Get ready to elevate your dinner game with my Air Fryer Soy Sauce Chicken recipe! Experience the irresistible flavors of Japanese fried chicken karaage, enhanced with a slightly sweet soy sauce marinade and air-fried to perfection. It’s a hassle-free dish that’s easy to make, fail-proof, and bursting with authentic Japanese flavors. Let’s dive into the world of savory delights and make dinner time a breeze!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
What I absolutely adore about this recipe is its effortless simplicity combined with bold Japanese flavors. It’s essentially my own creative spin on Japanese Fried Chicken Karaage, but with a twist – instead of the traditional coating, I’ve perfected a technique to cook the marinated chicken in the air fryer, just like my popular Air Fryer Chicken Yakitori recipe. This means set it and forget it cooking, hassle-free and foolproof, a highlight that I’m sure everyone will love!
The marinade uses the base from my Baked Soy Sauce Chicken, featuring soy sauce, infuses the chicken with savory umami notes, complemented by hints of sweetness and garlic. Whether you’re seeking a satisfying main course or a flavorful side dish, this recipe is a winner. So, why wait? Dive into the world of Japanese cuisine tonight with this irresistible air fryer chicken recipe!
Ingredients
Ingredients
- Chicken – boneless and skinless chicken thigh. Can substitute with chicken breast if preferred.
- Ginger – grated using a hand grater.
- Soy Sauce – low-sodium Soy Sauce preferred. Can also use tamari for gluten-free.
- Japanese Sake – typically will come in a large bottle labeled junmai sake. Can also substitute with dry sherry wine or Chinese cooking wine, found at local grocery stores or Asian markets.
- Toasted Sesame Oil – 100% Toasted Sesame Oil that should have a dark brown color.
- Sweetener – use your preferred sweetener.
- Garlic – freshly grated garlic.
- Togarashi (red pepper) – Togarashi Japanese chili pepper blend found in most Asian or Japanese supermarkets. A good alternative would be cayenne pepper or red pepper.
- Lemon – optional, squeeze some lemon juice over cooked chicken before serving.
🍗 Chicken Note
You can use Chicken Breast if preferred, but best results with chicken thigh.
Essential Kitchen Equipment
Directions
Step 1 Mix together soy sauce, sweetener, Japanese sake, and sesame oil in a bowl until well combined. Transfer the marinade into a ziplock bag. Add cubed chicken pieces to the bag and ensure they are fully coated in the marinade. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 2 hours to infuse it with delicious flavor.
💡 Marinating Pro Tip
For optimal flavor, we recommend letting the chicken Marinate for 8 Hours. For best results, try to Remove Excess Air out of bag before closing.
Step 2 Once the marination is complete, remove the chicken from the marinade. Arrange the marinated chicken pieces in a single layer inside the air fryer basket. There’s no need to flip them during the cooking process. Set the air fryer to 360°F and cook the chicken for approximately 10-12 minutes until it is cooked thoroughly and achieves a beautiful golden brown color.
💡 Air Frying Pro Tip
Arrange the chicken pieces in a Single Layer in the air fryer basket, Avoid Overcrowding. This allows for proper air circulation and ensures that the chicken cooks evenly.
🌿 Garnishing Pro Tip
For a burst of zesty freshness, squeeze Lemon Juice over the cooked chicken as a garnish.
Pairing Recommendations
Enhance your Air Fryer Soy Sauce Chicken with classic Japanese sides like a green salad dressed in Japanese Wafu Salad Dressing or a Japanese Cabbage Salad. Alternatively, enjoy a bowl of rice or Japanese Beef Fried Rice for a satisfying accompaniment. For added comfort, serve alongside Japanese Chicken Soup.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I marinate the chicken for optimal flavor?
For optimal flavor, we recommend marinating the chicken for a minimum of 8 hours. This allows the chicken to fully absorb the flavors of the marinade, resulting in a more flavorful and delicious end result. However, if you're short on time, you can marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours, but the longer marination time will yield the best results.
Should I preheat the air fryer before cooking the chicken?
Preheating the air fryer is optional for this recipe. While you can preheat it if you prefer, it's not required, as the cooking time provided already accounts for a non-preheated air fryer.
Do I need to flip the chicken pieces during cooking?
No, there's no need to flip the chicken pieces during cooking when using an air fryer. The circulating hot air ensures even cooking on all sides, eliminating the need for flipping.
Is it necessary to use Japanese sake in the marinade, or can I substitute it with something else?
While Japanese sake adds a distinct umami flavor and helps reduce gaminess in the chicken, you can substitute it with Chinese cooking wine or simply omit it if necessary.
Storage Tips
To store leftovers, simply transfer them to an airtight container and place them in the refrigerator. When stored properly, the leftovers will maintain their freshness and flavor for up to 7-10 days.
Other Recipes You Might Like
- Crispy Air Fryer Pork Belly
- Air Fryer Japanese Chicken Katsu
- Air Fryer Cream Cheese Dumplings
- Air Fry Kabocha Pumpkin Fries
Watch How To Make It
Air Fryer Soy Sauce Chicken
Ingredients
- 3/4 lbs Chicken Thigh can sub with chicken breast
- 1/2 Inch Ginger
- 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 2 tbsp Japanese Sake can substitute with dry sherry wine or Chinese cooking wine
- 2 tsp Toasted Sesame Oil
- 2 tsp Sweetener your preferred sweetener
- 4 Cloves Garlic add up to 6 garlic cloves if you like garlic
- 1/2 tsp Togarashi optional
- 1 Lemon Wedge optional
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Combine grated garlic, soy sauce, sweetener, Japanese sake, toasted sesame oil, optional togarashi into the small mixing bowl, mix well and transfer marinade into a zip-lock bag.
- Cut chicken into 1/2 x 1/2 inch small bite-size pieces, place them into the zip-lock bag and marinate for 2 hour minimum (up to overnight) in the refrigerator.
- Remove chicken from marinade and transfer to an air fryer tray in a single layer.
- Air Fry at 360F for 10-12 minutes until chicken is golden brown. Transfer to a serving plate and serve with a wedge of lemon.
Nutrition
I tried this recipe and it turned out very well. I used Chinese rice wine for cooking instead of Japanese sake and it turned out well, but I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations of where and what to look for to get sake for cooking.
Hi Amanda! We use junmai sake, which is the type of sake. Various companies make it, but some popular ones here in the USA are Takara or Ozeki. Just make sure you don’t get mirin, which is sake with sugar added. You can usually get this at Asian supermarkets or even some alcohol specialty shops. Here is a link if you need more info https://www.lowcarbingasian.com/lcas-top-used-ingredients/
The video stated to air dry at 360. The instructions say to sit dry at 390
Hey Sue! Thank you for catching that! The correct temp is 360F and has been corrected.