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    Fitsian Food Life » Air Fryer

    Korean Popcorn Chicken Without Breading – Low Calorie Air-Fryer Recipe

    Published: Jun 2, 2021 · Modified: Aug 19, 2022 by Clara · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These skinny Korean popcorn chicken are such a delicious guilt-free snack! Air fried to perfection and basted with a sweet and spicy Korean sauce, this dish is the perfect way to satisfy your Korean Fried Chicken cravings without tanking your calorie budget!

    Healthy Korean Popcorn Chicken
    Popcorn Chicken
    Jump to:
    • 🍏 How to Make It Healthy – The Fitsian Method
    • 💡Tips and Tricks
    • 📋 Ingredient Notes
    • 🔪 Step by Step Instructions
    • 🍳 Recipe

    🍏 How to Make It Healthy – The Fitsian Method

    The key to making this with so little calories is through 2 key steps: omitting the breading and cooking the chicken pieces in an air fryer. Omitting the breading saves a significant portion of calories, while using the air fryer produces a similarly delicious crispy texture from traditionally fried popcorn chicken.

    For more recipes that tweak traditionally indulgent meals to be lower calorie and fit your weekday meal prep goals, check out my Cheating Cheat Meals collection.

    💡Tips and Tricks

    Sauce for the Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken

    I dressed these up in a delicious Korean fried chicken sauce inspired by My Korean Kitchen's Recipe but you can dress these up in any sauce you like!

    Air Fryer Temperature Adjustments

    Air fryers are all made a little differently, as are our taste buds. The recipe I originally tried had me air fry the chicken pieces for 10 minutes each, but I found it to be slightly more overcooked and harder than I would have liked, hence why I adjusted the time down to 8 minutes on the second side in my recipe. Everyone has their own preferences on how hard they like the exterior of their chicken so feel free to experiment a bit with timing and temperature.

    Can I use other types of chicken, such as chicken breast or chicken with skin?

    Yes you can. Chicken breast is naturally dryer compared to chicken thigh though, which is why I often and only really use chicken thigh in most of my recipes. Chicken with skin would actually create a delicious crispy texture, but at the expense of the calorie and macros content (additional grams of fat), so if you do decide to go that route, be sure to account for that if you are tracking your nutrients.

    📋 Ingredient Notes

    Sweet and Spicy Korean Sauce

    • 2 tablespoon Ketchup
    • 2 tablespoon Gochujang
    • 1 tablespoon Soy sauce
    • 1 teaspoon Honey
    • 1 teaspoon Sesame oil

    Chicken and Marinade

    • 8 oz Chicken thigh, boneless skinless
    • 1 tablespoon Mirin
    • 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon Black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • Furikake, green onion (For garnish)

    🔪 Step by Step Instructions

    1. Cut chicken into bite size pieces. Mix with mirin, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt and set aside.
    2. Line air fryer with foil and spray with cooking spray. Place chicken pieces in air fryer in one layer and cook at 380F degrees for 10 minutes. When done, flip over Chicken pieces and cook for another 8 minutes.
    3. While the chicken is cooking, start combining the rest of the ingredients to make the sauce and simmer in a saucepan.
    4. Once chicken is ready, coat them in the sauce in the saucepan.
    5. Remove from saucepan, garnish, and enjoy your guilt free Korean popcorn chicken!

    🍳 Recipe

    Healthy Korean Popcorn Chicken

    Korean Popcorn Chicken -- Low Calorie Air-Fryer Recipe

    Developed by Clara
    These skinny Korean popcorn chicken are such a delicious guilt-free snack! Air fried to perfection and basted with a sweet and spicy Korean sauce, this dish is the perfect way to satisfy your Korean Fried Chicken cravings without tanking your calorie budget!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine korean
    Servings 1
    Calories 333 kcal

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients
      

    • 8 oz Chicken thigh (Boneless, skinless)
    • 1 tablespoon Mirin
    • 2 tablespoon Ketchup
    • 2 tablespoon Gochujang
    • 1 tablespoon Soy sauce
    • 1 teaspoon Honey
    • 1 teaspoon Sesame oil
    • 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • Furikake, green onion (For garnish)

    Nutrition & Macros

    • 333 Calories
    • 41 g Protein
    • 8 g Fat
    • 23 g Carbs

    Instructions
     

    • Cut chicken into bite size pieces. Mix with mirin, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt and set aside.
    • Line air fryer with foil and spray with cooking spray. Place chicken pieces in air fryer in one layer and cook at 380F degrees for 10 minutes. When done, flip over Chicken pieces and cook for another 8 minutes.
    • While the chicken is cooking, start combining the rest of the ingredients to make the sauce and simmer in a saucepan.
    • Once chicken is ready, coat them in the sauce in the saucepan.
    • Remove from saucepan, garnish, and enjoy your guilt free Korean popcorn chicken!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 333kcal
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @fitsianfoodlife or tag #fitsianfoodlife!
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    Hi, I'm Clara! I cook calorie-conscious, macro-friendly recipes to help achieve your fitness goals.

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