The Best Easy Air Fryer Cha Siu Chicken Recipe

Are you looking for a Cha Siu Chicken recipe instead of Cha Siu Pork recipe?

If so, you have come to the right place! After sharing my Cha Siu pork recipe, I received many requests on alternate meats to pork so this Cha Siu Chicken recipe was born. I also wanted to simplify this cha siu chicken recipe and omit the fresh garlic and ginger so no blender is needed, making this the perfect quick and easy recipe.

This Cha Siu Chicken is one of my favorite weeknight recipes. It is so easy to make and takes only 2 minutes to prep!

My Traditional Cha Siu recipe involves fresh ginger, garlic and a blender but to save time and dishes, we use a garlic powder for this Cha Siu Chicken recipe instead. If you marinate just 10 minutes and use an air fryer, you can even get this ready in just 30 minutes!

Not using boneless chicken thighs? Here are some cooking times and instructions for different cuts:

Bone In Chicken Thigh:

Air fryer (20-25 minutes total) - 400°F for 10 minutes skin side down, flip over and cook an additional 10-15 minutes skin side up.

Oven (30-40 minutes total) - 400°F for 10 minutes skin side down, flip over and cook an additional 20-30 minutes skin side up.

Drumsticks:

Air Fryer (20 minutes total) - 400°F for 10 minutes, flip over and cook another 10 minutes.

Oven (35-40 minutes total) - 400°F for 20 minutes and flip over and cook another 15-20 minutes.

Chicken Breast:

Air Fryer (16-19 minutes total) - 360°F for 10 minutes, flip and cook another 6-9 minutes.

Every Air Fryer is Different.

I have 2 Air fryers, and one is 1400 watts, and one is 900 watts. Both air fryers cook chicken very well. However, my stronger air fryer does cook a few minutes faster compared to my lower powered one. I would recommend checking at 15-20 minutes the internal temp with a meat probe. You might need another 5 mins at 400 to finish the cook or brown up the chicken some more.

No Air Fryer? No Problem!

I try to always include alternate cooking instructions, and cha siu is also great oven cooked. For making huge batches I actually do prefer using the oven.

If you LOVE this Cha Siu Chicken, here are some other Chicken recipes you might like. Also, check out these other Chinese Recipes recipes:

• Asian Chicken
• Air Fryer Soy Sauce Chicken
• Honey Soy Wings
• Lemongrass Chicken

Equipment

• Air Fryer
• or Stove Top
• or Oven

Ingredients

• 2.5 lbs chicken (I used boneless thighs - skin on)
• ½ tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• ¼ tsp five spice powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 ½ tbsp soy sauce
• ½ tbsp dark soy sauce
• ½ tbsp cooking wine
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp hoisin
• 1 ½ tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tsp red fermented bean curd (optional) or
• 1 tsp red food coloring (optional)

Instructions

• Combine the following ingredients with the chicken and set aside for at least 10 minutes. The flavors will be even more amazing if you marinate overnight! Combine Chicken with ½ tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon five spice powder, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 ½ tablespoon soy sauce, ½ tablespoon dark soy sauce, ½ tablespoon cooking wine, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, 2 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon hoisin, 1 ½ tablespoon oyster sauce

Air Fryer Cooking Instructions (Oven Cooking instructions below)

• Preheat air fryer to 380, and add in the chicken skin side up. Check at the halfway point on the progress. Depending on your air fryer , it may take 18-20 minutes to cook fully for boneless chicken thighs. **Please see below for cooking times for other cuts of chicken.
• Drumsticks:Air Fryer (20-25 minutes total) - 380°F for 6 minutes, flip over and cook another 6 minutes and flip again and cook for another 8-10 minutes.Bone In Chicken Thigh:Air fryer (20-25 minutes total) - 380°F for 10 minutes skin side down, flip over and cook an additional 10-15 minutes skin side up.Boneless Chicken Thigh:Air Fryer (18-20 minutes total) - 380°F for 10 minutes, flip over and cook another 8-10 minutes.Chicken Breast:Air Fryer (16-19 minutes total) - 360°F for 10 minutes, flip and cook another 6-9 minutes.
• Once your chicken reaches internal temperature of 165 deg, It's ready!

Oven Cooking instructions

• Preheat your oven to 400°F and cook for 35-40 minutes
• Boneless Chicken thigh:(20-25 min total) - 380°F for 10 minutes skin side down, flip over and cook an additional 10-15 minutes skin side up.Bone in Chicken Thigh:(30-35 minutes total) - 380°F for 10 minutes skin side down, flip over and cook an additional 20-25 minutes skin side up.Drumsticks:(30-35 minutes total) - 380°F for 20 minutes and flip over and cook another 10-15 minutes.Chicken Breast:(20-25 minutes total) - 380°F for 10 minutes, flip and cook another 10-15 minutes.
• Once your chicken reaches internal temperature of 165 deg, It's ready!

Stovetop Instructions

• Boneless Chicken Thighs - Skin Side down 5 mins, flip and cook 5-6 min skin side upBone In Chicken Thighs - 10 Minutes skin side down, flip and cook 5-8 min skin side upDrumsticks - 8 Minutes larger skin side down, flip and cook 8 mins skin side up
• Once your chicken reaches internal temperature of 165 deg, It's ready!

📖 Recipe Card