Description
This Quick & Easy Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Katsu recipe features tender chicken breasts or thighs coated in panko breadcrumbs and cooked to golden perfection using an air fryer with minimal oil. Serve with a homemade tonkatsu sauce for a delicious Japanese-Korean inspired meal that’s perfect for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Chicken Katsu
- 2 large chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 teaspoon salt (or as needed)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper (or as needed)
- ½ cup cornstarch (or as needed)
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs (Japanese style)
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil (or any neutral oil)
Optional Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 2.5 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1.5 teaspoons oyster sauce (or vegetarian stir fry sauce)
- 1 ⅛ teaspoons white granulated sugar
Instructions
- Prepare and tenderize chicken: On a cutting board, butterfly the chicken breasts or thighs. Using the back of your knife or a meat mallet, tenderize the meat until it is flattened to about ½ inch thick. Season both sides with salt and black pepper.
- Coat the chicken: Prepare three shallow bowls: one with cornstarch, the second with beaten eggs, and the third with panko breadcrumbs. Generously coat each piece of chicken first in cornstarch, then dip into the beaten eggs, and finally coat with panko breadcrumbs, ensuring an even and thorough coating.
- Arrange in air fryer basket: Place one or both pieces of chicken into your air fryer basket in a single layer. Avoid overcrowding to ensure proper air circulation and crispiness.
- Add oil: Spray or drizzle about 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil evenly over the chicken pieces on the first side.
- Air fry first side: Cook at 350°F (175°C) for 9 minutes. For smaller-sized chicken pieces (around 6×3 inches), reduce cooking time to 6-7 minutes on this side.
- Flip and oil second side: Remove the basket, flip the chicken over, and spray or drizzle another tablespoon of oil on top.
- Air fry second side: Continue cooking at 350°F for an additional 7-9 minutes, or 5-7 minutes for smaller pieces, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Make tonkatsu sauce: While chicken cooks, combine ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar in a small bowl to create the tonkatsu sauce.
- Serve: Remove chicken from air fryer, slice into strips, and serve with the homemade tonkatsu sauce alongside rice and your favorite vegetables.
Notes
- Ensure the chicken pieces are flattened evenly for uniform cooking.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket to maintain crispiness.
- Adjust cooking times depending on the size and thickness of the chicken pieces.
- Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness (165°F internal temperature).
- Vegetarian oyster sauce alternatives can be used to keep the sauce vegetarian-friendly.
