Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs

30-minute air fryer teriyaki chicken tenderized in a flavorful marinade and paired with easy homemade teriyaki sauce. Serve with rice for a complete family meal.

This air fryer teriyaki chicken recipe is one of the guilty pleasures of our family: it is juicy, delicious, takes no time to make, and tastes like takeout from your favorite restaurant.

I love easy recipes but ones that taste good, so I’m always trying to tweak things. If you don’t have any teriyaki sauce on hand, don’t worry, this easy air fryer recipe makes homemade teriyaki sauce and marinade to help you cook some chicken thighs (breasts, or tenders) to perfection.

Plus, having an excuse to use my air fryer…I’m up for it! If you’re also an air fryer fan, you should definitely grab some of these ingredients to try this yummy chicken.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It is one of those 30-minute dinner recipes that you can use any weeknight.
• Juicy chicken, perfectly cooked and balanced with umami, sweet, and savory flavors, and it is crispy on the outside!
• Healthy as an air fry recipe always uses less oil. To make sure it is gluten-free too, check what soy sauce you’re buying, some will have gluten!
• You get tender chicken in under 30 minutes thanks to an easy marinade and flavorful teriyaki sauce.
• Amazing leftovers the next day, still just as tender and delicious.

Ingredients Notes

• Boneless and skinless chicken thighs. I prefer thighs over chicken breasts as thighs are much softer by default and it is easier to overcook the breast as thighs have more fat around them. You can also use chicken tenders though! If you can, get your hands on free-range, organic chicken meat.
• Sesame seeds and chopped green onions for garnish (optional)
• Teriyaki Marinade: Regular soy sauce or low-sodium soy sauce, Honey, Rice vinegar (aka rice wine vinegar, same thing), Sesame oil, Minced garlic, Minced ginger. Best to use fresh ginger and mince it yourself, it will give the best flavor and a nice warmth.
• Cornstarch slurry: cornstarch + water. Flour and arrowroot powder are the closest cornstarch substitutes.

Kitchen Equipment

• Your trusted air fryer, optionally greased with a little bit of cooking spray.
• Mixing bowls.

How To Make Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken

1: Marinate The Chicken Thighs

1. Whisk the soy sauce, honey or maple syrup, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger in a mixing bowl. 
2. Add the chicken to the mixture and let it marinate for 10 minutes.

2: Air Fry The Chicken

1. Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C). 
2. Transfer the chicken pieces to the air fryer basket or tray. (save the marinade) Make sure it is in a single layer with enough space for airflow in between. You might have to work in batches depending on the size of your fryer.
3. Cook in the air fryer for 18-20 minutes until golden brown, flipping the chicken halfway through to ensure even cooking. When flipping, you can add some sauce if the chicken looks uncoated on the other side.

3: Make Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

1. Transfer the remaining marinade to a small saucepan and cook it over medium/ medium-high heat. Bring it to a boil for at least 5 minutes. Whisk while cooking. If the sauce becomes too thick, reduce the heat and whisk in a splash of water.
2. When the chicken is done, transfer it to a large bowl. Pour the sauce over the top and toss to coat.
3. Season with sesame seeds and green onions when serving, if desired.
4. You can serve teriyaki chicken with steamed rice (white or brown rice), veggies like steamed broccoli or Brussels sprouts, or fresh salad. You need something simple that won’t overpower the rich flavors of the teriyaki chicken.

Storage

Cool completely and store any leftover air fryer teriyaki chicken in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge or for 3 months in the freezer.

To reheat, thaw in the fridge overnight and warm up in a microwave for 60-90 seconds, air fryer for 2-4 minutes, oven, or stovetop.

A perfect dish for meal prep.

Substitutions & Variations

• You can of course skip the hassle of cooking the remaining teriyaki sauce and just use a store-bought teriyaki sauce.
• You can leave the skin on. This has not been tested with boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken tenderloins.
• Other proteins: tofu for vegetarians, or salmon work really well with teriyaki sauce.
• Instead of honey, you can use brown sugar, maple syrup, or coconut sugar when making the teriyaki glaze.
• Make easy air fryer chicken wings for an appetizer or chicken tenders for kids’ lunch.
• Orange juice and mirin are two more add-ons for a nice marinade and sauce. Tamari is an alternative to making teriyaki chicken gluten-free. If the dinner is for adults only, you can also add a splash of sake to the sauce. Keeping it Japanese-style.
• Breaded teriyaki chicken tenders. Follow the same recipe but coat chicken pieces in the mix of beaten egg and then panko breadcrumbs. Air fry for 15-18 minutes, flipping halfway through.
• No marinade recipe. If you don’t want/like marinades, simply rub the chicken with some salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (or paprika) from both sides and air fry directly, it will take a little longer than marinated meat to cook through.

Popular Questions

Can You Put Teriyaki In An Air Fryer?

Absolutely, teriyaki sauce adds lots of sweet and tangy flavors to air-fried chicken (thighs, tenders, wings, or breasts) and is a pantry staple. It is safe to use in an air fryer or as a sauce over cooked chicken.

Can I Put Raw Chicken In An Air Fryer?

Yes, you can cook completely raw chicken in the air fryer. Boneless and skinless chicken meat will be easier and faster to cook. Chicken cooked in an air fryer is healthy, juicy, and tender. Cook raw chicken until its internal temperature is at 165 F.

Does Teriyaki Sauce Go On Before Or After Cooking?

Teriyaki marinade goes on meat before cooking and the teriyaki sauce can be added before or after cooking, both ways are fine.

Why Is My Chicken Rubbery In Air Fryer?

Overcooked chicken becomes rubbery. It is easier to overcook chicken breasts so go with chicken thighs or tenders. It can also happen it you set up too high a temperature for cooking. Marinating the chicken and monitoring the cooking time will keep your chicken from drying out and getting a rubbery texture.

Can You Marinate Chicken Too Long In Teriyaki Sauce?

Yes, you should marinate chicken in teriyaki sauce from 10 minutes to 12 hours maximum otherwise it will become mushy. Beyond 12 hours the acidity of the teriyaki sauce starts to break down the meat tissue. 30 minutes is actually enough!

How Long Should You Cook Chicken In The Air Fryer?

Cook chicken in an air fryer for 9-10 minutes on one side, then flip and cook for another 9-10 minutes on another side. You can marinate the chicken beforehand for at least 10-15 minutes to get really tender and juicy meat.

If you love this easy dinner recipe, you’re going to love these other air fryer dinners too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

More Great Air Fryer Chicken Recipes

Air Fryer Chicken Legs

Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas

Sesame Chicken Recipe – Air Fryer

Chili Lime Chicken – Air Fryer

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