Description
Korean Fried Chicken Air Fryer is a healthier, lighter take on the classic, featuring crispy cornflake-coated chicken tenders tossed in a sticky, sweet, and spicy gochujang sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s the perfect appetizer, snack, or main dish without deep frying.
Ingredients
Chicken tenders:
8 chicken tenders
1 cup crushed cornflakes
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tsp paprika
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
Korean-style sauce:
1 tbsp avocado oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 stalks green onion (whites and greens separated)
2 tbsp gochujang
3 tbsp honey
3 tbsp ketchup
2 tbsp mirin
1 tbsp sesame oil
Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Mix crushed cornflakes with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish.
- Whisk eggs with a pinch of salt and pepper in another bowl.
- Dip chicken tenders in egg mixture, then coat with seasoned cornflakes, pressing to adhere.
- Arrange chicken in air fryer basket, spray with avocado oil, and cook for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and cooked through (165°F / 74°C internal temperature).
- Meanwhile, heat avocado oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Sauté garlic and white parts of green onion until fragrant.
- Stir in gochujang, honey, ketchup, mirin, and sesame oil. Simmer until slightly thickened. Add sesame seeds.
- Toss cooked chicken tenders in sauce until fully coated.
- Garnish with green onion tops and extra sesame seeds. Serve hot.
Notes
- Swap tenders for wings or drumsticks (adjust cooking time).
- Increase gochujang or add chili flakes for more spice.
- Add a splash of rice vinegar for tang.
- Use panko instead of cornflakes for lighter coating.
- Make gluten-free with gluten-free cornflakes and tamari.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Main Dish
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Korean-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 360 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg
