Easy Air Fryer Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken Recipe
Craving that crispy, juicy Taiwanese night market snack—without the deep fryer? This Air Fryer Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken recipe gives you the same delicious crunch and bold flavor with a healthier twist.
What is Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken?
Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken, or Yan Su Ji (鹽酥雞), is a popular street food in Taiwan. It’s made with bite-sized pieces of marinated chicken thigh, coated in sweet potato starch, then deep-fried until crispy and seasoned with a savory mix of salt, white pepper, five spice, and fried basil leaves.
This air fryer version keeps the classic flavor and texture but skips the heavy oil, making it a lighter (and easier) way to enjoy this iconic dish.
Looking for more air fryer chicken recipes? Check out Air Fryer Chicken Satay, Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Chicken Wings, and Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken!
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If you make this recipe, please leave a comment below and let me know what you think. Make sure you also tag me @onehappybite on Instagram and hashtag it #onehappybite so I can see your creations!
Easy Air Fryer Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thigh, cut into small pieces
- 3 clove garlic, grated
- 2 inch ginger, grated
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
- 2 tsp Chinese five spice powder
- 1 tsp white pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp sugar
- 1 large egg white
- 1 cup coarse potato starch, (also known as thick sweet potato starch)
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- cooking spray
Seasoning Mix
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp white pepper
- ½ tsp five spice powder
- ½ tsp chili powder, (optional)
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine chicken pieces with grated garlic, ginger, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, five spice, white pepper, salt, sugar, and egg white. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes or overnight in the fridge.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380℉.
- In a plate, add coarse potato starch. Toss the marinated chicken in potato starch until well coated.
- Place chicken immediately in a single layer in the air fryer basket (cook in batches if needed). Spray generously with cooking oil spray. Air fry for 7 minutes. Flip the chicken to the other side, then spray with more cooking oil spray. Air fry for another 7 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Toss in fresh basil leaves. Spray both sides with cooking spray, then air fry for 2 minutes until crispy.
- Sprinkle seasoning mix over the chicken. Serve hot and enjoy!
What do you recommend to replace the egg white if someone was allergic to eggs?thanks!
You can leave it out, it’ll still be good!
Delicious! Such a great recipe.
Thank you so much!
What brand of five spice do you recommend?
I usually get the brand Wu Hsing Five Spice Powder from Asian supermarket. You can use any brand if you can’t find it!
What brand of potato starch do you recommend?
Hi! This is the brand that I used https://amzn.to/3ECE2jQ
Yummm
Can the coarse potato starch be replaced by fine potato starch?
Yes, it should be fine! But the texture will be slightly different.
Can this be cooked in the oven? If so, at what temperature & for how long? Thanks!
Sorry, I have not tried making popcorn chicken in the oven!