If I am looking to make a quick and easy Chinese dinner for the whole family, then this is one of my go-to dishes. While we all love eating char siu pork (a hugely popular and staple of Chinese cooking), the sweet and rich BBQ flavours really translate well to chicken, too. And because chicken is quicker to cook in the air fryer, it means I can get the a meal up in under half an hour.
What is char siu chicken?
Char siu (which translates in Cantonese as fork roast) is traditionally a pork dish, that is roasted or grilled. You’ll recognise it for its signature bright red hue, often served with rice and noodles. While I often make my char siu pork shoulder recipe in the air fryer, I wanted to see if it worked with chicken thighs. And I was very pleased with the results. You might not always have a pork loin or shoulder in the fridge, but you can easily get hold of boneless tender chicken thighs. Char siu chicken also offers a delicious and slightly leaner alternative, maintaining the same bold, sticky glaze that makes this dish really delicious. The combination of soy sauce, hoisin, honey, and five-spice powder gives char siu its fantastic taste.
Why make char siu chicken in an air fryer?
Cooking char siu chicken with the air fryer method means it’s even easier to whip up a tasty family meal. If you follow Cook Simply, you’ll know I am a huge fan of the air fryer! Here are some of the reasons why:
- Efficiency: Air fryers cook food faster than traditional ovens.
- Healthier option: Less oil is needed, resulting in a lighter dish without compromising on flavor.
- Convenience: The char siu chicken will cook quickly and without much supervision.
- Flavour retention: The air fryer locks in moisture, ensuring tender, juicy chicken thighs with a smoky BBQ flavour.
Ingredients for air fryer char siu chicken
To make the perfect air fryer char siu chicken or Chinese BBQ chicken, you’ll need the ingredients below, which you can get in all good supermarkets and Asian grocery stores.
- boneless skinless chicken thighs
- light soy sauce
- light brown sugar
- hoisin sauce
- Chinese five spice
- honey extra
- salt
- white pepper
- garlic powder
- red food colouring gel (optional)
Char siu marinade prep
- Mix the marinade ingredients: In a bowl, combine hoisin sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, honey, brown sugar, five-spice powder, garlic, salt, and white pepper. If you want the traditional red char siu chicken appearance, add a few drops of red food colouring.
- Marinate the chicken: Place the chicken in a large bowl or a ziploc bag. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring each piece is well-coated. Cover the bowl with clingfilm/plastic wrap or seal and refrigerate for at least two hours, ideally overnight for the best flavour.
How long to cook char siu in an air fryer
Cooking times will vary slightly based on the size and type of your air fryer, but as a guide:
- Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 180°c (350°F) and allow it to preheat for 3-5 minutes.
- Cook the char siu chicken: Arrange the marinated chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don’t overlap.
- Cooking Time: Cook for 10 minutes, then flip the chicken. Brush the chicken thighs liberally with the char siu sauce, then continue to cook for another 5 minutes. Before flipping again and brushing the marinade over the chicken again. Cook for the last five minutes.
- Final glaze: Check if the chicken is cooked, you’ll start seeing the edges start to catch. Brush the chicken with any leftover marinade for an extra glossy, caramelised finish and air fry for just a few minutes more.
Serving suggestions
Air fryer char siu chicken works well with a variety of side dishes. For me, I prefer simplicity – so air fryer char siu chicken with plain rice and green vegetables.
- Steamed jasmine rice or any white rice: A classic and simple accompaniment.
- Stir-fried vegetables: Leafy greens, pak choy or broccoli
- Noodles: Serve over chow mein or stir-fried noodles for a heartier meal.
- Add garnish – sprinkle with chopped spring onions/green onions and drizzle with chilli oil.
Tips for great results
- Don’t overcrowd: Air circulation is key to achieving crispy, evenly cooked chicken. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Marinate longer: The longer the chicken marinates, the deeper the flavour.
- Baste regularly: Brushing the chicken with the reserved marinade during the last few minutes of cooking enhances the signature glaze.
- For the best result use chicken thighs – I prefer to use boneless chicken thighs, as they’re tastier and more tender. If you only have chicken breast it will still work.
Can you freeze leftovers
Yes! This chicken freezes well. Allow the cooked chicken to cool completely before storing in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes until warmed through. You can even chop up leftover char siu, and add to char siu fried rice.
Air fryer char siu chicken is a game-changer for home cooks looking to recreate this iconic dish with minimal fuss. With its irresistible balance of sweet, savoury, and smoky flavours, char siu chicken in the air fryer is perfect for weeknight dinners. I hope you enjoy.
Easy air fryer char siu chicken
Ingredients
- 650 g skinless boneless chicken thighs
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp light brown sugar
- 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tsp five spice powder
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp red food colouring gel optional
- 2 tsps vegetable oil for brushing air fryer basket
Instructions
- In a large dish or bowl and combine hoisin sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, honey, brown sugar, five-spice powder, garlic, salt, white pepper, and red food colouring (if using).
- Place the chicken thighs in the dish and make sure the chicken is well-coated in the char siu marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours. Ideally, you want to marinate for as long as possible, preferable overnight for maximum flavour.
- Once you're ready to air fry the chicken, brush the air fryer basket with oil (if needed to prevent the chicken from sticking) preheat the air fryer for 3-5 minutes.
- Arrange the marinated chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Don't overcrowd them or overlap the chicken.
- Get a small brush handy, and keep any reserved marinade.
- Air fry the chicken for 10 minutes at 180°c (350F), then using tongs, flip the chicken over. Brush the chicken thighs liberally with the reserved marinade, then continue to cook for another 5 minutes. Before flipping again and brushing the marinade over the chicken again. Cook for another five minutes.
- Check if the chicken is cooked - you'll also start seeing the edges begin to go a little crispy. Brush the chicken with any leftover marinade for an extra glossy, caramelised finish and air fry for just a few minutes more.
- Slice the chicken, and then serve with rice and green vegetables.
Video
Nutrition
Please let me know how this recipe turned out for you. Leave a comment below and tag @cooksimplyathome on Instagram. For more recipes do check out my index.
I love char siu so this great at I can use chicken instead. My kids keep asking for this!
A very tasty and easy meal, the family loved it