Air Fryer Katsu Chicken Thighs

Air Fryer Katsu Chicken Thighs are crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. It’s topped with a sweet and deliciously tangy sauce. Serve it with a batch of rice and you are good to go!

Air Fryer Katsu Chicken Thighs

OH MY! If you loved my Air Fryer Katsu Chicken Breast, you must try these katsu chicken thighs! I swear these bad boys do not last in our house.

Every time I make Katsu Chicken it doesn’t stand a chance in my house, whether it’s Katsu Chicken Breast, Katsu Chicken Tenders, Katsu Chicken Sandwich, or these Katsu Chicken Thighs.

Chicken thighs are one of my favorite things to make in the air fryer. They always turn out juicy and tender. Like Teriyaki Chicken Thighs, Trader Joe’s Shawarma Chicken Thighs, and this Chicken Thighs and Potatoes recipe.

❤️ Why you’ll love this easy air fryer recipe

• Budget Friendly – Aldi’s is the way to go! I bought a pack of 10 chicken thighs, weighing about 2.35 pounds for $7.07 for the pack. 0.77 cents per chicken thigh is a steal!
• Meal Prep – meal prepping has become a big part of my life since I’m always on the go. This chicken Katsu is perfect for that. It stores great and reheats easily. Saving you time and money!
• Introduces use to ethnic cuisines – if you aren’t very adventurous in trying recipes from different cultures, you’ll love this adapted version of a traditional Japanese Chicken Katsu. It’s Americanized, and so is the sauce. Using Ingredients that you most likely will have in your kitchen.
• Delicious – This recipe is full of flavor! the whole family will love it!

WHAT DOES KATSU MEAN?

In Japanese culture, “Katsu” refers to a cutlet of meat that is coated with panko breadcrumbs and then fried. In addition to chicken katsu, you can also make pork or seafood katsu.

If you go to a Japanese restaurant, you will most likely see some type of Katsu recipe on the menu since it’s popular in Japanese cuisine.

In Western Culture, we refer to the traditional Japanese sauce that is served with Katsu as “Katsu sauce.” Katsu sauce is a sweet and tangy sauce, similar to barbecue sauce.

Katsu sauce is traditionally called Tonkatsu sauce. These two names may be used interchangeably depending on where you read or hear it.

Ingredients

For the chicken 

• Boneless skinless chicken thighs
• Egg
• Milk
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Seasonings: salt and black pepper

For the Katsu sauce 

• Ketchup
• Worcestershire sauce
• Soy Sauce
• Sugar
• Garlic

✳️ Tips & Tricks

Always use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature is 165F. Once the timer goes off take the chicken out of the air fryer so you don’t dry out the chicken.

Tools to make these Katsu Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer

• Cosori Air Fryer – this is my favorite air fryer. The large air fryer basket makes it so easy to cook your favorite recipes.
• Tongs – tongs are easiest to remove and flip the chicken thighs
• Meat thermometer – You always want to make sure the internal temperature of ANY chicken 165

How to make Air Fryer Katsu Chicken Thighs

1. In one mixing bowl, add the egg and milk and whisk.
2. Add the panko bread crumbs, salt, and black pepper to another mixing bowl.
3. Submerge the chicken into the egg wash, then transfer to the panko bread crumbs. Make sure you coat both sides.
4. Transfer the chicken to the air fryer and spray the top with avocado oil.
5. Cook at 390F for 7 minutes.
6. Once the timer goes off, flip the chicken thighs and spray the top with avocado oil. Place back inside the Air Fryer and cook for another 7 minutes.
7. Remove from the air fryer and transfer to a plate. Let the chicken rest for 3 minutes before you cut it.
8. Pour your katsu sauce on top of the chicken.
9. Serve and enjoy!

How To Make Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce (Katsu Sauce)

1. Take all the ingredients and whisk them into a bowl

Oven Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400F
2. In a shallow bowl, add the egg and milk and whisk.
3. Add the panko bread crumbs, salt, and black pepper in another mixing bowl.
4. Submerge the chicken into the egg wash, then transfer to the panko bread crumbs. Make sure you coat both sides.
5. Transfer the chicken thighs to a cooking sheet and spray the top with avocado oil.
6. Cook for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through.
7. Remove from oven once the chicken is golden brown. Let the chicken rest for 3-5 minutes before cutting for best results.
8. Pour the katsu sauce over the top.
9. Serve and enjoy!

Substitutions

• If you don’t have Panko crumbs, you can use Italian bread crumbs or regular bread crumbs. The chicken just won’t come out light and crispy. You can also use a store bought Katsu sauce if you don’t want to make your own.
• As for the cooking spray, I tend you only use avocado oil. I have this spray bottle where you just add your own avocado oil. That way there’s no additives. Just plain avocado oil.
• If you don’t have boneless skinless chicken thighs, you can use bone in thighs instead. You will just have to add a few more minutes to the cooking time since bone in thighs take longer to cook than boneless chicken thighs.

What to serve with Katsu Chicken Thighs

My favorite thing to serve chicken katsu with is white rice and to top it with homemade katsu sauce. It’s also traditionally paired with shredded cabbage. You can pair it with your favorite vegetable too.

If you make extra katsu chicken, you can also serve it over a salad.

How to store

• Store leftover katsu chicken thighs in a glass airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Honestly, you probably won’t have many leftovers. It’s that good!
• You can freeze it for up to 3 months.

♨️ How to reheat

This reheats best in the air fryer. Set your temperature to 400F and cook for 2-3 minutes.

You can also reheat this in the microwave. Transfer the chicken to a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high for 1-1.5 minutes. It made take longer to heat up if the chicken is not sliced.

❓FAQs

More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes

If you loved these Katsu chicken thighs in the air fryer, try out these other delicious chicken recipes!

• Easy Air Fryer Ground Chicken
• Easy Air Fryer Pesto Chicken Breast
• Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders
• Crispy Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Legs

Air Fryer Chicken Katsu Thighs

Air Fryer Katsu Chicken Thighs is crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Served with a sweet but tangy sauce. Serve it with a batch of rice and you are good to go!

5 from 40 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 14 minutes mins

Total Time 24 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Japanese

Servings 3

Calories 258 kcal

Equipment

• Air Fryer

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Katsu Sauce

• 1 tbsp ketchup
• ½ tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• ½ tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tsp cane sugar
• 1 garlic Minced

Chicken

• 3 boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1 egg large
• 1 tbsp milk
• ½ salt
• ¼ black pepper
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs

Instructions

 

• To make the sauce
• Take all the ingredients and whisk into a bowl
• To make the chicken
• In one mixing bowl add the egg and milk in and whisk.
• In another mixing bowl add in the panko bread crumbs, salt, and black pepper.
• Submerge the chicken into the egg wash then transfer to the panko bread crumbs. Make sure you coat both sides.
• Transfer the chicken into the air fryer and spray the top with avocado oil.
• Cook at 390F for 7 minutes.
• Once the timer goes off, flip the chicken thighs and spray the top with avocado oil. Place back inside the Air Fryer and cook for another 7 minutes.
• Remove from the air fryer and transfer to a plate. Let the chicken rest for 3 minutes before you cut it.
• Pour your katsu sauce on top of the chicken.
• Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 258kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 27gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 163mgSodium: 520mgPotassium: 392mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 143IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 68mgIron: 2mg

Keyword air fryer boneless chicken thighs, air fryer katsu chicken, air fryer katsu chicken thighs, chicken katsu in the air fryer, homemade chicken katsu less fat

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