Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
Dive into a guilt-free twist on the beloved Taiwanese popcorn chicken! This crispy delight is made with succulent chicken thighs, marinated to perfection, and air-fried for a light yet satisfying crunch. Ready to elevate your snack game with bold flavors and a protein-packed punch? Let's get cooking!
Prep
15
min
Cook
15
min
Serves
2
people
Level
intermediate
📝 Ingredients
Serves 2🥬Fresh Produce(4)
- 1.5 tbsp minced garlic (22.5 ml)
- 1 tbsp minced ginger (15 ml)
- 3/4 cup coarse potato starch (180 ml)
- 1 cup Thai basil (240 ml)
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 1 lb skinless, boneless, chicken thighs, raw (454 g)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(1)
- 1 egg (egg white only, no yolk)
🫙Pantry Staples(2)
- 1/2 tsp brown sugar (2.5 ml)
- 1 second spray cooking oil
🧂Spices & Seasonings(4)
- 1 tsp Chinese five spice powder (5 ml)
- 1/2 tsp five spice powder (2.5 ml)
- 1/2 tsp salt (2.5 ml)
- 1/2 tsp white pepper (2.5 ml)
🍯Sauces & Condiments(1)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (30 ml)
📦Other(1)
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine (15 ml)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Dice your chicken thighs into small 1 inch pieces.
- 2
In a bowl, mix together white pepper, Chinese 5 spice powder, minced garlic, minced ginger, shaoxing wine, soy sauce, and the egg white of an egg (no yolk) to make your marinade.
- 3
Add your chicken pieces into the marinade and set aside for 30 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator.
- 4
Pour your potato starch onto a plate and fully coat your chicken pieces into the potato starch.
- 5
Coat your air fryer tray with spray oil, place your chicken coated with potato starch into the tray, and lightly spray your chicken with more oil.
- 6
Cook in your air fryer at 390°F for 13-15 minutes, flipping halfway through or until crispy and golden brown.
- 7
Add in your Thai basil on top of the cooked chicken and air fryer for another 2-3 minutes.
- 8
In a bowl, mix together salt, 5 spice powder, brown sugar, and white pepper and sprinkle the seasoning mix on top of your cooked chicken and enjoy!
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
15
min
Serves
2
people
Level
intermediate
Share this recipe
Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
Dive into a guilt-free twist on the beloved Taiwanese popcorn chicken! This crispy delight is made with succulent chicken thighs, marinated to perfection, and air-fried for a light yet satisfying crunch. Ready to elevate your snack game with bold flavors and a protein-packed punch? Let's get cooking!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 2🥬Fresh Produce(4)
- 1.5 tbsp minced garlic (22.5 ml)
- 1 tbsp minced ginger (15 ml)
- 3/4 cup coarse potato starch (180 ml)
- 1 cup Thai basil (240 ml)
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 1 lb skinless, boneless, chicken thighs, raw (454 g)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(1)
- 1 egg (egg white only, no yolk)
🫙Pantry Staples(2)
- 1/2 tsp brown sugar (2.5 ml)
- 1 second spray cooking oil
🧂Spices & Seasonings(4)
- 1 tsp Chinese five spice powder (5 ml)
- 1/2 tsp five spice powder (2.5 ml)
- 1/2 tsp salt (2.5 ml)
- 1/2 tsp white pepper (2.5 ml)
🍯Sauces & Condiments(1)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (30 ml)
📦Other(1)
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine (15 ml)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Dice your chicken thighs into small 1 inch pieces.
- 2
In a bowl, mix together white pepper, Chinese 5 spice powder, minced garlic, minced ginger, shaoxing wine, soy sauce, and the egg white of an egg (no yolk) to make your marinade.
- 3
Add your chicken pieces into the marinade and set aside for 30 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator.
- 4
Pour your potato starch onto a plate and fully coat your chicken pieces into the potato starch.
- 5
Coat your air fryer tray with spray oil, place your chicken coated with potato starch into the tray, and lightly spray your chicken with more oil.
- 6
Cook in your air fryer at 390°F for 13-15 minutes, flipping halfway through or until crispy and golden brown.
- 7
Add in your Thai basil on top of the cooked chicken and air fryer for another 2-3 minutes.
- 8
In a bowl, mix together salt, 5 spice powder, brown sugar, and white pepper and sprinkle the seasoning mix on top of your cooked chicken and enjoy!