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What Great Grandma Ate / Recipes / Main Dishes / Air Fryer Korean Fried Chicken Recipe (Yangnyeom Chicken)

Air Fryer Korean Fried Chicken Recipe (Yangnyeom Chicken)

Last Updated on June 5, 2023 by Jean Choi

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Super addictive Air Fryer Korean Fried Chicken! Made with a thin and light breading that gets wonderfully crunchy and a sauce that is subtly sweet and deliciously spicy. You will love this 30-minute recipe.

an overhead shot of air fryer korean fried chicken wings in a white bowl topped with green onions and sesame seeds.

What is Korean Fried Chicken?

Korean fried chicken is a popular dish of crispy fried chicken that originated in South Korea, and known for its distinctively crispy and flavorful coating. Traditionally, it is prepared by double frying in oil, which results in a crispier exterior while keeping the meat inside moist and tender. 

Called “Yangnyeom Chicken” in Korean, which translates to “seasoned chicken,” it’s typically enjoyed with a glass of beer. It’s common to cut up a whole chicken into smaller pieces to bread and deep fry, but I’m simplifying the dish by using just chicken wings.

It is often served with various sauces, including spicy gochujang, soy garlic, or sweet and tangy glazes, offering a range of flavors to suit different preferences.  It is usually double-fried before getting coated in the sauce for that crunchy texture, but it’s much easier and just as delicious in the air fryer!

What Makes This Recipe Great

I love that this dish has gotten very popular in recent years in the United States, and there are so many restaurants local to me that specialize in this yummy dish. It’s a delicious snack or meal, and it’s so easy (and healthier!) to make at home in the air fryer rather than frying in oil!

These Korean fried chicken wings are tossed in a sweet and spicy gochujang sauce and garnished with green onions and sesame seeds. It’s truly an addictive dish that everyone loves. 

One of the things that I love most about this chicken is the social aspect of the dish. It’s typically served communally at larger gatherings and brings a lively atmosphere of friends and family sharing and eating together. What could be better than that?!

More Asian dishes in the air fryer: Nurungji, Sesame Chicken, Korean Steak Bites, and General Tso’s Chicken.

Watch a Short Video of This Recipe

Ingredient Notes

recipe ingredients in small bowls and labeled.
  • chicken wings: I used skin-on chicken wings for this recipe. You can also follow the same instructions for boneless skinless chicken thighs, chicken drumsticks, chicken breasts, etc. Just be aware that the cooking time might vary. 
  • avocado oil: Or use your favorite cooking oil.
  • sea salt
  • ground black pepper
  • potato starch: Or cornstarch
  • cooking spray oil
  • sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds: For garnish

Korean Fried Chicken Sauce

  • Gochujang paste: Gochujang is Korean red pepper paste (gluten-free option here). You can find this in most Asian grocery stores and online. 
  • ketchup: Or you can sub with an equal amount of gochujang for a spicier flavor.
  • rice vinegar
  • honey
  • tamari sauce: Or soy sauce (or coconut aminos, for soy free)
  • brown sugar: Or coconut sugar
  • sesame oil
  • minced garlic cloves: If you don’t have fresh garlic, garlic powder will work in a pinch. 

How to Make Korean Fried Chicken

Rather than all the fuss of double frying in hot oil, I created an easy way to make this in the air fryer. If you don’t have one (get one!), you can also make this recipe in the oven. See expert tips for details! 

numbered step by step photos showing how to make this recipe.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
  2. Place the chicken wings in a large mixing bowl and coat with oil, salt, and pepper.
  3. Add potato starch and toss to coat evenly.
  4. Spray the air fryer basket or tray with cooking oil and add the chicken in a single layer. Then, spray the tops of the chicken with cooking oil, cook for 10 minutes, then flip. Spray the other side with cooking oil, then cook for another 10 minutes until golden brown. 
  5. While the chicken is cooking, stir all the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until it comes to a boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat.
  6. Toss the chicken in the spicy sauce to coat it all over. Serve warm, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.
a closeup of chicken wings coated in a spicy sauce and topped with green onions and sesame seeds.

Expert Tips

  • The sticky sauce for this recipe is gochujang based, and it’s medium spicy, but feel free to add more gochujang to make it spicier.
  • If you are gluten-free, make sure you buy gluten-free gochujang. Most brands have wheat in them.
  • Be sure not to overcrowd the air fryer. Cook in batches if necessary. 
  • If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake these in the oven at 425 degrees F for 50 minutes – flip them halfway through. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for best results. 

Serving Tips

  • To serve spicy Korean fried chicken, arrange the chicken on a platter, garnish with sesame seeds and green onions, and provide additional sauce for dipping.
  • Consider serving it alongside traditional Korean side dishes (banchan), and enjoy it while hot and crispy.

Storage Tips

  • Eat immediately for best results. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days, but they’ll lose their crunchiness. You can crisp back up in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.
a hand holding an air fryer korean fried chicken wing with a bite taken out.

Recipe FAQs

Why is Korean fried chicken so crispy?

​​The chicken is extra crispy due to coating the chicken in cornstarch or potato starch and double frying. However, I adjusted the recipe to get just as crispy in the air fryer instead! 

Why is Korean fried chicken different?

It’s different due to the method in which it’s cooked, the unique and flavorful sauce, and the social aspect it’s enjoyed with. It’s not just a dish, it’s an experience! 

More Air Fryer Recipes

Air Fryer Fried Pickles

Easy Air Fryer Chili Lime Tilapia

Extra Crispy Air Fryer Drumsticks

Easy Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes

Gluten-Free Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

If you make this recipe, please leave me a star rating and comment below! I love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Follow me on social media Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for even more delicious recipes!

a bowl of air fryer korean fried chicken wings.

Air Fryer Korean Fried Chicken Recipe (Yangnyeom Chicken)

Super addictive Air Fryer Korean Fried Chicken! Made with a thin and light breading that gets wonderfully crunchy and a sauce that is subtly sweet and deliciously spicy! You will love this 30 minute recipe.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin
Course: Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: air fryer korean fried chicken
Prep Time: 8 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 413kcal

Video

Ingredients

  • 2 lb chicken wings
  • 1 tbsp avocado oil or your favorite cooking oil
  • 1½ tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/3 cup potato starch or corn starch
  • Cooking spray
  • Sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds for garnish

For the Sauce

  • 2 tbsp gochujang Korean red pepper paste (gluten free option here)
  • 2 tbsp ketchup or you can sub with equal amount gochujang for a spicier flavor
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp tamari sauce or soy sauce (or coconut aminos, for soy free)
  • 2 tsp brown sugar or coconut sugar
  • 2 tsp sesame oil
  • 3 garlic cloves minced

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
  • Place the chicken wings in a large mixing bowl, and coat with oil, salt, and pepper.
  • Add potato starch and toss to coat evenly.
  • Spray the air fryer basket or tray with cooking oil and add the chicken in a single layer. Spray the tops of the chicken with cooking oil, cook for 10 minutes, then flip. Spray the other side with cooking oil, then cook for another 10 minutes.
  • While the chicken is cooking, stir in all ingredients for the sauce in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until it comes to a boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat.
  • Toss the chicken in the sauce to coat all over. Serve warm, garnishes with green onions and sesame seeds.
Nutrition Facts
Air Fryer Korean Fried Chicken Recipe (Yangnyeom Chicken)
Amount Per Serving (1 serving – makes 4)
Calories 413 Calories from Fat 225
% Daily Value*
Fat 25g38%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Trans Fat 0.2g
Polyunsaturated Fat 5g
Monounsaturated Fat 11g
Cholesterol 94mg31%
Sodium 1223mg53%
Potassium 380mg11%
Carbohydrates 21g7%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 24g48%
Vitamin A 197IU4%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 33mg3%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notes

Expert Tips

  • The sticky sauce for this recipe is gochujang based, and it’s medium spicy, but feel free to add more gochujang to make it spicier.
  • If you are gluten-free, make sure you buy gluten-free gochujang. Most brands have wheat in them.
  • Be sure not to overcrowd the air fryer. Cook in batches if necessary. 
  • If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake these in the oven at 425 degrees F for 50 minutes – flip them halfway through. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for best results. 

Serving Tips

  • To serve, arrange the chicken on a platter, garnish with sesame seeds and green onions, and provide additional sauce for dipping.
  • Consider serving it alongside traditional Korean side dishes (banchan), and enjoy it while hot and crispy.

Storage Tips

  • Eat immediately for best results. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days, but they’ll lose their crunchiness. You can crisp back up in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.

What Great Grandma Ate / Jean Choi is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Regarding other affiliate links and affiliate relationships: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Thank you for your support and understanding.

249 shares
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By Jean Choi | June 5, 2023

Comments

  1. Rene says

    July 6, 2023 at 11:32 pm

    5 stars
    These wings were phenomenal! The heat was perfect and love the balance between the sweet and heat. Will be making these again for sure!

  2. Karen says

    July 30, 2023 at 6:38 am

    Curious what air fryer you have? Can you please share the brand?

    • Jean Choi says

      September 5, 2023 at 10:49 am

      This is the one I have and love it!: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LBZGD97?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjeanchoi-20&creativeASIN=B07LBZGD97&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.3BIJNV6AA03AQ&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

  3. Mary says

    April 14, 2024 at 6:43 pm

    What if I wanted to make the soy garlic version??

    • Jean Choi says

      April 14, 2024 at 7:44 pm

      You can just cook it the same way, and toss at the end with whatever sauce you want to use!

  4. Gabby says

    January 28, 2025 at 5:59 am

    5 stars
    I made this last night for me and my husband! We used chicken breasts cut into small cubes instead of the wings since I don’t love bones in my meat lol. Just adjusted the air frying time by a few minutes. It came out perfectly! The sauce is to die for! Husband asked if this could be a part of our regular recipe rotation and of course I said yes! Looking forward to making it again and trying more of your recipes!

    • Jean Choi says

      January 28, 2025 at 5:04 pm

      Amazing! I love that it worked with chicken breasts. Thank you so much for leaving a review!

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Hi, I’m Jean!

headshot of Jean Choi - blogger of What Great Grandma Ate

I’m a food lover and recipe developer living in Southern California. I love to share simple and approachable gluten-free recipes that are healthy but never sacrifice on flavor. I hope I can help you feel confident in the kitchen and inspire you to try out some new-to-you dishes!

More About Jean

Recipe Key

  • 3030 Min or Less
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