Crispy Chicken Karaage Air Fryer Recipe in Less Than 15 Minutes (2024)

Crispy Chicken Karaage Air Fryer Recipe in Less Than 15 Minutes (1)

Written by Me on in Chicken, Recipes

Learn how to make crispy air fried karaage with the Ninja air fryer in under 15 minutes. Karaage (pronounced kah-rah-ah-geh) is a Japanese style deep fried marinated chicken dish that is crispy on the outside but juicy and bursting with flavor on the inside. It is a favorite at Izakayas and can be eaten as a main or side dish. Karaage is also served in obentos with shredded cabbage and a squeeze of lemon juice.

It is much healthier and easier to prepare Karaage in the air fryer compared to the traditional method of deep frying. The outer crust is still crispy and the chicken meat is tender and savory with sweetened soy, ginger, and garlic. To get the best taste, use fresh chicken thighs that are meatier and fattier. You can also use leaner cuts and a lighter spray of oil for a healthier option.

Pre-made Karaage Mix

I actually prefer preparing karaage with pre-made mix as it cuts the prep time down to 5 minutes. It is a fool proof alternative that tastes just as good as making it from scratch. When making it from scratch, your results can vary a bit depending on the brand of the raw ingredients. The pre-made mix cuts out the guess work. All you have to do is cut the chicken into bite size chunks, evenly coat the chicken meat with the mix, and spray a light coat of oil. The cooking time is the exactly same.

Below are two of my favorite mixes. I personally prefer the taste of the Kikkoman brand.

Crispy Chicken Karaage Air Fryer Recipe in Less Than 15 Minutes (2)Crispy Chicken Karaage Air Fryer Recipe in Less Than 15 Minutes (3) Crispy Chicken Karaage Air Fryer Recipe in Less Than 15 Minutes (4)Crispy Chicken Karaage Air Fryer Recipe in Less Than 15 Minutes (5)

Making Karaage from scratch

When making Karaage from scratch, the chicken is marinated in a sweet soy sauce and then dredged with potato starch. Potato starch is extremely light and can hold its crispness for quite some time. Dipping sauces are not necessary since the flavor is already embedded into the chicken meat. A squeeze of lemon juice is all that it needs. Also, rather than having whole chicken parts, the thighs are cut into small chunks which makes cooking times quick and easier to manage. The circulating heat in the air fryer also helps to cook the chicken evenly.

Air fryer chicken karaage ingredients

Meat

  • 1 Pound Boneless Chicken thighs

Marinade

  • 2tbspSoy sauce
  • 2tbspMirin
  • 1tspGrated ginger
  • 1tspGrated garlic
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Coating

  • 4tbspPotato starch

Instructions

  • Cut the chicken up into bite size pieces
  • Put the chicken into a ziploc bag along with the marinade ingredients: soy sauce, mirin, ginger, garlic, and salt and pepper.
  • Marinade the chicken in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Overnight is preferred.
  • Remove the excess marinade from the bag.
  • In a separate bowl or ziploc toss the chicken in the potato starch to give it a nice even coating.
  • Place the chicken in the air fryer on top of the wire rack and apply a light coating of oil spray so that there aren’t any dry potato starch spots left.
  • Set the air fryer to 390F for ten minutes. Flip the chicken half way through.

Crispy Chicken Karaage Air Fryer Recipe in Less Than 15 Minutes (6)

Air Fryer Chicken Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken)

Learn how to cook Karaage with your air fryer.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine Japanese

Servings 4

Equipment

  • Ninja Air Fryer

Ingredients

Meat

  • 1 Pound Chicken thighs

Marinade

  • 2 tbsp Soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp Mirin
  • 1 tsp Grated ginger
  • 1 tsp Grated garlic
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Coating

  • 4 tbsp Potato starch

Instructions

  • Cut the chicken up into bite size pieces

  • Put the chicken into a ziploc bag along with the marinade ingredients: soy sauce, mirin, ginger, garlic, and salt and pepper.

  • Marinade the chicken in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Overnight is preferred.

  • Remove the excess marinade from the bag.

  • In a separate bowl or ziploc toss the chicken in the potato starch to give it a nice even coating.

  • Place the chicken in the air fryer on top of the wire rack and apply a light coating of light olive oil spray so that there aren't any dry potato starch spots left.

  • Set the air fryer to 390F for ten minutes. Flip the chicken half way through.

Keyword Chicken, Chicken Karaage, Fried Chicken, Karaage

Other air fryer recipes you might enjoy!

Chicken katsu (Japanese chicken cutlet)

Yakitori (Chicken skewers)

Categories

  • Recipes (7)
    • Beef (2)
    • Chicken (3)
    • Fish (1)
    • Tofu (1)

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Crispy Chicken Karaage Air Fryer Recipe in Less Than 15 Minutes (2024)

FAQs

How to make crispy in air fryer? ›

While we wish it were possible to fry without any oil, air fryers do need a little oil to make your food crispy (but you'll use a lot less than a traditional fryer). Toss your food with a small amount of oil (around a tablespoon or less) to coat it evenly, then add it to the air fryer basket.

How to crisp cooked chicken in air fryer? ›

To reheat fried chicken in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Take the chicken out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature before you start reheating. Put the chicken in the basket in a single layer and cook it for about 4 minutes. For maximum crunch, you'll want to flip it over halfway through.

Why is my air fryer not making my chicken crispy? ›

Dry the outside of the food properly before you add oil. Do not use too much oil, as this will make the food less crispy and more fattening. Meat or poultry can be lightly brushed with oil or marinated to get the crispiest results.

Why is my fried chicken soggy in air fryer? ›

If there is too much food in the basket, the air fryer will steam the food. To add to this, “overfilling the basket causes uneven cooking and browning, as well as undercooked soggy areas,” Fiona told Choice.com. To overcome this, cook food in batches or purchase an air fryer with a larger basket.

What is the trick to getting things extra crispy with an air fryer? ›

Air fryers work best when there's plenty of room between individual items for air to circulate. If anything is stacked up together, air can't get in between, and you'll be left with a soft or undercooked spot where the overlap was.

How do you make crispy batter in an air fryer? ›

During the air frying process, if you pull out the chicken and notice any dry flour spots on the chicken, spray those spots lightly with oil. The breading will never crisp up if it doesn't have a tiny bit of oil to hydrate it.

How do you keep chicken from drying out in an air fryer? ›

The #1 tip for the best chicken breasts in an air fryer is: Don't overcook them! Chicken breasts should be cooked to 160°F, but if you cook them all the way to that temperature in the air fryer, carryover cooking will take them beyond that temp and cause them to dry out.

Can I crisp up chicken skin in air fryer? ›

Lay three or four chicken skins in a single layer, skin-side down, on the air fryer basket and program the air fryer to cook at 400°F for a total of 12 minutes.

How do you keep chicken crispy after air frying? ›

Storage and Reheating Tips
  1. Storing leftovers: Store leftover Air Fryer Fried Chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  2. Reheating: Preserve the crispy goodness of fried chicken by reheating it in an air fryer preheated to 375 degrees F for about 4 to 5 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Jan 2, 2024

Should I put oil on chicken before air frying? ›

Seasonings: Salt, pepper, and any other seasonings of your choice. Coatings: You can air fry chicken with only seasonings and, if you like, a bit of oil. But if you want really crispy, crunchy air FRIED chicken, it's best to add a coating.

Why should you not cook chicken in an air fryer? ›

A whole chicken (as well as other large, bone-in proteins) is actually better off roasting in the oven as you're unlikely to get an even cook in the air fryer. On the other hand, chicken wings, like our Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings, are small enough for even and crisp cooking in an air fryer.

Does chicken need to be flipped in an airfryer? ›

Cook at 360° for 9 minutes. Then flip the chicken breast over and cook for another 9 minutes. Larger chicken breasts need more cook time, and smaller ones need less time. Open the air fryer immediately so it doesn't continue cooking in the heat.

How do you make chicken crispy again in an air fryer? ›

If you happen to own an air fryer, you can certainly reheat your fried chicken in its basket. Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and let the fried chicken come to room temperature. Next, arrange the fried chicken in a single layer and cook it for about four minutes, flipping it once to ensure even cooking.

Why put water in bottom of air fryer? ›

When to Use Water in an Air Fryer and How Much to Add. Adding a little bit of water can help to hydrate the food in your air fryer and prevent it from becoming too dry. It adds moisture into the atmosphere of your air fryer and it's a great way to refresh any baked items you might want to cook in your air fryer.

How do you crisp fried food in an air fryer? ›

How to Reheat Leftovers (like fries, vegetables, pizza, etc)
  1. Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 400 °F.
  2. Place leftovers in a single layer in air fryer basket.
  3. Cook for 3-5 minutes at 350 °F, or until food is crispy to liking and reaches safe internal temperature of 165 °F.

Why are my air fryer chips not crispy? ›

Firstly, if your potatoes are still wet before being placed into an air fryer, this can cause your potatoes not to crispen up. You can avoid this by thoroughly patting dry your potatoes before you place them in the air fryer. Secondly, you might be putting in too many potato chips so they aren't cooking evenly.

Why is my air fryer oven not crispy? ›

Crispy food needs enough oil to bind batters and coatings, but not too much or you'll end up with soggy results. If the food has a crumbly or floury outside texture, try spraying it with a little bit more oil.

Can you get crispy crackling in air fryer? ›

Preheat the air fryer to 160°C then place the pork belly in the air fryer & cook for 30 minutes. Next, increase the temperature up to 200°C & air fry for an additional 10 minutes or until the crackling is crisp. Leave to rest for 10 minutes in a warm place before carving.

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