Chicken · Korean-inspired
Crispy Air Fryer Gochujang Chicken Rice Bowls
Crispy chicken bites are air-fried, then tossed in a sticky gochujang honey glaze and piled over rice with crunchy fresh toppings.
These gochujang chicken rice bowls are built for a weeknight fakeaway: crunchy air-fried chicken, a spicy-sweet Korean-inspired glaze, warm rice and fresh vegetables. The coating crisps first, then the sauce goes on at the end for maximum crunch and shine.
Ingredients
Instructions
Air fryer:200°C / 392°F
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C/400°F for 3 minutes. If your basket is small, plan to cook the chicken in 2 batches so the pieces sit in a single layer.
Pat the chicken dry. In one shallow bowl, mix the cornflour, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Put the beaten egg in a second bowl and the panko in a third.
Coat each chicken piece in the seasoned cornflour, dip in egg, then press into panko. Place on a plate and drizzle or spray lightly with the neutral oil.
Arrange the chicken in the air-fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a little space between pieces. Air fry for 10–13 minutes, turning or shaking halfway, until crisp and cooked through. Check the thickest pieces reach 74°C/165°F internally.
While the chicken cooks, make the glaze. In a small pan over medium-low heat, stir together the gochujang, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger and water. Simmer for 1–2 minutes until glossy and spoonable, then remove from the heat.
Toss the fully cooked crispy chicken with the warm gochujang glaze just before serving. For a tackier finish, return the sauced chicken to the air fryer for 1 minute only after it has reached 74°C/165°F.
Divide the warm rice between bowls. Top with the gochujang chicken, cucumber, cabbage or carrot, spring onions and sesame seeds. Serve with lime wedges if you like.
Tips & tricks
- Chicken thighs stay juicier, but chicken breast works if cut evenly and cooked just to 74°C/165°F.
- Sauce the chicken after air frying so the coating stays crisp instead of turning soggy in the basket.
- Gochujang brands vary in heat and saltiness; start with 60 g for a milder glaze and add more to taste.
- For meal prep, store rice, toppings and cooked chicken separately, then re-crisp the chicken for 3–4 minutes before glazing.
Air fryer cooking guides
Exact times & temperatures for the ingredients in this recipe.
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