Quick & Easy Air Fryer Char Siu Chicken

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Tender juicy chicken thighs air fried in the most delicious sticky barbecue glaze! This quick and easy air fryer char siu chicken is ready in 30 minutes! Don't have an air fryer? I share how to bake this dish below. Great as a main for the family!

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Ingredients & Substitutes
Expert Tips
Instructions
To Bake
Storage
Pairing Suggestions
FAQ
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Char siu chicken features tender chicken thighs marinated in a sweet savory red sauce made from red fermented bean curd, hoisin, honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, shaoxing wine and Chinese five spice.

The Chinese word "Char Siu" (aka "Cha Siu") means "fork roast" in English. It's a popular BBQ pork dish from Guangdong, China. The term "char siu" usually references the pork version but char siu chicken is simply the chicken version.

Both are marinated and glazed in the same sweet, savory, sticky red sauce with the key ingredient being fermented red bean curd, which gives it that natural color. Then the meat is roasted at high temperatures in the oven or air fryer.

This Asian chicken dish is best served with steamed rice or plain noodles with leafy greens like cabbage. I love this easy chicken recipe and I make it all the time especially for meal prep so I can quickly whip it out to reheat for a busy week.

The homemade barbecue sauce is my mother's recipe that I am sharing with you and it's made of simple and minimal ingredients!

Ingredients & Substitutes

Please scroll down to the below Recipe card for full measurements.

Skin-on Bone-in Chicken Thighs: or substitute with boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken breast slice into 1-inch thick pieces, but reduce the cooking time to 6-8 minutes since it doesn't have the protective skin layer.
- I also share how to air fry other cuts of chicken like chicken wings and chicken drumsticks in the recipe card below.
- Or substitute with boneless pork shoulder or pork butt and refer to my recipe here.

Chicken Marinade

Red fermented bean curd: the key ingredient for this recipe. It's a Chinese ingredient that is red in color and made of bean curds fermented sold at Asian grocery stores or online, like on Amazon. Do not substitute with red food coloring.
Hoisin Sauce: a thick brown sauce that is sweet with molasses. You can find this at most Asian grocery stores.
Brown sugar: either light or dark brown sugar will work.
Regular soy sauce: or substitute with low sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce. If you’re gluten-free, substitute with tamari sauce, coconut aminos or a gluten-free soy sauce. Avoid using dark soy sauce if possible.
Honey: or substitute with maple syrup or light corn syrup.
Shaoxing wine: a Chinese rice cooking wine. Or substitute with Dry Sherry. For a non-alcoholic or gluten-free version, substitute with any broth.
Chinese Five Spice Powder: a ground powder mixture of star anise, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns and cloves. Most grocery stores or online retailers sell this. Do not substitute with all spice powder because it contains nutmeg.

Basting Sauce

Honey
Hoisin
Red fermented bean curd

Note: Most Asian grocery stores will carry these ingredients. You may find some at your select grocery store or online, like on Amazon.

Expert Tips

Use fresh skin-on chicken thighs for a juicy cut! The skin is a protective layer that helps to keep the chicken juices inside.
Use a fork to help smash the red fermented bean curd until most of it has dissolved with the marinade or in the basting sauce.
Combine the marinade ingredients first before adding to the chicken for an even distribution of ingredients.
For best results, marinate the chicken overnight.
Air fry in small batches in a single layer and do not overlap the chicken pieces. This ensures an even cooking time and it prevents the chicken for undercooking so you can get a nice char.
The best way to check if chicken is cooked is by using a digital instant read thermometer inserted at the thickest part of the meat and it should read 165 F. If you don't own a thermometer, you can cut into the chicken and the meat should be completely white and not translucent.
Allow the skin to char just a bit. This gives the chicken additional flavor.

Instructions

Below are step-by-step instructions on how to make air fryer char siu chicken:

In a large bowl, combine chicken marinade ingredients as listed. Use a fork to help you smash the fermented red bean curd. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine chicken marinade ingredients as listed. Use a fork to help you smash the fermented red bean curd. Set aside.

Pat dry the chicken thighs with clean paper towels. Debone chicken thighs by making small sharp slits around the bone until you can easily remove it but leave the skin on. Transfer thighs to a large bowl with the marinade and submerge the thighs into it. Cover with a lid and marinate for at least 15 minutes in the fridge. For the best results, marinate overnight.

Pat dry the chicken thighs with clean paper towels. Debone chicken thighs by making small sharp slits around the bone until you can easily remove it but leave the skin on. Transfer thighs to a large bowl with the marinade and submerge the thighs into it. Cover with a lid and marinate for at least 15 minutes in the fridge. For the best results, marinate overnight.

In a separate small bowl, combine basting sauce ingredients as listed above using a fork to smash the fermented red bean curd. Set aside.

In a separate small bowl, combine basting sauce ingredients as listed above using a fork to smash the fermented red bean curd. Set aside.

Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil or cooking spray. Place marinated chicken skin side up in a single layer in air fryer basket. Do not overlap. You may need to air fry in small batches. Brush enough basting sauce to cover the chicken skin.

Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil or cooking spray. Place marinated chicken skin side up in a single layer in air fryer basket. Do not overlap. You may need to air fry in small batches. Brush enough basting sauce to cover the chicken skin.

Air fry for 9-10 minutes in total at 375 degrees F. No flipping needed. Cook until an internal temperature of 165F with a digital instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken thigh or until juices run clear.

Air fry for 9-10 minutes in total at 375 degrees F. No flipping needed. Cook until an internal temperature of 165F with a digital instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken thigh or until the meat is completely white and not translucent.

The chicken should come out looking a bit charred on the edges. Remove from air fryer and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing into pieces and enjoy!

The chicken should come out looking a bit charred on the edges. Remove from air fryer and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing into pieces and enjoy!

To Bake

Preheat oven to 425 F.
Line a 9 x 13-inch baking sheet with aluminum foil, parchment paper or lightly grease baking sheet with oil.
Place marinated chicken skin side up on top and baste with basting sauce.
Bake for 20-23 minutes on the middle rack until you reach an internal temperature of 165F with a digital instant read thermometer or until juices run clear. The skin should be slightly charred.

Storage

Leftovers will last up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat, air fry again at 350 degrees F for 4-6 minutes until warm throughout or microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Freezer friendly? This can be stored in a freezer friendly bag after cooling down and frozen up to 3 months or until you see freezer burn. To reheat, defrost it and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop in a pan.

Pairing Suggestions

Air fryer char siu chicken serves well with:

starters like egg rolls, crab rangoons, egg drop soup, hot and sour soup
white or brown rice, cauliflower rice, fried rice, chow mein, lo mein, plain noodles, soup noodles
cooked vegetables like bok choy, spicy garlic bok choy, choy sum, gai lan, garlic green beans or stir fried snow pea leaves.
other protein dishes like Soy Sauce Chicken, Air Fryer Char Siu, or Chinese Roasted Pork Belly.

FAQ

Can I make this in advance?

Air fryer char siu chicken can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To enjoy, reheat it in the microwave or air fry at 350 F for 4-6 minutes or until hot through out.

Can I substitute the red bean curd with red food colouring?

For this recipe, I don't advise doing that since you'll need enough of the red bean curd to offer that signature flavor and to coat the chicken pieces. Fermented red bean curd is sold at many Asian markets or even online depending on your region.

Can I use the leftover marinade for other dishes?

Yes, feel free to use it as a marinade for other meats. Or you can also boil and simmer the marinade over high heat until it bubbles and use as a finishing sauce.

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