Air Fryer Chicken Katsu is a healthier twist on the traditional deep-fried Japanese recipe. Paired with sweet katsu sauce, this chicken is easy to make in just over 30 minutes.
Air Fryer Chicken Katsu
Crispy chicken katsu is one of my favorite Japanese recipes, and it’s incredibly easy to make thanks to the help of the air fryer! This chicken katsu air fryer recipe features a delicious breaded chicken cutlet and a simple but flavorful homemade katsu sauce.
Air frying chicken katsu instead of deep-frying it is not only easier but also healthier. On top of there being no mess from frying in oil, the reduced amount of oil results in this katsu being lighter on calories, all without compromising the taste or quality.
The sweet and tangy katsu sauce in this recipe is made with just 4 ingredients and will also taste delicious served with pork cutlet. In addition to chicken katsu, another one of my favorite crispy chicken recipes is keto chicken tenders.
Why you will love this recipe
- Flavorful sauce
- Ready in 35 minutes
- Made with 10 simple ingredients
- Healthier alternative to deep-fried katsu chicken
How to make perfect Air Fryer Chicken Katsu
Chop the chicken breast. Each chicken breast should be cut in half lengthwise, resulting in two smaller chicken filets.
Prepare the egg mixture. Beat the egg in a small bowl and season with salt.
Mix panko and flour together. This mixture should be made in a separate bowl.
Bread the chicken. Dip each chicken filet into the egg mixture, making sure to coat both sides. Then, place the chicken in the panko mixture and press on the breading. Be sure that the coating is even so that the chicken will turn out nice and crispy.
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. I like to preheat my air fryer to save some time and end up with the crispiest air fryer chicken katsu.
Cook the chicken. Air fry the chicken for 10 minutes, then flip and cook for another 5 minutes, extending the time if needed. How long to cook katsu in air fryer will depend on the size and thickness of the chicken.
Prepare the katsu sauce. In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, sugar, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce. The sauce can either be drizzled onto the chicken or kept separate as a dipping sauce.
Serve and enjoy! This chicken katsu air fryer recipe tastes delicious served over a bed of steamed white rice.
Pro Tips
- Shallow bowls make breading easy. I recommend using two shallow bowls, one for the egg mixture and another for the panko mixture. This makes it super easy to dip the chicken without making a mess.
- Adding a little bit of oil makes a difference. I like to add a drizzle or light spray of olive oil to the breaded chicken before popping it into the air fryer. This will give the air fryer chicken katsu a beautiful golden finish.
- It may be necessary to cook in batches. Overcrowding the air fryer can result in uneven cooking. When cooking chicken, it’s important to ensure that every piece reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions for Air Fryer Chicken Katsu
Chicken: Chicken breast is the cut that is traditionally used for chicken katsu recipes.
Egg: Coating the chicken in an egg wash before breading it will result in crispy, flavorful chicken.
Panko Breadcrumbs: This is the best type of breadcrumbs to use for this chicken katsu air fryer recipe because of how flaky and buttery it will turn out.
Flour: All-purpose flour is essential in helping the breading stick to the chicken.
Sauces: The combination of Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce provides the perfect balance of salty and savory flavors.
Sweetener: Katsu sauce is known to have some sweetness. Ketchup will help thicken up the katsu sauce a little bit, while sugar will round out all of the flavors.
Frequently Asked Questions about Katsu Chicken
How do I store chicken katsu?
Chicken katsu will last for 2-3 days in the refrigerator if stored properly in an airtight container. This recipe can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
How do I reheat chicken katsu in air fryer?
Leftover air fryer chicken katsu can be reheated after being thawed, or straight from frozen since it’s breaded.
My favorite way to reheat katsu is in the air fryer. At 350 degreesF, it will take about 5 minutes to reheat thawed chicken katsu in the air fryer, and a few minutes longer than that if the chicken is frozen.
Can I freeze katsu sauce?
Yes! Katsu sauce freezes incredibly well and will last in the freezer for up to 3 months.
I recommend allowing the sauce to defrost in the refrigerator before heating it up again on the stove or in the microwave.
Air Fryer Chicken Katsu
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Breaded Chicken
- 1.5 lb chicken breast 2 chicken breasts
- 1 small egg
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup panko
- 1/3 cup all purpose flour
- 2 cup white steamed rice to serve
Instructions
- Chop each chicken breast lengthwise so you get two chicken filets.
- Then, beat the egg in a small bowl and season with salt.
- In a different bowl or deep dish, mix panko with all-purpose flour.
- Dip each chicken filet in the seasoned egg wash, making sure to coat both sides. Then, transfer it to the panko mixture and press the breading onto the chicken to ensure an even coating. This helps achieve a crispy texture.
- Preheat the Air Fryer to 400F.
- Next, cook each piece of chicken for 10 minutes and flip. Cook for another 5 minutes and extend the cooking time if necessary. Note: spray cooking oil or drizzle olive oil over the breaded chicken for a golden look.
- In the meantime, mix all the ingredients of the Katsu sauce.
- Serve chicken katsu over steamed white rice.
Notes
- Cook in batches: Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding. Overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking and a less crispy result.
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