Air Fryer Chicken Katsu with Wasabi Yogurt Sauce
Yunon is a food content creator based in Japan, sharing easy, high-protein, healthy-ish, and approachable recipes with a global audience. They believe good food should bring people together, so they create recipes that are simple, satisfying, and accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.
- Dinner
Crispy air fryer chicken katsu with a creamy Greek yogurt wasabi sauce — 65g of protein with a fraction of the oil of the deep-fried classic.
This Air-Fryer Chicken Katsu with Japanese-Inspired Wasabi Yogurt Sauce is a high-protein twist on a Japanese comfort food favorite. Made with lean chicken breast and cooked in the air fryer, it delivers a crispy, golden coating with significantly less oil than the traditional version. The creamy sauce combines Greek yogurt, Kewpie mayonnaise, and wasabi for a protein boost and a fresh Japanese-inspired flavor that goes well with the crunchy chicken. With simple, easy-to-find ingredients and minimal prep, this recipe is an approachable, healthy weeknight dinner that doesn’t sacrifice on flavor or texture.
Why This Works
This recipe is high in protein, uses simple ingredients, and delivers all the crispy texture of classic chicken katsu with less oil. The Greek yogurt wasabi sauce also adds extra protein and a fresh Japanese-inspired flavor.
Nutrition (per serving)
| Calories | 750 |
|---|---|
| Protein | 65g |
| Carbs | 60g |
| Fat | 30g |
Ingredients
For the Chicken Katsu
| Chicken breast | 6-8 oz |
|---|---|
| Salt and black pepper | To taste |
| Egg | 1 |
| All-purpose flour | 4 tbsp |
| Water | 4 tbsp |
| Panko bread crumbs | As needed |
| Neutral oil (canola or vegetable) | For spraying |
For the Wasabi Yogurt Sauce
| Greek yogurt | 2 tbsp |
|---|---|
| Kewpie mayonnaise (or any mayo) | 1 tbsp |
| Wasabi | ½ tbsp |
| Lemon juice | ½ tbsp |
| Black pepper | To taste |
For serving: you can serve with any vegetables you like, such as cabbage, tomato, lettuce, edamame, carrots, etc.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1 Prep the chicken
Slice the chicken breast in half horizontally to create two thinner cutlets. Season both sides with salt and black pepper.
2 Make the batter
Make the batter by whisking together the flour, egg, and water in a bowl until smooth. Place the breadcrumbs in a separate shallow bowl.
3 Bread the cutlets
Dip each chicken cutlet into the batter, allowing any excess to drip off, then coat evenly with the breadcrumbs.
4 Load the air fryer
Transfer the coated chicken to the air fryer basket and lightly spray both sides with oil.
5 Air fry
Air fry at 200°C (390°F) for 7 minutes.
6 Flip and finish
Flip the chicken, spray with a little more oil if needed, and cook for another 5–7 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
7 Make the sauce
Meanwhile, prepare the wasabi yogurt sauce by mixing together the yogurt, mayonnaise, wasabi, black pepper, and lemon juice until well combined.
8 Slice
Slice the chicken katsu into bite-sized pieces.
9 Serve
Serve with steamed rice, shredded cabbage, sliced tomatoes and the wasabi yogurt sauce. Enjoy!
Notes & Tips
- No flour or egg? No problem! You can replace the batter with 1 tbsp of mayonnaise. It’s a great shortcut and works surprisingly well.
- Meal prep friendly: Store the cooked chicken katsu in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To make it crispy again, reheat it in the air fryer at 180–200°C (355–390°F) for 4–6 minutes.
- Not a fan of wasabi? Simply leave it out and use mustard instead for a milder flavor.
- Make it your own: Feel free to customize the sauce by adding your favorite herbs, spices, or seasonings to suit your taste.
Yunon is a food content creator based in Japan, sharing easy, high-protein, healthy-ish, and approachable recipes with a global audience. They believe good food should bring people together, so they create recipes that are simple, satisfying, and accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.
