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Air Fryer Chicken Katsu (with Homemade Katsu Sauce)

Name: Air Fryer Chicken Katsu (with Homemade Katsu Sauce)
Prep time: 8 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 chicken thighs; 1/4 cup flour; 1 cup panko; 2 eggs with a little water (about 1 tbsp whisked); Salt (to taste); Avocado oil (in spray bottle); ¼ cup Ketchup; 2 tablespoons soy sauce; 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce; 1 tablespoon brown sugar; 2 teaspoon sriracha or other hot sauce; ½ teaspoon garlic powder

4.34 / 5 ( 6 Reviews )

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Air Fryer Chiken Katsu with homemade Katsu sauce has the perfect blend of sweet and savory that you can make easily in under 30 minutes.

Aug 28, 2023 The links in the post below may be affiliate links. Read the full disclosure

air fryer chicken katsu

Spice your usual chicken dinner recipe with this Air Fryer Chicken Katsu with a homemade katsu sauce.

It combines the delicious spicy sriracha with hot sauce mixed with brown sugar and a few other key ingredients to make up a delicious katsu sauce for your chicken thighs.

Since most of what you need you will be able to find in your kitchen already, it makes it easy to whip this dinner up for the whole family to enjoy.

There are even more great chicken recipes like this on our website too!

Ingredients and Supplies You’ll Need to Make Air Fryer Chicken Katsu (with Homemade Katsu Sauce):

chicken katsu ingredients

Ingredients:

Chicken thighs
Flour
Panko
Eggs with a little water, whisked
Salt, to taste
Avocado oil (in a sprayer)

Katsu Sauce

Ketchup
Soy sauce
Worcestershire sauce
Brown sugar
Sriracha or other hot sauce
Garlic powder

Supplies

Paper towel
Tenderizer
Shallow container
Small bowl (2)
Oil sprayer
Tongs
Air fryer (Cosori Pro II)

Why Panko Crumbs?

Panko crumbs are a great way to get those deliciously flaky outsides without making the crust too thick. However, if you don’t have any panko crumbs, you can substitute them for plain bread crumbs.

Other sauce options

katsu sauce ingredients in bowl

Obviously, this recipe is meant to use the katsu sauce with the chicken and above is a great homemade sauce.

However, if you don’t have the time or energy to make the homemade sauce (don’t worry I’ve been there) then you can always buy the katsu sauce too at the local grocery store or online.

How to make Air Fryer Chicken Katsu (with Homemade Katsu Sauce):

Step 1: Prep the chicken

Start by patting the chicken dry with a paper towel. Then, keep the paper towels on the chicken and pound down it with a meat tenderizer until even thickness (if needed).

After preparing the chicken, preheat the air fryer at 400 degrees F or 200 degrees C for 5 minutes.

Step 2: Chicken dipping

Set up your stations for making the chicken.

chicken thigh on plate flour and chicken thigh covered in flour on plate of whisked egg

In one plate, shallow container, or pie dish add the flour.

chicken thigh on plate of whisked egg and chicken thigh on plate of panko bread crumbs

In a second bowl, add the whisked eggs.

chicken thigh on plate of whisked egg and chicken thigh on plate of covered in panko bread crumbs

In a third mixing bowl, add the panko.

Sprinkle salt on the top of each container. Salt the chicken thighs to your taste.

Then cover the chicken in the flour, dip it in the egg, then cover it thoroughly in the panko mixture.

Repeat with the other remaining chicken thighs.

Step 3: Cook chicken

raw katsu chicken in the air fryer

Now, spray the air fryer basket with oil. Place the chicken thighs. Liberally spray the chicken.

Air fry for 10-12 minutes, or until the chicken reaches safe internal temp (170 degrees F or 77 degrees C).

cooked katsu chicken in air fryer basket

Halfway through cooking, flip the chicken and spray with additional oil. If further crunchiness is desired, flip and spray with more oil during the last two minutes of cooking.

Step 4: Make Katsu sauce

katsu sauce in bowl with whisk

Mix ingredients together in a medium mixing bowl and store it in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use.

You can make this sauce a day ahead too.

What to serve with Katsu Chicken

air fried chicken katsu on plate with sauce

If you want some ideas of what to serve with this sweet and savory Katsu chicken, take a look at the list below!

Katsu chicken side dishes for the air fryer:

best chicken katsu in the air fryer

Final Thoughts

I am always down for a delicious chicken recipe, and this Chicken Katsu recipe is just that. While there are a few steps to this recipe, it is so worth it with the flavors that are developed.

Plus there are great recipes to make alongside this dish that can also be made in the air fryer if you wish!

air fryer chicken katsu

The best family dinner recipes to make in the air fryer:

Air fryer tips and tricks