Air Fryer Sesame Chicken

Enjoy crispy chicken cooked in the air fryer, coated in a delicious sticky soy-sesame sauce. This quick and simple dinner is ready in under 30 minutes and is perfect for busy evenings.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick and easy, ready in 30 minutes.
• Crispy, flavorful chicken without deep-frying.
• The sweet and savory sesame sauce is a crowd-pleaser.
• Pairs perfectly with rice for a complete meal.

Ingredients

For the Crispy Chicken:

• 6 large skinless chicken thigh fillets (approx. 750g/1.65 lbs untrimmed or 600g/1.3 lbs trimmed)
• 3 tablespoons cornflour (cornstarch)
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• 3 tablespoons oil

For the Sesame Sauce:

• 1.5 tablespoons sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder (or 2 minced garlic cloves)
• 1.5 tablespoons Chinese rice vinegar
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
• 4 tablespoons tomato ketchup
• 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons light soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons dark soy sauce

To Serve:

• Sesame seeds
• Chopped spring onions (scallions)
• Boiled or egg-fried rice

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken

1. Trim excess fat from the chicken thigh fillets and cut them into bite-sized pieces.
2. In a medium bowl, combine cornflour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Mix well.
3. Add the chicken pieces to the bowl and toss to coat them evenly.
4. Drizzle the oil over the coated chicken and mix until the pieces are sticky and well-coated.

Step 2: Cook the Chicken

1. Place the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook at 190°C/375°F for 15-18 minutes, shaking the basket at least three times to prevent sticking.
2. If using a smaller air fryer, cook in batches if needed.

Step 3: Make the Sauce

1. Combine all the sauce ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl and stir.
2. Microwave on high for 3 minutes, stirring every minute, until the sauce thickens slightly. Alternatively, cook in a saucepan over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 4: Combine and Serve

1. Toss the cooked chicken in the prepared sauce until well coated.
2. Sprinkle sesame seeds and chopped spring onions over the chicken.
3. Serve with boiled or egg-fried rice. Enjoy!

Tips

• Vegetable Additions: Add chopped peppers, baby corn, or mushrooms to the air fryer during the last 2-3 minutes of cooking for extra flavor.
• Make the Sauce Ahead: Prepare the sauce up to a day in advance. Store it in the fridge and reheat before serving.
• Sauce Adjustment: For less sauce, reduce the ingredients by one-third. This will also reduce the heating time by about 1 minute.

Air Fryer Sesame Chicken

Crispy air-fried chicken coated in a sticky soy-sesame sauce. A quick and delicious dinner ready in just 30 minutes.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Cuisine: Asian
Servings: 4

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

• 6 large skinless chicken thigh fillets
• 3 tablespoons cornflour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• 3 tablespoons oil

For the Sauce:

• 1.5 tablespoons sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1.5 tablespoons Chinese rice vinegar
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
• 4 tablespoons tomato ketchup
• 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons light soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons dark soy sauce

To Serve:

• Sesame seeds
• Chopped spring onions
• Boiled or egg-fried rice

Instructions

1. Prepare Chicken: Trim and cut chicken into chunks. Coat with cornflour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Drizzle with oil and mix.
2. Cook in Air Fryer: Air fry at 190°C/375°F for 15-18 minutes, shaking the basket 3 times.
3. Make Sauce: Mix sauce ingredients and microwave for 3 minutes, stirring every minute (or cook in a saucepan for 3-4 minutes).
4. Combine and Serve: Toss cooked chicken in sauce. Top with sesame seeds and spring onions. Serve with rice.

Notes

• Add veggies like peppers or mushrooms during the last 2-3 minutes of air frying.
• Make the sauce in advance and reheat as needed.
• For a lighter coating, reduce the sauce ingredients by one-third.