Chicken Katsu Curry Air Fryer Recipe

Love Japanese flavours? Try our super easy Udon Noodle Soup. This post contains affiliate links. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. I can’t even begin to describe how popular Chicken Katsu at our house. Whenever we order in chances are 3 out of 4 of us will have it as their first choice. I am no stranger to adapting our takeout favourites to home cooking. This Butter Chicken is one of my successful creations. But the crispy, deep-fried exterior of the Chicken Katsu had me intimidated. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to replicate it at home and let’s face it I hate deep frying. That was my line of thinking until I realised that I could easily fake that in my This is an affiliate link.Air Fryer! After a few tests I was in the possession of the recipe I was extremely proud of. You honestly cannot tell this chicken is half the calories because of the air fryer cooking method. It tastes like the real deal fried and breaded chicken but it’s so much healthier. Just look at this beauty! My Chicken Tenders with Honey Mustard Sauce is another example where the air fryer delivers stellar results while keeping things low cal.

What is Chicken Katsu?

Katsu in Japanese means “cutlet”, which immediately gives you an idea of what we are dealing with. Chicken breasts are cut into thin cutlets, then coated in well-seasoned, crispy Panko breadcrumbs and deep-fried. It is often served with a mild and fragrant curry sauce and rice. If you are confused about the curry sauce and how it relates to the Japanese cuisine, you are not alone. Curries were brought into Japan via Britain via India. Crazy journey if you ask me but the result gave birth to some incredible food pairing. And Chicken Katsu Curry is definitely one of them.

Katsu Curry Sauce

First of all, please don’t be intimidated by the curry. It is the simplest recipe I’ve ever shared and doesn’t require many ingredients. You will need onion, garlic and ginger sautéed in oil as the savoury base. To thicken the curry we add flour and make a quick roux. Then simply add any mild curry powder and turmeric to create the flavours we need. I’ve used a combination of chicken stock and creamy coconut milk for my liquid. You can skip the chicken stock altogether and increase the amount of coconut milk if you want a creamier, sweeter curry. It wouldn’t be a Japanese curry without a touch of soy sauce. The sauce will take you less than 10 minute to prepare. I’ve processed my curry in a blender for a silky smooth texture we’ve come to expect from our restaurant Katsu Curry but it is not at all necessary.

Serving Suggestions

I always serve chicken Katsu curry with plain rice and a simple salad. Adding a sprinkling of black or white sesame seeds on top is definitely optional but highly recommended. Such a nice crunch and flavour.

Storage and leftovers

It would be a shame to lose the lovely crispy outside of the chicken katsu. Fortunately, your air fryer is ready to revive it. Air fry for no longer than 5 minutes and enjoy all over again. Leftovers will keep for 3-4 days if refrigerated, or as long as 6 months in a freezer.