Air Fryer Crispy Korean Chicken Bites
Make crispy, saucy Korean-style chicken bites in your air fryer. This recipe uses a light coating for maximum crunch before tossing in a sweet and spicy gochujang glaze.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 18 min
- Total Time: 33 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Korean
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1-inch bites
- 1/2 cup potato starch or cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil (like canola or vegetable)
- For the Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- Garnish: Toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, toss the chicken bites with the neutral oil, salt, and pepper.
- Add the potato starch or cornstarch to the bowl. Toss until every piece of chicken is lightly and evenly coated. This coating is key for crispiness.
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (195°C).
- Arrange the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd; work in batches if necessary.
- Air fry for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken pieces, then increase the temperature to 400°F (200°C) and cook for another 5 to 8 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F or 74°C).
- While the chicken finishes cooking, prepare the sauce. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the gochujang, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil.
- Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly, until it thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Place the hot, crispy chicken bites into a large bowl. Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken. Toss quickly until all pieces are evenly coated.
- Serve immediately, garnished with sesame seeds and green onions.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, you can lightly spray the coated chicken with cooking spray before the first air fry cycle.
- If you prefer a less spicy sauce, reduce the amount of gochujang by one tablespoon and substitute with an equal amount of ketchup or water.
- You can make the sauce up to three days ahead and store it in the refrigerator. Reheat gently before tossing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/4 recipe)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 750
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 30
- Cholesterol: 95
