Description
Enjoy a flavorful Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Teriyaki that’s perfect for an easy dinner or weeknight dinner. These teriyaki chicken thighs come with a homemade air fryer teriyaki glaze that the whole family will appreciate.
Ingredients
Scale
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce (Note 1)
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar or honey (Note 2)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil optional for depth of flavor
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- ½ teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 green onions thinly sliced
Instructions
- Combine soy sauce, brown sugar or honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil if using, garlic, and ginger in a small saucepan, then heat it gently while stirring.
- Mix cornstarch with water in a small bowl and gradually add to the sauce, stirring constantly until it thickens slightly.
- Remove the sauce from heat and cool it, then set aside ¼ cup for basting later.
- In a large bowl, blend sesame oil, garlic powder, ground ginger, and black pepper, add chicken thighs plus the extra sauce, and toss to coat; cover and chill for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 F (190 C) for about 3–5 minutes.
- Place chicken thighs in a single air fryer basket layer, cook 10 minutes, flip and brush with reserved sauce, then cook another 8–10 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165 F (74 C).
- Optional: Boost temperature to 400 F (200 C) for the last 2 minutes to create caramelized edges.
- Brush more reserved sauce on cooked chicken, sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions.
- Serve over steamed rice with vegetables or salad.
Notes
- Low-sodium soy sauce keeps the flavor balanced without making it too salty
- Substituting honey gives a lighter sweetness
- Always discard marinade after raw chicken contact for safety
- Preheating ensures even cooking and better browning
- A quick temperature increase at the end caramelizes edges without drying out the meat
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh
- Calories: 237kcal
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 679mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g + 4g
- Trans Fat: 0.02g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 107mg