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Have you ever tried chicken katsu? It’s a delicious dish that is typically made with chicken breast that is breaded and then deep-fried. But what if Liliana Kitchen tolds you that you could make it in your air fryer instead? It turns out that the air fryer is a great way to cook this dish because it gives it a nice crispy coating without having to use any oil. In this blog post, I will show you how to make chicken katsu in your air fryer.
What Exactly Is Katsu?
Katsu is a Japanese dish that consists of breaded, deep-fried meat or fish. The most commonly used type of meat for this dish is chicken. It’s served with a sweet and savory dipping sauce called tonkatsu sauce.
Ingredients
Chicken:
- Boneless skinless chicken breast, sliced in half horizontally: If you can’t find boneless, skinless chicken breasts at your local grocery store, you can easily remove the skin and bones yourself
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste: This is just for seasoning the chicken before breading
- Large eggs, beaten: This will be used to help the breadcrumbs stick to the chicken
- Panko bread crumbs: Panko bread crumbs are best for this dish because they give the chicken a light and crunchy coating
- Cooking spray: This is optional but it helps the bread crumbs crisp up nicely
Katsu Sauce:
- Ketchup: This will be used as the base for the dipping sauce
- Soy sauce: Adds a delicious savory and salty flavor
- Brown sugar: Adds a hint of sweetness
- Garlic powder: Enhances the flavor
- Sherry: Adds a subtle sweetness
- Worcestershire sauce: Adds a unique flavor to the sauce
How To Make Chicken Katsu In The Air Fryer
Chicken katsu is a Japanese dish that consists of chicken that has been breaded and deep-fried. It is typically served with rice and a side of pickled vegetables. While it can be time-consuming to make, it is well worth the effort as it is delicious and satisfying. Chicken katsu can also be made in the air fryer, which cuts down on the cook time significantly.
How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Katsu
For The Chicken Katsu:
- First, you’ll need to gather your ingredients. You’ll need flour, beaten egg, and panko bread crumbs in separate containers.
- Cut the chicken breast in half while trying to keep it an even thickness.
- Put the two pieces of chicken next to each other and use a meat mallet to flatten them until they are ¼-½ inch thick.
- It’s time to bread the chicken. To do this, you’ll use the 3 stage breading method: first flour, then egg, then panko.
- Coating one piece of chicken in flour, then dip it in the egg mixture.
- Coat it with panko bread crumbs. Repeat this process with the other piece of chicken.
- To bread chicken katsu with panko, first give the panko a shake to flatten it.
- Place the chicken into the panko. Scoop the panko on top of the chicken, then firmly pack the panko onto the chicken to help it stick. Repeat with other chicken breast half.
- Spray bottom of air fryer basket with cooking spray and place breaded chicken katsu in basket. Generously spray top of katsu . Air fry at 400°F for 14 minutes, flipping midway and spraying with cooking oil again before continuing cooking.
- Remove from air fryer basket and let rest for 2-3 minutes before cutting.
For The Katsu Sauce:
In a small mixing bowl, combine the ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, sherry and Worcestershire sauce. Mix it until everything is well combined.
To Serve:
Serve the chicken katsu with the katsu sauce on the side for dipping. Sprinkle some sesame seeds over the top for an extra crunchy and flavorful touch. Enjoy!
What To Eat With Chicken Katsu
Chicken katsu is usually served with steamed white rice and some pickled vegetables, such as daikon or cucumber. This helps to add a bit of acidity to balance out the richness of the chicken. It’s also great on its own with just the katsu sauce for dipping!
Recipe Tips
• Use a meat mallet to flatten the chicken, this will help ensure even cooking and provide a better texture.
• Be sure to generously spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray before adding the chicken katsu, it helps keep them from sticking.
• If you’re looking for a spicier version of this dish, add some chili flakes to the katsu sauce for a bit of heat.
• Feel free to experiment with different types of bread crumbs if you don’t have panko on hand. You can use regular bread crumbs, crushed crackers, or even ground nuts!
• If you want your chicken katsu extra crispy, you can double-fry it in the air fryer. This means frying it for 8 minutes, flipping, then spraying with cooking oil and frying again for another 6-8 minutes until golden brown.
• Leftover chicken katsu tastes great even when cold! Slice it up, wrap it in a piece of lettuce and drizzle some katsu sauce over it for a delicious lunch.
• To make this dish even healthier, you can coat the chicken with a mix of whole wheat and all-purpose flour instead of just all-purpose flour. This will add more fiber to the meal!
How To Store And Reheating
To store cooked chicken katsu, let it cool completely and then transfer to an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze it for up to 1 months, just be sure to thaw it before reheating.
To reheat, preheat the oven to 375°F and place the katsu on a baking sheet. Cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. You can also reheat it in the air fryer at 385°F for 4-5 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
Air Fryer Chicken Katsu
Air Fryer Chicken Katsu – FAQs
What Kind Of Chicken Can I Use?
You can use any kind of chicken for this recipe, but boneless, skinless chicken breasts are the best option. Thighs and drumsticks will also work but they may take longer to cook.
What Kind Of Breadcrumbs Should I Use?
Panko breadcrumbs are the best option for this recipe as they give it a light and crunchy texture, but you can also use regular bread crumbs or crushed crackers.
Is This Air-Fried Chicken Katsu Recipe Easy?
Yes, this recipe is very easy and only requires a few simple steps to make. The most time-consuming part is coating the chicken in the breadcrumb mixture but it’s still very straightforward.
Can You Put Raw Chicken In An Air Fryer?
Yes, you can put raw chicken in an air fryer. Just make sure to preheat it before adding the chicken and be sure to spray the basket with cooking oil or lightly coat it in oil to prevent sticking.
Does Panko Work In An Air Fryer?
Yes, panko works great in an air fryer and gives the chicken a light and crunchy texture. Panko is also lower in fat than regular bread crumbs so it’s a healthier option.
Can Breaded Chicken Go In The Air Fryer?
Yes, breaded chicken can go in an air fryer. Just be sure to lightly spray the basket with cooking oil before adding the chicken and cook for 8-10 minutes until golden brown and crispy. It’s best to flip the chicken halfway through cooking for even results.
Conclusion
Air Fryer Chicken Katsu is a delicious and easy to make dish that the whole family will love. The chicken is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, making it perfect for dipping in your favorite sauce. If you are looking for an easy weeknight meal, this recipe is definitely worth giving a try.
Ingredients
- -Chicken:
- Boneless skinless chicken breast, sliced in half horizontally: 1 pound
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste: 1 pinch
- Large eggs, beaten: 2
- Panko bread crumbs: 1 ½ cups
- Cooking spray
- -Katsu Sauce:
- Ketchup: ½ cup
- Soy sauce: 2 tablespoons
- Brown sugar: 1 tablespoon
- Sherry: 1 tablespoon
- Worcestershire sauce: 2 teaspoons
- Minced garlic: 1 teaspoon
Instructions
- To make the katsu sauce, simply whisk together ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar, sherry, Worcestershire sauce and garlic. The key to getting the sauce just right is to whisk it until the sugar has dissolved. Once the sauce is prepared, set it aside.
- To prepare the chicken, start by seasoning it with salt and pepper.
- Beat some eggs in a flat dish or shallow bowl.
- Pour some bread crumbs into a second flat dish or shallow bowl.
- Dredge each chicken piece in egg and then in bread crumbs.
- Repeat this process by dredging the chicken in egg and then bread crumbs again, pressing down so the bread crumbs stick to the chicken.
- When the chicken is ready, place it in the basket of the preheated air fryer and spray tops with nonstick cooking spray.
- Air fry for 10 minutes before flipping over using a spatula; spraying tops with nonstick cooking spray as necessary to prevent sticking. After 10 minutes, check chicken for doneness by inserting a meat thermometer into thickest part of meat; cook until juices run clear and internal temperature reaches at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Serve immediately with katsu sauce on the side for dipping.
Notes
- Make sure to use panko bread crumbs when making this dish. They provide the best crunch and flavor.
- The katsu sauce can be made ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- You can also substitute chicken thighs for the breast meat if you'd like, just be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Serve this dish with steamed white rice and some vegetables for a complete meal.
