Taiwanese Fried Chicken (Popcorn chicken)
Taiwanese Fried Chicken, also known as popcorn chicken, is one of Taiwan’s most iconic and beloved street foods. Found in nearly every night market, this crispy and flavorful snack is made from bite-sized pieces of marinated chicken, coated in sweet potato starch, deep-fried to perfection, and tossed with fresh fried basil leaves for an unmistakable aroma.Unlike Western fried chicken, Taiwanese popcorn chicken is lighter, crispier, and boldly seasoned — making it perfect as a late-night bite, party snack, or delicious side dish. The marinade is rich with soy sauce, garlic, and five-spice powder, giving each bite a unique and deeply satisfying flavor.If you’re looking to recreate the taste of Taiwanese night markets at home, this recipe is your ticket to crispy, golden goodness that’s impossible to resist.
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Oil Brush
Ingredients
- 500 g chicken breast (or you can use boneless chicken thighs)
- 2 tablespoons rice wine
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons thick soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon five-spice powder
- 5 cloves garlic
- white pepper powder (optional)
- Tapioca Starch (or Potato Starch, for coating before frying or air-frying)
- A few fresh basil leaves (for added aroma)
Instructions
- Cut chicken breast into bite-sized cubes and place in a mixing bowl.
- Add minced garlic, 2 tbsp rice wine, 2 tbsp sugar, 2 tbsp soy paste (or soy sauce), 1 tsp five-spice powder, and a pinch of white pepper. Mix well until the chicken is evenly coated. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- After marinating, drain any excess liquid.
- Coat each piece of chicken lightly with sweet potato starch and spray a thin layer of oil on top.
- Arrange the chicken pieces in a single layer inside the air fryer basket (avoid overlapping). Air fry at 180°C (356°F) for 6 minutes.
- Open the basket, flip each piece, spray more oil if needed, and air fry again for 6 minutes.
- Add a few fresh basil leaves, spray lightly with oil, and air fry for another 2 minutes.
- Serve immediately while hot and crispy. Enjoy your homemade Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken!
Video
Cooking & Storage Tips
- Most recipes use about 3 garlic cloves, but if you love a stronger garlic aroma, feel free to use up to 5 cloves. Garlic and basil are key to the classic Taiwanese popcorn chicken flavor.
If you don’t have rice wine, you can substitute with sake, vodka, or dry sherry. If soy paste isn’t available, regular soy sauce works fine. Adjust spices such as five-spice powder or white pepper to suit your taste.
A light coating of sweet potato starch gives a crispy texture — don’t overcoat. Spraying a bit of oil before air frying helps achieve that golden, crunchy crust.
If Thai basil isn’t available, you can use Italian basil — the aroma is milder but still delicious.
- The definition of “bite-sized” varies. If your chicken pieces are cut larger than 1-inch cubes, increase the air-frying time slightly to ensure the centers cook through. Always check the thickest piece to confirm it’s fully cooked.
