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Air Fryer Chicken Lollipop

Crispy frenched chicken drumsticks in a soy-sriracha-vinegar Indo-Chinese marinade, air fried until golden and finished with a sweet-spicy glaze. No deep frying needed.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Marinating Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 12 lollipops
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Indo-Chinese

Ingredients
  

# Frenching (prep only)
  • 12 chicken drumsticks about 3 lbs / 1.4 kg
  • Sharp kitchen shears or a small paring knife
# Soy-Sriracha Marinade
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons sriracha
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or white vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
  • 1 teaspoon red chili powder Kashmiri for color, or regular for heat
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
# Crispy Coating
  • ¼ cup cornflour cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon rice flour extra crunch — optional but recommended
  • Oil spray for the air fryer
# Sweet-Spicy Glaze
  • 3 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds + 2 green onions sliced (for garnish)

Equipment

  • Air fryer

Method
 

  1. Step 1: French the Drumsticks - Hold a drumstick meat-side up. Using kitchen shears or a paring knife, cut through the skin and tendons about 3/4 inch above the knobby joint, all the way around. Now push the meat firmly downward toward the thick end - it should bunch up into a neat ball. Scrape any remaining bits off the exposed bone with the back of your knife and trim the small "heel" off the end so the bone stands straight. Repeat with all 12 drumsticks.
  2. Step 2: Marinate in Soy-Sriracha - In a large bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sriracha, vinegar, ginger garlic paste, chili powder, salt, pepper, and sesame oil. Add the frenched drumsticks and toss until every lollipop is coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours for deeper flavor.
  3. Step 3: Coat for Crunch - In a shallow dish, mix the cornflour, all-purpose flour, and rice flour. Take each marinated lollipop (leave the exposed bone clean) and dredge it in the flour mixture, pressing gently so it adheres. Shake off the excess. Let the coated lollipops rest for 5 minutes so the coating sets.
  4. Step 4: Air Fry at 400F - Preheat your air fryer to 400F (200C) for 3 minutes. Arrange the lollipops bone-side up in a single layer (work in batches if needed - don't crowd them), and spray lightly with oil. Air fry for 18-20 minutes, flipping halfway through and spraying the second side with oil, until deep golden and the internal temperature hits 165F (74C).
  5. Step 5: Glaze and Garnish - While the lollipops rest for 2 minutes, whisk the ketchup, sriracha, honey, and soy sauce in a small bowl. Brush or toss the hot lollipops in the glaze. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and sliced green onions, and serve immediately.
  6. Step 6: Serve Hot - Stand them upright on a platter (bones make perfect little handles) with small bowls of extra sriracha or schezwan sauce for dipping.

Notes

Pat chicken dry before marinating for a crispier coating; rest coated lollipops 5 minutes before air frying; cook to 165F (74C) internal temp; leftovers keep 3 days refrigerated - re-crisp in the air fryer, never microwave.