Air Fryer Chicken Karaage

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Air Fryer Chicken Karaage is Japanese fried chicken made with tender pieces of chicken thighs and an easy marinade. The chicken pieces are air fried until crispy and require minimal oil!

The air fryer has definitely become one of our favorite ways to prepare chicken when we’re craving crispy results! The air fryer crisps up chicken without all the oil that is used when pan frying or deep frying, like with these yummy air fryer chicken bites.

Chicken karaage on a white plate with a small bowl of kewpie mayo.

So, we can get healthier crispy chicken like this air fryer sesame chicken or air fryer orange chicken by relying on the hot air circulation of the air fryer.

We’ve been loving this karaage chicken as an appetizer served with kewpie mayo, but it’s also delicious served with some Instant Pot basmati rice and a side of sous vide broccoli.

What is an Air Fryer?

The Air Fryer is a healthier alternative to frying foods. It's basically a small, powerful convection oven that sits on your countertop.

It circulates hot air around the food you're cooking, which is what gives it that crisp texture that mimics fried food (without all the grease).

Read more about the health benefits of using an air fryer.

I personally use this Ninja MAX XL Air Fryer because it hold 5.5 quarts, which is more than most. It has worked great so far and we just love how easy it is to use!

Close up view of a piece of chicken karaage.

What is chicken karaage?

Karaage is a Japanese cooking method that involves dredging food in flour and/or starch and deep frying in oil. Chicken karaage (or Japanese fried chicken) is simply chicken pieces that are marinated, dredged and then deep fried.

Why this recipe works

Making chicken karaage in the air fryer means you get crispy chicken without all the extra oil of deep frying. So, it’s definitely a little healthier!
The marinade is made with just 5 ingredients and it creates the most amazing flavor. And, don't worry, you only have to marinate the chicken for 30-60 minutes!
It’s a versatile recipe. You can serve it as an appetizer or game day snack with your favorite dip, or pair it with rice and veggies for a delicious weeknight dinner!

Ingredients

For the full list of ingredients and quantities used please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

You’ll need 1 pound of chicken thighs, cut into 2 inch pieces. I prefer to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs as it’s easier to cut into pieces compared to bone-in thighs.

The chicken pieces are tossed with 3 tablespoons of cornstarch, which helps create that crispy coating. You can also use potato starch if you prefer.

The marinade is made with soy sauce, sake, ginger paste, sesame oil and mirin.

Mirin is a sweet Japanese rice wine that adds depth of flavor to dishes. If you can’t find any, try substituting dry sherry.

In addition to mirin, you'll also need sake which is similar to mirin, but not as sweet. You can also substitute dry sherry for the sake.

Sesame oil is made from sesame seeds and it has a unique nutty flavor. I don’t recommend substituting with a different oil.

Step by step instructions

Cut the chicken into 2" pieces.

Combine all the marinade ingredients and mix the chicken in. Let it marinate in the fridge for 30-60 minutes.

Marinated chicken pieces in a glass bowl.

Mix the salt and cornstarch together, then coat the chicken with the cornstarch mixture.

Marinated chicken pieces coated in cornstarch mixture in a glass bowl.

Spray the air fryer basket lightly with oil and place the chicken in a single layer, leaving space in between each piece (you'll need to cook in 2-3 batches).

Overhead view of chicken pieces in the air fryer basket.

Lightly spray the chicken with oil and cook at 400F degrees for 11-13 minutes, tossing once or twice during the cooking time.

Serve hot with Kewpie mayonnaise to dip it in.

Expert tips

To ensure your chicken pieces cook evenly, make sure you cut them into roughly the same size pieces (about 2 inches).
To get the chicken browned and crispy on all sides, be sure to toss the chicken around in the air fryer basket a few times while cooking.
You’ll also want to give the chicken pieces space, by arranging them in a single layer and not overcrowding the air fryer.
Depending on the size of your air fryer, you’ll need to air fry the chicken in 2-3 batches.
Make sure you use a good quality spray oil to spray the air fryer basket and the chicken pieces. I like to use this oil sprayer and fill it with my favorite oil.
If your air fryer model requires preheating, you should preheat it before adding the first batch of chicken pieces
When dredging the chicken pieces in cornstarch, make sure they’re well coated but shake off any excess.
Each air fryer is a little different, so you may need to adjust the temperature and air frying time slightly.

Overhead view of air fryer chicken karaage on a plate with a small dish of kewpie mayo.

Common questions

Can you use chicken breast instead of chicken thighs in chicken karaage?

Chicken thighs are typically used in chicken karaage and I prefer cooking with them because the dark meat is more flavorful. You can definitely substitute with chicken breasts, just note that the chicken pieces may not be as juicy (and may even be a little dry).

Do you need to marinate the chicken for chicken karaage?

Yes, marinating helps make the chicken juicy and allows time for the chicken to absorb the flavor of the marinade. You only need to marinate for 30-60 minutes so I don’t recommend skipping this step.

Can you make air fryer chicken karaage in advance?

Chicken karaage is best enjoyed hot and crispy so I don’t recommend making it in advance and reheating it. You can, however, make the marinade and marinate the chicken in advance.

How do you know when air fryer chicken karaage is ready?

At 400F degrees, each batch of chicken should be ready in just 11-13 minutes. The internal temperature of the chicken pieces should be 165F degrees. If you’re unsure, use a meat thermometer to check.

What’s the difference between chicken katsu and chicken karaage?

Chicken katsu is usually made with chicken breasts or boneless thighs that are pounded thin, dredged and fried. They’re cut into slices before serving. (Similar to this chicken katsu curry recipe). Chicken karaage is made with chicken thighs that are cut into pieces first, then marinated, dredged and fried.

What do you serve with karaage chicken?

We love these crispy chicken pieces served with kewpie mayonnaise for a delicious appetizer. Kewpie is mayo that is made with egg yolks instead of the whole egg so it’s extra rich! If we serve chicken karaage as a meal, we usually serve it with Instant Pot jasmine rice or Instant Pot sushi rice. A side of Instant Pot broccoli and air fryer carrots also works well.

Air fryer karaage chicken on a plate with a side of kewpie mayonnaise.

Storage instructions

As mentioned above, air fryer chicken karaage is best enjoyed right away.

If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

To get the chicken crispy again, you’ll need to reheat it in the air fryer or oven. Avoid the microwave as the crispy coating will end up soggy. Just note that reheating the chicken may dry it out a little.

More air fryer chicken recipes

Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it turned out!