Air Fryer Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken

Name: Taiwanese Air Fried Chicken
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 90 min
Ingredients: 1 pound chicken thigh (cut into 1 inch cubes); 1 tablespoon shaoxing cooking wine; 3 garlic cloves (minced); 1 tablespoon ginger (minced); 1.5 tablespoons soy sauce; 1 teaspoon 5 spice powder; 1 teaspoon sugar; ¼ teaspoon white pepper; 1 egg white; 1 cup tapioca flour (mix with 1 teaspoon salt); ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon 5 spice powder; ¼ teaspoon white pepper

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You need to make these crispy Air Fryer Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken for your next dinner! The chicken has a crunchy gold exterior without tasting oily from deep frying. The marinade makes the chicken extra flavorful from the five spice and crispy basil! You will be transported to a Taiwanese bubble tea cafe after taking a bite of this delicious chicken ◡̈

Crispy air-fried chicken pieces on a plate with seasoning salt sprinkled on top.

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Ingredients:
Substitutions and Variations
Steps to make the Taiwanese air fried chicken:
Expert Tips
FAQ
Check Out More Delicious Chicken Recipes:
Taiwanese Air Fried Chicken

Ingredients:

Here’s a look at what you need to make Air Fryer Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken at home. The highlights are here but the full ingredient list and quantities of each are in the recipe card.

chicken thigh – chicken thighs (skinless) are important to use for this dish because it’s extra juicy and makes for tastier chicken. If you want to use chicken breast, you definitely can. Just keep in mind to cook the chicken a few minutes less so it doesn’t get too dry.
shaoxing cooking wine – this makes the chicken less gamey and adds a slight sweet flavor. You can find this at the Asian grocery store. If not, you can substitute with dry sherry or just omit it!
aromatics – garlic cloves and ginger are added to make the chicken extra delicious!
soy sauce – light or low sodium is recommended for marinating the chicken.
Five spice powder – this is an important spice ingredient if you want traditional tasting Taiwanese chicken. The powder also helps with the gaminess of the chicken.
white pepper – the white pepper is finer than black pepper. It is used in Chinese cooking to mildly flavor the meat. If you don’t have this, black pepper works too.
egg white – helps create a light and crispy batter for the chicken. Save the egg yolk later to make an omelette
tapioca flour – forms a crunchier, more airy crust that holds up well after frying, giving the chicken its signature crackly texture. It also helps the coating stay crisp even after the chicken cools down. You can buy this at asian grocery stores and make sure you get the course flour so your chicken is extra crispy!
seasoning salt – includes salt, 5 spice powder, white pepper and msg. This is added when the chicken has just finished cooking. This adds a nice savory flavor when you bite into the chicken.

Substitutions and Variations

Chicken Thigh: You can use chicken breast if you prefer a leaner cut, but thighs tend to be juicier. Be careful when cooking chicken breast because it can dry out easily.
Tapioca Flour: Substitute with cornstarch or potato starch if you don’t have tapioca flour.

Steps to make the Taiwanese air fried chicken:

Raw chicken thigh pieces in a metal bowl, ready for marinating.

Step 1: Cut chicken thigh in 1 inch cubes. Start marinating chicken by adding the 1 tablespoon shaoxing cooking wine, 3 cloves of minced garlic, 1 tablespoon minced ginger, 1.5 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon 5 spice powder, 1 teaspoon sugar, and ¼ teaspoon white pepper. Mix all ingredients together until all ingredients are mixed evenly.

Chicken thigh pieces in a bowl with minced garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and spices for marinating.

Step 2: Cover chicken and marinate for minimum of 30 minutes. I recommend to marinate overnight for the best flavor!

Marinated chicken pieces being coated in tapioca flour on a tray.

Step 3: After marinating, add 1 egg white to the chicken and mix well. Mix ½ teaspoon salt in the tapioca flour. Then, dip (lightly press) the chicken in the tapioca flour until the chicken is well-coated.

Two trays of chicken pieces coated in tapioca flour, ready for air frying.

Step 4: Grease the plate or tray with oil before putting the battered chicken on it. The chicken with the tapioca flour can be pretty sticky and will be hard to take off the resting plate later.

PRO TIP: Don’t overcrowd the chicken in the air fryer. Make sure there’s some space in between so the chicken crisps up (instead of steaming up). For 1 pound of chicken, I had to air fry in 2 separate batches.

Chicken pieces placed in an air fryer basket, cooking until crispy.

Step 5: Place chicken in the air-fryer at 375F for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, turn the pieces over and turn the temperature up to 400F and heat the chicken for 5 minutes until it’s golden brown.

Crispy air-fried chicken pieces in an air fryer basket with fresh basil leaves.

Step 6: The chicken is done! Sprinkle some seasoning salt on the chicken while hot ◡̈ Hope you enjoy!!

Crispy air-fried chicken pieces served on a plate with fresh basil leaves.

Expert Tips

Cook the Chicken in 2 batches: overcrowding the chicken in the air fryer can prevent your chicken from crisping up in the air fryer.
Spray oil generously on the chicken before air fryer. This ensures that the chicken can crisp up and the flour doesn’t get too dry in the air fryer. Tip: If no oil is added, the chicken will be blonde-colored.
Use Tapioca flour for authentic Taiwanese crunch. It’s supposed to make the batter crunchy!

FAQ

What is taiwanese chicken?

Taiwanese chicken typically refers to crispy, deep-fried chicken pieces, often served as street food in Taiwan. The chicken is usually marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, and spices, then coated in sweet potato starch for extra crunch. It’s commonly seasoned with salt, pepper, and sometimes five-spice powder, and served with basil leaves for added flavor.

Can I make this vegetarian?

Yes, you can. I recommend to use firm tofu and making sure you squeeze out all excess water. When the tofu is dry, follow the same coating and air fry instructions.

How do I know the chicken is cooked through in the air fryer?

You can check the inside of the chicken with a thermometer. Make sure the internal temperature is at a minimum of 165 degrees Fahrenheit and you’re good!

What do you serve this with?

Taiwanese air fried chicken is usually served with milk tea with boba (or bubble tea). It’s a street snack, but if you want to make it a meal… Try to pair with
Golden Fried Rice, Tofu with Black Bean Sauce, and Chinese Scrambled Eggs with Char Siu.

Check Out More Delicious Chicken Recipes:

Japanese Fried Chicken (Karaage) – Chicken marinated in soy sauce and aromatics fried to crispy perfection.
General Chicken – Crispy chicken coated in a sweet and spice sauce.
Japanese Cream Stew – chicken cooked with vegetables in a creamy sauce