Crispy on the outside and juicy in the middle chicken breast, smothered in our homemade katsu curry sauce. This is comfort food with serious flavour. If you love Wagamama's chicken katsu, then you need to check out this easy air fryer version. Air Fryer Chicken Katsu is ready in just 20 minutes.
About this Air Fryer Katsu Curry
Whenever we go to Wagamama, I am always ordering chicken katsu with extra sauce. But, it's not the cheapest so I have been working on perfecting my own recipe.
This air fryer katsu is so easy to make with the best crispy chicken without having to deep fry it in a lot of oil. SO much healthier!
The air fryer is always my go-to when it comes to making breaded chicken. You get all that crispiness that you would get from deep frying, and that tender juicy chicken meat, but much lighter with minimal oil. Making chicken katsu in the air fryer is always our go-to now.
Looking for more air fryer chicken recipes? Why not try our delicious Parmesan Crusted Chicken, kid favourite Chicken Nuggets, quick Air Fryer Greek Chicken Breast or our comforting Stuffed Chicken Breast?
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Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Chicken breast - We used boneless and skinless chicken breast for this recipe. You can use boneless chicken thigh and it would be juicer, but it's not as lean.
- Flour - Plain flour is needed.
- Salt and pepper - Generously season.
- Egg - This is used so the breadcrumbs have something to stick to.
- Breadcrumbs - We used panko breadcrumbs, as they are what are used in Japanese cooking. They also absorb less oil, giving you a crispier finished dish.
- Katsu Curry Sauce - We used our homemade Katsu Curry Sauce for this chicken katsu recipe.
More ingredient substitutions and variations can be found in the recipe card.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Katsu - Step by Step
- Step 1: Mix the salt and pepper into the flour. Put the flour onto a plate and put the chicken onto it. Turn the chicken over to coat all the chicken.
- Step 2: Dip the floured chicken into the whisked egg and then into the breadcrumbs. Turn over in the breadcrumbs to ensure the chicken is fully coated.
- Step 3: Put the coated chicken into your air fryer and spray with a little oil.
- Step 4: Cook at 190°C for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken over then cook for a further 5 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
Well, once you have this delicious crispy chicken in the air fryer cooked, you need to smother it in our easy Katsu Curry Sauce. It takes just 10 minutes to make, and the flavour is insanely good.
Then, you need some rice to soak up all that incredible sauce. Why not try our Coconut Rice, Microwave Rice or Oven Cooked Rice?
To finish off this air fryer chicken katsu, we like to serve it with some homemade Quick Pickled Red Onions.
If you want some greens on the side, then why not try our Garlic Spring Greens, Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli or Air Fryer Asparagus?
Storage
Store: This chicken katsu recipe will keep in the fridge in an air tight container for 3 days.
Freeze: You can freeze the chicken by individually wrapping it and storing in a freezer bag. It will keep for up to 3 months.
Defrost: You can defrost it in the fridge overnight.
Reheat: You can reheat it again (without sauce) in the air fryer for 2 minutes. Reheat the sauce separately following the instructions in the recipe.
Extra Tips
- Make sure you flatten the chicken with a rolling pin before breading, as this will ensure that it cooks evenly.
- For best results, let the chicken rest for 10 minutes after breading it.
- Make sure to generously coat the chicken in breadcrumbs so that every part of the chicken is covered.
- Spray the bottom of your air fryer basket too, so they chicken doesn't get stuck to it.
- Generously spray all the chicken with oil, so that it will all get nice and crispy.
- Cooking times will depend on the size of your chicken breast.
- Every air fryer is different too, so check the FAQs out below for our tips on how to know when the chicken is cooked.
- Rest the chicken for 2 minutes before cutting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Well, apart from the sauce it is served with, it's the breadcrumbs. This chicken katsu recipe uses panko breadcrumbs, which are Japanese. They are much lighter and flakier.
Yes, you can use boneless (and skinless) chicken thighs to make chicken katsu, but it won't be as lean. It will be juicer because of the fat content though.
This dish cooks in the air fryer for around 15 minutes, but the exact cooking time will depend on your air fryer. The best way to ensure that it is cooked through is to use a meat thermometer. Chicken is cooked when it has an internal temperature of 75°C/167°F at the thickest part of the meat.
You don't have to and if you forget it's no big deal. However, it ensures that both sides get nice and golden brown.
More Japanese Recipes
If you’ve tried this air fryer katsu chicken recipe let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Katsu
Ingredients
- 400 g (14 oz) Chicken breast - about 200g/7oz per breast
- 35 g (0.25 cups) Flour
- 1 Egg - whisked
- 70 g (11.17 cups) Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 pinch Sea salt
- 1 pinch Ground black pepper
Instructions
- Mix 1 pinch Sea salt and 1 pinch Ground black pepper into 35 g Flour.
- Put the flour onto a plate and put 400 g Chicken breast onto it. Turn the chicken over to coat all the chicken.
- Dip the floured chicken into 1 Egg (whisked) and then into 70 g Panko breadcrumbs. Turn over in the breadcrumbs to ensure the chicken is fully coated.
- Put the coated chicken into your air fryer and spray with a little oil.
- Cook on the Air Fry setting at 190°C/375°F for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken over then cook for a further 5 minutes.
Recipe Tips
- Make sure you flatten the chicken with a rolling pin before breading, as this will ensure that it cooks evenly.
- For best results, let the chicken rest for 10 minutes after breading it.
- Make sure to generously coat the chicken in breadcrumbs so that every part of the chicken is covered.
- Spray the bottom of your air fryer basket too, so they chicken doesn't get stuck to it.
- Generously spray all the chicken with oil, so that it will all get nice and crispy.
- Cooking times will depend on the size of your chicken breast.
- Every air fryer is different too, so check the FAQs out below for our tips on how to know when the chicken is cooked.
- Rest the chicken for 2 minutes before cutting.
Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
TAYLER ROSS says
I made this chicken katsu for dinner last night and it was delicious! So much better than the restaurant I usually get it at!
Angela says
We are obsessed with katsu and this is such a great way to make it. A big thumbs up from our kids as well. Thanks for sharing!
Donalyn says
This looks absolutely fabulous. We love katsu and the air fryer makes it so easy. Can't wait to taste that marvelous sauce!
Kim says
Absolutely delicious and it gets bonus points for being healthy! Definitely making this one again.
Casey says
We don't have Wagamama near me (I've never even heard of it!) but this looks soooo good. Can't wait to give it a try!