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Perfectly crispy on the outside with a panko crust, tender on the inside, and served with a sweet tangy sauce, Air Fryer Chicken Katsu with Tonkatsu Sauce is a super yummy Japanese classic! Traditionally served with some shredded fresh cabbage and steamed rice, this recipe is a delicious quick and easy 30-minute meal!
What Is Chicken Katsu?
It’s a type of Japanese fried chicken! Basically, chicken katsu is boneless chicken that has been breaded with panko breadcrumbs and then fried to crispy perfection. In most cases, it’s deep fried, but in this easy chicken katsu recipe I’ve created a way to air fry the chicken, which makes it super crispy without all the extra fat! Just like my Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets, it’s fantastic!
And it’s served with a yummy Japanese BBQ sauce called tonkatsu, which like most types of BBQ sauce is sweet and tangy. It contrasts nicely with the crunchiness of the chicken and only requires 4 ingredients to make. In fact, you don’t even have to cook the tonkatsu sauce. You literally just whisk it together in a bowl.
This is a fantastic weeknight dinner that only takes 30 minutes to make. I always serve chicken katsu with a side of steamed rice and shredded cabbage, which is how it is traditionally served. But you can serve it with any side you like. It could even be delicious with some ramen or soba noodles!
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Chicken Katsu
- Quick And Easy! With just a few easy to find everyday ingredients you can have a yummy dinner on the table in just 30 minutes with this simple air fryer recipe.
- Authentic Flavor! This delicious dish is a classic Japanese comfort food and the flavors are spot on with super crispy panko-breaded chicken cutlets and a tangy sauce.
- Family Favorite! The whole family will enjoy this dish and it’s healthy too! Chicken fried in the air fryer is super tasty and leftovers make a yummy sandwich too.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Chicken Katsu
- Chicken – I am using boneless skinless chicken breasts, but boneless skinless chicken thighs will also work well if you prefer.
- Seasonings – A bit of salt and black pepper help to develop the flavor of the chicken.
- Flour – Basic all-purpose flour is used to dredge the chicken.
- Eggs – Needed to help the breadcrumbs stick to the chicken.
- Breadcrumbs – You should use panko-style breadcrumbs for this recipe for the most authentic chicken katsu.
Tonkatsu Sauce
- Ketchup – Used as the base of the katsu sauce.
- Worcestershire Sauce – Adds just a bit of umami and salty goodness.
- Oyster Sauce – Yes, there is oyster in the sauce so omit this ingredient if you have shellfish allergies.
- Sugar – Just a pinch is used for a bit of sweetness.
To Serve
- Sesame Seeds – Used as a garnish for the sauce and to add another layer of flavor.
- Shredded Cabbage – Served with the chicken it adds some freshness to the dish. You add other vegetables too like shredded carrots or green onions if you like to make a cabbage salad.
- Steamed Rice – Katsu is typically served with steamed rice.
This Japanese dish is ridiculously easy! Once the chicken is prepped the air fryer does all the work and the sauce comes together in seconds!
Flatten The Chicken
To begin, the chicken breasts need to be pounded thin before being breaded sort of like chicken schnitzel. To do this is, first cut each breast in half horizontally and then put each piece between 2 layers of plastic wrap. Then use a meat mallet or rolling pin to beat them until they are about ½ inch in thickness. Now, season each piece with salt and pepper on both sides.
Bread The Chicken
After the chicken has been flattened you can start breading it! Grab 3 shallow bowls and fill one with flour, one with beaten egg, and one with Panko bread crumbs. Next, dredge the chicken generously through the flour, then dip it in the egg, and finally coat it in the breadcrumbs. Make sure it’s fully covered in the panko on all sides.
Air Fry The Chicken
To cook, spray the air fryer basket with a little bit of cooking spray and then place the breaded chicken into the basket in a single layer. You may need to air fry the chicken in batches. Now spray the chicken with cooking spray. Then put the basket into the air fryer and cook the breasts at 380°F (193°C) for 8 minutes or until golden brown. Then flip the pieces over, spray them with more cooking spray, and cook them for another 4 minutes. It’s important not to overcook the chicken. When done, the internal temperature of the chicken should be 165°F (74°C) when checked with a digital cooking thermometer.
Make The Sauce
While the chicken is air frying, make the homemade tonkatsu sauce. Just stir all the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl with a whisk. Then crush some of the sesame seeds with a mortar and pestle and sprinkle them on top of the sauce.
Serve And Enjoy
When the air fryer chicken katsu is done, remove it from the basket and serve it immediately with some shredded cabbage, steamed rice, and tonkatsu sauce.
Can I Make Gluten-Free Chicken Katsu?
Yes! This air fryer chicken katsu recipe can easily be made gluten-free by simply using gluten-free flour and gluten-free panko breadcrumbs. Also, make sure that all your sauce ingredients are gluten-free as well.
Can I Bake The Chicken In The Oven?
Yes! Just follow the recipe instructions until it comes time to air fry. Then lay the uncooked breaded chicken on a nonstick sheet pan, spray it with cooking spray, and put it in the oven to bake for about 25 minutes at 400°F (204°C), flipping the chicken over halfway through the cooking time. Again, it’s important to note that your chicken needs to reach an internal temperature of 165°F to ensure that it’s fully cooked.
Expert Tips
- Pat the chicken dry. Pat the chicken dry before sprinkling it with the salt and pepper. Removing any excess moisture helps it become more crispy when air fried.
- Worcestershire sauce substitute. If you don’t have any Worcestershire sauce on hand you can use soy sauce or gluten-free tamari instead.
- Temp the chicken. To ensure that chicken is fully cooked, use a digital instant-read thermometer to make sure that it has reached an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C).
Storage
Leftover air fryer chicken katsu will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months in an airtight container or sealed freezer bag. Then to reheat, put the chicken in the oven at 350°F (177°C) for about 7 minutes. You can also reheat leftovers in the microwave for about 3 minutes on medium heat. However, if frozen, put the chicken on a baking sheet and then put it in the oven at 350°F (177°C) for about 20 minutes or until warm.
Other Delicious Chicken Recipes To Try
- Crispy Chicken Cutlets
- Sesame Chicken
- Lemon Pepper Chicken
- Chicken Parmesan
- Chicken Schnitzel
- Pizza Stuffed Chicken Breast {Air Fryer}
- 25 Chicken Breast Recipes to Revolutionize Your Home-Cooked Meals
- Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast
- Homemade Shake ‘N Bake Chicken (Air Fryer Version)
- Chicken Satay With Peanut Sauce
Air Fryer Chicken Katsu With Tonkatsu Sauce
Ingredients
Chicken Katsu
- 2 large chicken breasts boneless and skinless
- salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 2 cups Panko breadcrumbs
Tonkatsu Sauce
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 2 teaspoons sugar
To Serve
- sesame seeds
- shredded cabbage
- steamed rice
Instructions
- Cut each chicken breast in half horizontally so that it's 2 thinner pieces. Place each chicken piece between plastic wrap or parchment paper and using a meat mallet, pound the chicken to tenderize to ½-inch thickness.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Prepare your dredging station with 3 shallow bowls. Fill each bowls, one with all-purpose flour, one with beaten egg and one with Panko breadcrumbs.
- Dredge each chicken piece generously through flour, egg, and finally through breadcrumbs.
- Spray the air fryer basket with a little bit of cooking spray. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer and spray with cooking spray.
- Cook at 380°F for 8 minutes or until golden brown, flip the chicken over, spray with more cooking spray and cook for another 4 minutes. Do not overcook the chicken. The chicken is cooked through when a thermometer inserted in the center of the breast registers at 165°F. Repeat with remaining chicken breasts.
- While the chicken is cooking prepare the tonkatsu sauce by whisking all the ingredients together in a small bowl. Crush some sesame seeds in a mortar and pestle and sprinkle on top of the sauce.
- Serve chicken katsu with shredded cabbage, steamed rice, and tonkatsu sauce.
Tips & Notes:
- Pat the chicken dry. Pat the chicken dry before sprinkling it with the salt and pepper. Removing any excess moisture helps it become more crispy when air fried.
- Worcestershire sauce substitute. If you don’t have any Worcestershire sauce on hand you can use soy sauce or gluten-free tamari instead.
- Temp the chicken. To ensure that chicken is fully cooked, use a digital instant-read thermometer to make sure that it has reached an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C).
- Keep in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months in an airtight container or sealed freezer bag. Then to reheat, put the chicken in the oven at 350°F (177°C) for about 7 minutes. You can also reheat leftovers in the microwave for about 3 minutes on medium heat. However, if frozen, put the chicken on a baking sheet and then put it in the oven at 350°F (177°C) for about 20 minutes or until warm.
