You won’t be able to stop eating this Air Fryer Korean Fried Chicken Bao – super soft steamed buns with a deliciously spicy breaded chicken, red onion, and cucumber.

I really love Korean fried chicken – especially how great it turns out in the air fryer. But now we’ve gone and put it in a boa, and it’s threatening to break the internet.

Run, don’t walk, to the store to get some bao, or make it yourself (it’s not THAT hard).

Why You’ll Love It

Healthier: Air frying the chicken reduces the need for excessive oil, making this Korean fried chicken a healthier option than traditional deep-frying. You’ll still get that satisfying crunch without the guilt.
Customizable: You can easily adjust the spiciness of the sauce or add different vegetables. If you can’t find bao, you can use a slider bun!

Equipment Information

Air fryer: I use this 4-quart basket-style air fryer. It’s large enough to fit a meal for 4-6. But some things need more space in the air fryer basket, so they cook evenly.
Kitchen tongs: It’s very easy to remove food from your air fryer with kitchen tongs. I use these kitchen tongs that are silicon coated so they don’t scratch the interior.
Meat thermometer: The only way to tell if meat is fully cooked to the right temperature is to use a meat thermometer. I use this Instant Read thermometer. It’s so quick to open the basket and check the temp.

Helpful Tips

Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Cook the chicken in batches if necessary, as overcrowding can result in uneven cooking and less crispy results.
If you like your Korean fried chicken extra spicy, increase the amount of gochujang paste. Conversely, if you prefer a milder flavor, reduce the gochujang or balance it with a bit more honey.
Chicken thighs are recommended for their juiciness, but you can also use boneless, skinless chicken.
For the most flavor, allow the chicken to marinate for at least 20 minutes. If time allows, marinate for up to 2 hours in the refrigerator.
Make sure to spray the air fryer basket well, before you add the chicken, You don’t want the coating to stick to the basket when you try to turn it over.
Be sure to use freshly steamed bao, which you can do in a steamer basket or the microwave.

Air Fryer Korean Fried Chicken Bao

You won’t be able to stop eating this Air Fryer Korean Fried Chicken Bao – super soft steamed buns with a deliciously spicy breaded chicken, red onion, and cucumber.

No ratings yet

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Japanese

Servings servings

Calories 529 kcal

Ingredients

For the chicken:

1 pound chicken thighs cut into chunks
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon fresh ginger minced
1 clove garlic minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
8 bao
1/2 cucumber sliced into matchsticks
1 slice red onion cut into fourths

For the sauce:

2 tablespoons gochujang paste
2 tablespoon ketchup
2 tablespoon honey
1/2 tablespoon soy sauce low sodium
1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar
1 clove garlic minced

Instructions

Mix the rice vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, salt and pepper in a sealable plastic bag. Shake to mix well. Add the chicken pieces. Marinate for at least 20 minutes or overnight.
In another sealable plastic bag, mix the flour, cornstarch, and baking powder.
Transfer the chicken pieces into the flour bag (first shaking off excess marinade).
Shake the bag to completely coat the chicken, then place the bag in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine all sauce ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir well and simmer for 5 minutes to thicken slightly.
After 20 minutes, remove the chicken from the refrigerator. Shake the bag again to coat the chicken with flour.
Preheat the air fryer at 400ºF (200ºC) for 5 minutes.
Spray the basket well with cooking oil. Transfer the chicken pieces to the air fryer basket, not touching if possible. Spritz the chicken pieces with oil so that there isn’t any dry spots.
Air fry for 8 minutes. Carefully turn the chicken pieces over so that you don’t know the coating off, spritz with more oil, and cook for another 5-7 minutes. The amount of time it takes will vary based on your air fryer and the size of the chicken pieces.
When the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165° F(75°C), transfer it to a bowl and toss to coat with the sauce.
Steam the bao in a steamer basket over a pot of boiling water or steam it in the microwave according to package instructions.
Assemble the bao with chicken, onion, and cucumber.

Nutrition

Calories: 529kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 26gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 111mgSodium: 826mgPotassium: 380mgFiber: 3gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 171IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 104mgIron: 3mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!