This air fryer Asian chicken is a crunchy little masterpiece. It’s crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and covered in a glossy coat of sweet-and-sticky magic. Paired with jasmine rice or an Asian salad, this dish is an easy dinner everyone will love.
In just 30 minutes, with the help of your loyal air fryer and a saucepan sidekick, you can whisk together this air fryer Asian chicken dish. After your first crispy, saucy bite, you might even wonder, “where has this recipe been my whole life?”
Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Sticky Chicken
- Extra crispy! Let me tell you a secret: cornstarch is the magic ingredient that gets these sticky chicken bites extra crispy and crunchy.
- Delicious Asian flavor! Sweet chili sauce combines delightfully with barbeque sauce to create a sticky, sweet, and gooey sauce you’ll love.
- Better than takeout! Who needs takeout when you can make this Asian chicken in the air fryer in just 30 minutes! This recipe is quick and easy—and, dare I say, better than takeout?
If you love this air fryer Asian chicken recipe, make sure to check out our homemade air fryer orange chicken recipe (best with freshly-squeezed orange juice and flavorful orange zest)! Or, try making air fryer chicken katsu or Korean-style short ribs in the air fryer for more delicious Asian-inspired dishes!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- For maximum crispiness: (1) Make sure each chicken piece is evenly coated in the flour mixture, (2) leave enough space between the chicken pieces to allow the hot air to circulate in the air fryer and get all the edges crispy, and (3) spray the chicken pieces with oil before air frying and at the 5-minute mark.
- Don’t soak the chicken in the sauce. During the last step of the recipe (when you add the chicken to the sauce) mix it just enough to make sure the chicken is coated evenly. If you let it soak in the sauce, your chicken will end up soggy, not crispy.
- Make it spicy, make it sweet! Add a sprinkle of red chili flakes to this air fryer Asian chicken when it’s done cooking for an extra spicy kick! Want to make it sweeter? Add a drizzle of honey for extra sweetness.
How to Store Air Fryer Asian Chicken
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. These air fryer Asian chicken bites will last for 3-4 days in the fridge.
Make sure to reheat them in the air fryer, it helps retain the crispiness much better than the microwave. To reheat, air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 3-5 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Asian Chicken
After you plate up your delicious sticky chicken alongside some jasmine rice, don’t forget to sprinkle sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds on top!
This dish pairs wonderfully with rice, homemade miso soup, or a refreshing side salad. Personally, I love making air fryer Asian chicken with this Asian chopped salad. With green onion, wonton strips, peanuts, edamame, and a sweet and savory salad dressing, it’s packed with flavor and goes great with this dish!
More Chicken Recipes
- Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken in The Air Fryer: Quick and easy, frozen mandarin orange chicken from Trader Joe’s takes just 15 minutes to make in the air fryer.
- Air Fryer Chicken Katsu: Just like your favorite Japanese restaurant! These crispy chicken cutlets are complete with a homemade tonkatsu sauce.
- Air Fryer Sweet and Spicy Chicken: With just six simple seasonings, some chicken, and a bit of oil, you can whip up this recipe in less than 30 minutes!
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Air Fryer Asian Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 1 lb chicken breasts (cut into bite size pieces)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 eggs
For the sauce:
- 1/3 cup barbeque sauce
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp sweet chili sauce
To garnish:
- green onions
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine chicken, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, eggs, and paprika. Mix thoroughly until the chicken is well seasoned.
- Add the all-purpose flour and corn starch to the bowl. Mix until each chicken piece is uniformly coated with the flour mixture.
- Arrange the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket. Lightly spray the tops of the chicken with oil.
- Air fry the chicken at 350°F (180°C) for 5 minutes. Flip each piece and continue cooking for another 5 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and crispy.
- To make the sauce, add the barbeque sauce, butter, brown sugar, and sweet chili sauce to a saucepan. Cook on medium heat and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally until the ingredients melt together.
- Remove the saucepan from the stove. Add the cooked chicken to the saucepan, and mix until each piece is generously coated.
Notes
- Make sure not to overcrowd your air fryer basket. You might have to cook the chicken in batches. I could fit about 15 chicken pieces in my air fryer per batch, and cooked all the chicken in two batches.
- This recipe can be made in an air fryer unit with a basket or an air fryer oven. If you are using an air fryer oven, use the middle rack and choose the “Air Fry” function.
- Check your food as it cooks. Each air fryer runs a bit differently. Make sure to check your food as it’s cooking to learn your air fryer better and avoid over- or undercooking. Make sure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) before consuming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Air fryer Asian chicken, or sticky chicken, is a chicken dish similar to Chinese orange chicken, but with a barbecue and sweet chili sauce. The crispy, juicy chicken pieces are tossed in a flavorful, sweet sauce and served alongside rice or an Asian-style salad.
Making Asian chicken in the air fryer is easy. Just season the chicken with salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika, then add two eggs. Add flour and cornstarch until all the chicken pieces are coated, then air fry at 350°F (180°C) for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Make the sauce on the stove then coat the chicken in the sauce and you’re ready to dig in!
To make sure your air fryer Asian chicken achieves maximum crispiness, first, make sure each chicken piece is evenly coated with the flour mixture. Then, when arranging your chicken in the air fryer, leave space between the pieces so the air can circulate properly (don’t overcrowd your air fryer basket). Finally, spray some oil on your chicken before air frying, and at the halfway mark, to enhance the crispiness.
When cooking chicken in the air fryer, make sure your chicken turns a golden-brown color and use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.
Chicken is safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Depending on the size and thickness of your chicken pieces, you might have to air fry your chicken for a few more minutes.
