Air Fryer Chicken Katsu - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

Home All Recipes Chicken

By Chris Joe

5 from 19 votes

Jan 25, 2023

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside – and the best part is that this AIR FRYER CHICKEN KATSU is just as good as the deep-fried version! Chicken Katsu is one of my most popular recipes, so I knew I had to get the air fryer version perfect! After testing multiple versions, this is the one I know you’ll love making at home!

Watch the Air Fryer Chicken Katsu Recipe Video Below!

Air Fryer Chicken Katsu - CJ Eats Recipes (2)

Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Katsu

I love this chicken katsu recipe because only a few ingredients will make crispy, juicy chicken. Firstly, here are the ingredients you will need!

  • 4pieceschicken breast1/2 lb each, seasoned with salt & pepper to taste
  • 1/2cupflour
  • 1/4cupwateras needed to loosen wet batter
  • 2large eggs
  • 1/2tspkosher salt
  • 1/2tsppepper
  • 1tspgarlic powder
  • 2cupspanko breadcrumbs
  • neutral cooking oil spray

INGREDIENTS TIPS

CHICKEN
It is CRUCIAL that your chicken is flattened to ½” EVENLY – you want the chicken to cook evenly across and allow the panko to crisp up without burning. If you don’t have a meat mallet or tenderizer, use a heavy bottomed pan to flatten it!

PANKO BREADCRUMBS
Panko breadcrumbs are drier and flakier than regular breadcrumbs, so they absorb less oil and creates a light & crunchier crust. I do not recommend subbing these, as this is a key ingredient in this dish 🙁

NEUTRAL OIL COOKING SPRAY
I used avocado oil cooking spray (avocado oil is my go-to neutral cooking oil)! You can use another cooking oil spray, as long as it is NOT olive oil. I don’t recommend using olive oil spray for this dish, due to the flavor profile and low burning point.

Air Fryer Chicken Katsu: Recipe Instructions

Season the chicken

The first step in making this recipe is pounding the chicken breast fillets into 1/2″ thick pieces. You want to ensure a thin cutlet so that the chicken will be cooked through in the air fryer in the same time the panko breadcrumbs become crispy! Next, season with kosher salt and black pepper and let rest while you make the wet batter. Make sure all the pieces are cut to similar sizes so they cook evenly.

Air Fryer Chicken Katsu - CJ Eats Recipes (3)

Make the wet batter dredge

Next, mix together eggs, flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to form a wet batter. Add 1-2 tbsp of water at a time until you get a consistency slightly looser than pancake batter. Dredge your chicken then immediately coat in panko breadcrumbs.

Air Fryer Chicken Katsu - CJ Eats Recipes (4)

Coat chicken in Panko Breadcrumbs

Transfer the dredged chicken to a tray lined with 2 cups of panko breadcrumbs. Evenly coat the chicken and use your hands to pack in the panko breadcrumbs so they stick to the chicken well.

Air Fryer Chicken Katsu - CJ Eats Recipes (5)

Air Fry the chicken

Lay the chicken into the air fryer basket and give the top side a spray of neutral oil spray (enough to cover any dry spots from the panko breadcrumbs). Then air fry at 350F for 10 minutes. Give the chicken a flip, and spray the other side well, and air fry again at 350F for 4-6 minutes until the chicken is crispy!

Air Fryer Chicken Katsu - CJ Eats Recipes (6)

Serve immediately with rice and picked vegetables and katsu sauce – it’s a perfect quick weeknight meal that is so satisfying!

Air Fryer Chicken Katsu - CJ Eats Recipes (7)

RECIPE TIPS

DRY BRINING
This is the KEY tip for quick but JUICY chicken! Season the chicken with salt & pepper for 15 minutes before cooking to allow the salt absorb into the meat. This “dry brine” will result in crispy skin and juicy meat.

WET BATTER
This recipe is enough wet batter to coat 4 pieces of ½lb chicken breast fillets – you don’t want to skimp on the wet batter, so adjust your measurements if you are cooking more than 4 pieces of ½lb chicken breast fillets!

PANKO BREADCRUMBS
You want the panko breadcrumbs to really stick, as this is the crunchy texture you want! You need to really pack in the breadcrumbs when coating the chicken. After coating the chicken, let it REST for 10-15 minutes before cooking.

If you liked this Air Fryer Chicken Katsu recipe, check out some of the most popular Air Fryer recipes on the blog!

  • Air Fryer Chicken Karaage
  • Air Fryer Chicken Wings
  • Air Fryer Orange Chicken
  • Air Fryer General Tsos Chicken

5 from 19 votes

Air Fryer Chicken Katsu

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 15 minutes mins

Save

Air Fryer Chicken Katsu - CJ Eats Recipes (8)

This easy 30 minute Air Fryer Chicken Katsu is super crispy and a lot less messy than deep frying! The chicken is super crispy and delicious!

Ingredients

  • 4 pieces chicken breast , 1/2 lb each, seasoned with salt & pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup water, as needed to loosen wet batter
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
  • neutral cooking oil spray

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Pound chicken breast to 1/2" thick filets and season both sides with salt and pepper. Set aside to dry brine while you prepare the rest of your ingredients.

  • In a large wide bowl, mix together eggs, flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until the consistency is slightly thinner than pancake batter (add 1-2 tbsp of water at a time until consistency is achieved).

  • In a separate tray, add panko breadcrumbs and set next to the wet batter.

  • Dip chicken breast in the egg mixture and let excess drip off. Immediately coat with panko and press the panko breadcrumbs into the filet to stick making sure to leave no dry spots.

  • Place into air fryer basket and lightly spray the top with a neutral oil spray (canola or avocado oil). Air fry at 350F for 10 minutes or until golden. Lightly spray the top again, flip, and spray the bottom side and continue cooking at 350F for 4-6 minutes or until the crust is golden and internal temp reads 165F.

  • Serve with rice, katsu sauce, pickled ginger and enjoy!

Additional Info

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Japanese

Tried this recipe?Mention @cj.eats_ or tag #cjeatsrecipes!

Air Fryer Chicken Katsu - CJ Eats Recipes (9)

About CJ

I’m a third generation Chinese-American home cook who has always loved cooking & eating! Welcome to my food blog, where you can find trusted, tested, easy & approachable recipes for the everyday home cook that taste delicious! I am so glad you're here!

Read more about me

You May Also Like:

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders (SUPER CRISPY!)

Chicken Lo Mein

Chicken Skin Chips (Pan, Oven, or Air Fryer)

Honey Garlic Chicken (SUPER CRISPY!)

Air Fryer Chicken Katsu - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is cornstarch or potato starch better for air frying? ›

Most of the time, we use potato starch or cornstarch. Potato starch can be hard to find (although Amazon is now a thing, and Bob's Red Mill is carried everywhere) but produces the best, lightest, crispiest results. Cornstarch comes in a close second and you can get it everywhere.

What's the difference between chicken katsu and breaded chicken? ›

Only two things distinguish it. First, katsu must be made with panko crumbs (as opposed to European-style breaded cutlets, where panko may occasionally be called for but is not a requirement). And second, it must be served with katsu sauce.

Why is my chicken tough in air fryer? ›

Why is my air fryer chicken tough? The most likely reason for tough chicken in the air fryer is overcooking. Be sure to cook it to only 160-degrees and then allow it to rest for 5-minutes tented with foil.

How do you not overcook chicken in an air fryer? ›

Place chicken in the air fryer basket, presentation side down, and cook for 8 minutes at 375°F. Flip the chicken over and continue cooking until the thickest part registers 155°F on an instant-read thermometer, typically about 6 to 8 minutes longer.

What does cornstarch do in air fryer? ›

Mixing corn starch into your seasoning is the key, because corn starch coats the wings easily and absorbs any excess moisture– making the crispiest chicken wings you've ever had. Then the air fryer does the rest of the work!

Is it OK if I put cornstarch on air fryer? ›

The light coating of the cornstarch or flour will help make the chicken crispy when you cook it in the air fryer. In a different zip lock bag, shake together the flour, cornstarch, and baking powder, and the rest of the spices.

Why is chicken katsu so good? ›

Chicken Katsu is a Japanese-style chicken cutlet that is breaded and then fried. It comes out super crispy on the outside and perfectly juicy and tender on the inside. The chicken typically gets served with Tonkatsu Sauce. It's a Japanese sauce that's tangy, rich, and slightly sweet.

Is chicken katsu just fried chicken? ›

Chicken katsu (chicken cutlet (Japanese: チキンカツ, Hepburn: chikinkatsu)), also known as panko chicken or tori katsu (torikatsu (鶏カツ)) is a Japanese dish of fried chicken made with panko bread crumbs. It is related to tonkatsu, fried pork cutlets.

What is the flavor of katsu? ›

Despite its simplicity, katsu sauce has a complex flavor profile that includes the following elements: Sweet: The sweet flavors come from the sugar. Savory: Savory elements come from the Worcestershire sauce. Tangy: The tomato sauce or ketchup gives katsu a tangy flavor.

Should I oil chicken before air frying? ›

While you would typically add oil to a pan before adding your food, the case is not the same when using an air fryer. In a bowl, toss your food in a few teaspoons of vegetable oil or olive oil along with your seasoning before putting it in the air fryer. This method works best for cooking fresh meats and vegetables.

What is the common problem of an air fryer? ›

Issue: One of the most common problems with air fryers is the unit not heating up as it should, which results in undercooked or unevenly cooked food. Solution: Ensure that the air fryer is placed on a flat, stable surface. Also, make sure the basket is securely inserted and that the food is not overcrowded.

Why doesn't my chicken get crispy in the air fryer? ›

During the air frying process, if you pull out the chicken and notice any dry flour spots on the chicken, spray those spots lightly with oil. The breading will never crisp up if it doesn't have a tiny bit of oil to hydrate it.

Why is my chicken not getting crispy in the air fryer? ›

If your food is not crispy when coming out of an air fryer, you may not have patted it dry before putting it in to cook. Meat or proteins, or foods you may have washed, will fry better without the added moisture.

Can you put raw chicken in an air fryer? ›

Yes, you put raw frozen chicken in the air fryer! You won't be able to brine it first or pound it to an even thickness (so the results are not *as* juicy) but if you forget to thaw your chicken, it's a great option to have on hand.

Why use potato starch instead of cornstarch? ›

Potato starch has a lower gelatinization temperature than cornstarch, meaning it can thicken liquids faster when exposed to heat. If not fully cooked, cornstarch tends to leave behind residual, well, starchiness, whereas potato starch gives sauces a glossier, silkier texture.

What is the crispiest starch for frying? ›

Rice flour and cornstarch work particularly well because they fry up crispier than wheat flour. They also absorb less moisture and fat during the frying process, making the products less greasy. This is why rice flour is often used when making tempura because it produces a very thin and crispy, dry crust.

What starch is best for crispy? ›

Interestingly, cornstarch contains 25 to 28 percent amylose, which is higher than the amount in wheat or potato starch (which are 20 to 22 percent amylose), and this is why cornstarch works the best for making crispy coatings on fried foods.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dr. Pierre Goyette

Last Updated:

Views: 6253

Rating: 5 / 5 (50 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dr. Pierre Goyette

Birthday: 1998-01-29

Address: Apt. 611 3357 Yong Plain, West Audra, IL 70053

Phone: +5819954278378

Job: Construction Director

Hobby: Embroidery, Creative writing, Shopping, Driving, Stand-up comedy, Coffee roasting, Scrapbooking

Introduction: My name is Dr. Pierre Goyette, I am a enchanting, powerful, jolly, rich, graceful, colorful, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.