Get ready to transform your ordinary dinner into a culinary fireworks display with this mind-blowing Air Fryer Firecracker Chicken! Imagine crispy, golden-brown chicken cubes coated in a tantalizing sweet and spicy sauce that'll make your mouth water before you even take the first bite. Perfect for those craving restaurant-quality flavor without the hassle of deep frying, this recipe is about to become your new weeknight superhero - delivering maximum taste with minimal effort and cleanup.
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 35 mins
Cuisine: Asian
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breast, cubed
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup corn starch
- 1/4 cup hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and corn starch to create a dry coating mixture for the chicken.
- Cut chicken breast into uniform 1-inch cubes, ensuring even cooking and consistent size.
- Pat chicken pieces dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, which helps achieve a crispier coating.
- Dredge each chicken cube thoroughly in the flour-cornstarch mixture, shaking off excess coating to prevent clumping.
- Preheat air fryer to 380°F (193°C) for approximately 3-4 minutes to ensure proper cooking temperature.
- Arrange coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, avoiding overcrowding to allow proper air circulation.
- Cook chicken for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even browning and crispy texture.
- While chicken cooks, prepare firecracker sauce by whisking together hot sauce and honey in a separate bowl.
- Once chicken is golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), remove from air fryer.
- Immediately toss hot chicken pieces in prepared firecracker sauce, ensuring complete and even coating.
- Serve hot, garnished with optional chopped green onions or sesame seeds for added flavor and presentation.
Tips
- Pat chicken pieces completely dry before coating to ensure maximum crispiness
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket - give each piece breathing room for even cooking
- Use a meat thermometer to check internal chicken temperature reaches 165°F
- For extra heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the firecracker sauce
- Shake the air fryer basket midway through cooking to promote uniform browning
- Let chicken rest for 2-3 minutes after cooking to help retain moisture
- Serve immediately for the crispiest texture and most vibrant flavors
- For a lighter version, you can use less cornstarch or substitute with almond flour
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 320kcal
Carbohydrates: 25g
Protein: 30g
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Cholesterol: 85mg
