper and tos to coat the chicken. Let marinate for 15 to 20 minutes. If you want to marinate the chicken for longer, cover and refrigerate it for as long as overnight.
- Beat the eggs in a shallow bowl.
- Put the cornstarch in a separate shallow bowl.
- Dunk the chicken pieces first in the egg and then in the cornstarch to coat. Arrange the coated chicken pieces on the parchment paper in the air fryer.
- Once all of the chicken is coated and arranged in the air fryer (you will likely have to do this in 2 batches), spritz or brush the chicken with a bit of cooking oil.
- Air fry the chicken at 400ºF for 8 minutes. Turn the chicken pieces over, spritz or brush with a bit more oil, and then cook for another 7 minutes at 400ºF.
- While the chicken is cooking, make the sauce. In a small bowl, stir together the ketchup, gochujang paste, honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic until well combined.
- When the chicken is finished air frying, transfer it to a medium bowl and toss with the sauce. Garnish with sesame seeds and scallions, if desired.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Air Fryer Korean Fried Chicken Story
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