Imagine sinking your teeth into perfectly golden, juicy chicken pieces coated in a glossy, sweet-savory teriyaki glaze - all achieved in just 30 minutes with zero hassle! This air fryer teriyaki chicken recipe is about to revolutionize your weeknight dinner game, transforming ordinary chicken into a restaurant-quality dish that's crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and bursting with authentic Asian-inspired flavors.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 30 mins
Cuisine: Asian
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
- 1/4 cup teriyaki sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken by patting the boneless, skinless chicken thighs dry with paper towels to ensure even cooking and better sauce adhesion.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, honey, garlic powder, and grated ginger to create a uniform marinade.
- Cut chicken thighs into uniform 1-inch pieces to ensure consistent cooking and maximize sauce coverage.
- Pour marinade over chicken pieces and thoroughly coat, allowing chicken to marinate for 10-15 minutes at room temperature for flavor absorption.
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for approximately 3-4 minutes to ensure proper cooking temperature.
- Lightly spray or brush air fryer basket with cooking oil to prevent chicken from sticking.
- Arrange marinated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded to allow proper air circulation.
- Cook chicken for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket or turning pieces halfway through to ensure even browning and cooking.
- Check internal temperature of chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) using a meat thermometer for food safety.
- Remove chicken from air fryer and let rest for 2-3 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
- Optional: Garnish with sesame seeds or chopped green onions before serving.
- Serve hot with steamed rice or your preferred side dish.
Tips
- Pat chicken dry before marinating to help the sauce adhere better and achieve maximum crispiness.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket - space between chicken pieces ensures even cooking and perfect browning.
- Use a meat thermometer to guarantee chicken reaches the safe internal temperature of 165°F.
- For extra flavor, let chicken marinate longer (up to 2 hours in the refrigerator) before cooking.
- Shake or flip chicken midway through cooking to ensure uniform crispness on all sides.
- Let chicken rest for a few minutes after cooking to redistribute juices and maintain maximum tenderness.
- Experiment with garnishes like toasted sesame seeds, chopped green onions, or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for added texture and flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 250kcal
Carbohydrates: 8g
Protein: 25g
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Cholesterol: 120mg
