Air Fryer Korean Fried Chicken

Name: Air Fryer Korean Fried Chicken
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 22 min
Total time: 42 min
Yield: Serves 3
Cuisine: Air Fryer
Ingredients: 600 g chicken thighs, boneless, cut into chunks; ½ cup (64 g) cornstarch; 1 tsp garlic powder; ¾ tsp fine salt; 3 tbsp gochujang (Korean chilli paste); 2 tbsp honey; 1 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tbsp rice vinegar; 3 cloves garlic, minced

Crunchy double-cooked chicken in sticky gochujang glaze.

Prep Time20 mins

Air Fry22 mins

Temp200°C / 400°F

YieldServes 3

Before You Start

Korean fried chicken is famous for its shatteringly crisp coating and sweet-spicy glaze. The air fryer gets you there with a cornflour coat and no vat of oil. The gochujang sauce is sticky, garlicky and addictive.

Instructions

1
Pat the chicken dry and toss with the cornflour, garlic powder and salt until each piece is dusted white.
2
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C / 400°F. Spray or brush the chicken lightly with oil and lay in a single layer.
3
Air fry for 18 to 22 minutes, turning halfway, until deeply golden and crunchy.
4
Meanwhile simmer the gochujang, honey, soy, vinegar and garlic in a pan for 2 to 3 minutes until glossy and thick.
5
Toss the hot chicken in the warm glaze until fully coated.
6
Finish with sesame seeds and sliced spring onion. Serve with rice.

Ingredients

600 g chicken thighs, boneless, cut into chunks
½ cup (64 g) cornstarch
1 tsp garlic powder
¾ tsp fine salt
3 tbsp gochujang (Korean chilli paste)
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar
3 cloves garlic, minced

Air fryer tip

Cook at 200°C / 400°F and keep everything in a single layer so it crisps instead of steams. Tap any pantry ingredient above to convert between cups and grams.

🛒 Our air fryer picks

Kit that makes this foolproof

A few inexpensive bits that get you crispier results with less mess.

A roomy air fryer A larger basket means fewer batches and crispier results. Shop on Amazon → Perforated liners Less sticking and mess, without blocking the airflow. Shop on Amazon → Silicone tongs Turn and lift without scratching the non-stick basket. Shop on Amazon →

As an Amazon Associate, GramCups earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

♨️ Air fryer notes

Cook at 200°C / 400°F and preheat for 2 to 3 minutes for the crispiest result.
Keep everything in a single layer with space around each piece. Overcrowding steams food instead of crisping it, so cook in batches if your basket is small.
Shake or turn halfway, and check a few minutes early, since air fryers cook faster than ovens and every model runs slightly differently.

💡 Cook's tips

A light spray of oil on the cornflour coating helps it crisp and turn golden.
Sauce the chicken right before serving so it keeps its crunch.

🔀 Make it your own

Add 1 tsp grated ginger to the sauce.
Use chicken wings or drumettes instead of thigh chunks, adding a few minutes.

📦 Storing & reheating

Best fresh. Store unsauced chicken airtight for 2 days and re-crisp at 190°C, then glaze.

❓ Frequently asked

What is gochujang?

A thick, savoury-sweet Korean fermented chilli paste. It gives the glaze its signature red colour and deep, mild heat. Most supermarkets stock it now.

Can I use chicken breast?

Yes, though thighs stay juicier. If using breast, cut it into even chunks and check it at 16 minutes so it does not dry out.

Adapting your own recipe? Use the oven to air fryer converter for temp and time, or the recipe scaler to halve or double this.