Sweet and Sour Chicken in the Air Fryer

Serves: 3–4 Marinating time: 30 minutes to 2 hours Air fryer time: 16 to 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 500 g chicken breast, cubed or cut into strips
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 garlic cloves, minced or crushed
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger (optional)
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional, for shine)
• black pepper to taste
• green onion to finish (optional)

Marinade

In a bowl, mix everything:

• soy sauce
• sesame oil
• brown sugar
• honey
• garlic
• ginger
• black pepper
• half of the sesame seeds

Add the chicken to the mixture and let it marinate for 30 minutes to 2 hours. If you can, stir it once halfway through so the flavors soak in evenly.

About the cornstarch

Since it’s going into the air fryer, the cornstarch is optional:

• without cornstarch: juicier, closer to a roasted marinated chicken
• with a little cornstarch: helps glaze the pieces and adds a light caramelization

I use just 1 teaspoon, to avoid turning it into a sticky paste.

In the air fryer

1. Preheat the air fryer to 180 °C (360 °F) for 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Place the chicken in the basket in a single layer, without excess liquid. Save the rest of the marinade in the bowl, you’ll need it.
3. Cook at 180 °C (360 °F) for 10 minutes.
4. Open it, stir, or flip the pieces.
5. Cook for another 6 to 10 minutes, until golden.

For a nicer look and flavor

• In the final 2 minutes, brush some of the reserved marinade on top
• Once done, finish with the remaining sesame seeds and chopped green onion
• If you want even more shine, mix 1 teaspoon of honey with a few drops of soy sauce and brush it on at the end

Important

Since the marinade has honey and brown sugar, it caramelizes quickly. No high temperature right off the bat, or the outside will darken before the inside cooks through.

For juicier chicken, go like this:

1. 180 °C (360 °F) for 10 min
2. stir
3. 170 °C (340 °F) for 6 to 8 min
4. finish with another 2 min at 180 °C only if it still needs to brown

Serve with fluffy white rice, a roasted vegetable, and if you have time, a side of crispy roasted broccoli or cauliflower.