Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs are so simple to make and taste amazing. Simply coat chicken in a homemade teriyaki sauce, then cook to perfection in the air fryer. The result is tender chicken covered in a sticky, sweet sauce. This is a perfect weeknight dinner recipe that the whole family will love.
I love making new recipes in my air fryer, and this air fryer chicken teriyaki is one of my new favorites.
I love the combination of sweet and savory flavors, and the chicken always comes out flavorful and moist.
This easy recipe is based on my popular Teriyaki Salmon, and pairs perfectly with Air Fryer Broccoli and Cauliflower and Pressure Cooker Rice.
The next time you are craving some Asian food, skip the takeout and try this delicious dinner recipe. Even picky eaters will love it!
Check out my roundup of the Best Boneless Skinless Chicken Thigh Recipes for more great recipes!
👩🏻🍳 More easy dinner recipes
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🥢What is chicken teriyaki?
Chicken teriyaki is a delicious Japanese dish that traditionally involves grilling or broiling chicken that has been marinated in teriyaki sauce.
I found that air frying chicken teriyaki is a quick and easy way to enjoy this flavorful dish.
❤️ Why you will love this recipe
- The air fryer creates a crispy yet sticky outer layer on the chicken without making it dry or overcooked.
- This recipe is easy to make and only uses simple ingredients.
- This easy air fryer recipe makes a great weeknight dinner that the whole family will love.
- This dish is healthier than takeout teriyaki chicken as there is no deep frying in oil.
- Make this delicious dish ahead of time and reheat it for a quick and easy meal.
- The chicken is cooked evenly throughout, so you don't have to worry about any raw or undercooked spots.
- This easy air fryer chicken recipe is perfect for a weeknight meal, as it can be on the table in less than 30 minutes.
- Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days, making this dish perfect for meal prep.
- Air fryer chicken teriyaki is a crowd pleaser and will satisfy everyone at the table, from kids to adults!
🐓 Ingredients
This easy air fryer teriyaki chicken recipe only requires a few basic ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry and fridge. If not, they are easy to find at your local grocery store.
- Chicken thighs. I used boneless skinless chicken thighs. The dark meat gives this easy chicken dish maximum flavor.
- Soy sauce. I used regular soy sauce, but you could also use low-sodium soy sauce.
- Fresh ginger, diced fine.
- Fresh garlic, diced fine.
- Onion powder.
- Rice wine vinegar.
- Brown sugar.
- Water.
- Cornstarch.
- Sesame seeds for garnish, optional.
- Chopped green onion for garnish, optional.
See the recipe card for quantities.
⏲️ Instructions
The first step is to marinate the chicken in a sweet and tangy homemade teriyaki sauce. Mix together soy sauce, ginger, garlic, rice wine vinegar, onion powder, and brown sugar until it's well combined. Reserve ⅓ cup of mixture for now so you can use it to brush on top after cooking is complete.
Place raw chicken thighs in a large Ziploc bag. Pour the remaining teriyaki sauce into the bag.
Seal the bag and shake the bag a bit to move the sauce around all of the chicken pieces. Allow the chicken to marinate for 15-30 minutes.
You can also use a large mixing bowl instead of a Ziploc bag. Shake it occasionally to distribute the sauce throughout.
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. Using tongs, place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Set the timer for 7 minutes.
While the chicken is cooking in the air fryer, add the reserved ⅓ cup of marinade to a small saucepan and heat on medium heat.
Mix water with cornstarch until smooth, then whisk into the hot mixture. Continue heating until it becomes thickened. Remove from heat immediately once done. Place the lid back onto the pan to keep it hot until you are ready to use it.
When the timer goes off, brush 1 tablespoon of sauce onto each chicken piece. Flip the chicken over, and brush another tablespoon of sauce onto each chicken piece.
NOTE: Divide the heated sauce in half before applying it to the chicken halfway through the cooking time. Discard any sauce that doesn't get used; this will avoid contamination from raw ingredients!
Return the basket to the air fryer, and cook for approximately 6 more minutes, until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees F on a digital meat thermometer.
Use tongs to remove the chicken from the air fryer. Serve with a spoonful of hot teriyaki glaze on top.
Serve with your favorite side dishes. I like to serve it on a bed of rice with broccoli and cauliflower.
Garnish with white sesame seeds and chopped green onion if desired.
Enjoy!
🥣 Substitutions
- Chicken - This recipe will also work with bone-in chicken thighs, chicken legs, and chicken breasts.
- Soy sauce - You can also use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.
- Ginger - Use ¼ teaspoon of ginger powder instead of fresh ginger.
- Garlic - Use ¾ teaspoon of garlic powder instead of fresh garlic cloves
- Rice wine vinegar - You can also use white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or lemon or lime juice.
- Brown sugar - You can also use an equal amount of cane sugar, coconut sugar, or raw sugar. You could also use honey instead to make a honey teriyaki chicken air fryer recipe.
- Teriyaki sauce - I used my own teriyaki sauce, but you can also buy a bottle of teriyaki marinade at the grocery store.
📋 Variations
- Spicy - Add a pinch of black pepper, red pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper for spicy teriyaki chicken.
- Honey - Use honey instead of brown sugar for honey garlic chicken.
- Keto - Use your favorite keto-friendly sweetener to make this a keto teriyaki chicken.
- Bowls - Make air fryer chicken teriyaki bowls by adding your favorite steamed veggies, rice or quinoa, and delicious teriyaki chicken for a hearty meal.
Try my flavorful Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs as well!
🍽 Equipment
To make this air fryer teriyaki chicken, you will need an air fryer. I used an Instant Pot Vortex 6 quart air fryer.
You will also need a large Ziploc bag or a large bowl for marinating the chicken.
🌡️ Storage
Cooked chicken teriyaki will keep for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
To reheat, place it in an oven-safe baking dish with 2 tablespoon of water, cover with foil, and reheat at 300 degrees for about 15 minutes or so. Cooking it at a lower heat will help to prevent it from drying out. Also, you can use the reheat setting on your air fryer if it has it. It will only take about 5 minutes to be heated through.
You can also freeze cooked teriyaki chicken in an airtight container or Ziploc bag for up to 2 months.
💭 Top Tips
- Preheat the air fryer before placing the chicken in it.
- Leave a bit of space between the chicken pieces so hot air can pass around them for even cooking.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket.
- Double the sauce ingredients if you would like extra teriyaki sauce. It tastes amazing drizzled on rice!
- Divide the heated sauce in half before applying it to the chicken halfway through the cooking time. Discard any sauce that doesn't get used; this will avoid contamination from raw ingredients.
❓FAQs
Chicken teriyaki is a Japanese dish made of chicken and a sweet teriyaki sauce.
Teriyaki is a Japanese sauce that is typically made with soy sauce, sugar, and ginger. It has a sweet and savory flavor and a slightly thick consistency.
As teriyaki sauce is high in sodium and sugar, it should be eaten in moderation.
I find the best way to thicken teriyaki sauce is to make a slurry of cornstarch and water.
The amount of time you should marinate your chicken for teriyaki chicken depends on your personal preference. I recommend a minimum of 30 minutes for the best flavor. Keep in mind the longer it sits in the marinade, the more flavorful it will be.
🥗 Side dishes
These chicken thighs are so delicious covered with a sticky, sweet and savory teriyaki sauce. You will love this recipe!
If you try it out and like it, I would appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave a star rating and/or comment in the comments section below. 🙂
Don't forget to share it with your friends on social media!
You can also Follow Me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Don't forget to tag me in your photos @windingcreek_ranch!
📋 Recipe
Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
Equipment
- Plastic bag or large bowl
- Small saucepan
Ingredients
- 5 chicken thighs boneless, skinless
- ½ cup soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon ginger chopped fine
- 1 tablespoon garlic chopped fine
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- sesame seeds for garnish optional
- diced green onion for garnish optional
Instructions
- Mix together soy sauce, ginger, garlic, rice wine vinegar, onion powder, and brown sugar in a small bowl. Reserve ⅓ cup of the sauce to brush on top of the chicken after cooking is complete.
- Place raw chicken thighs in a large Ziploc bag or large bowl with a lid. Pour the remaining teriyaki sauce into the bag. Seal the bag and shake the bag a bit to move the sauce around all of the chicken pieces. Allow the chicken to marinate for 15-30 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. Using tongs, place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Discard the marinade. Set the timer for 7 minutes.
- While the chicken is cooking, add the reserved ⅓ cup of marinade to a small saucepan and heat on medium heat. Mix water with cornstarch until smooth, then whisk into the hot mixture. Continue heating until it becomes thickened. Remove from heat immediately once done.
- When the timer goes off, brush 1 tablespoon of sauce onto each chicken piece. Flip the chicken over, and brush another tablespoon of sauce onto each chicken piece. Divide the heated sauce in half before applying it to the chicken halfway through the cooking time. Discard any sauce that doesn't get used; this will avoid contamination from raw ingredients.
- Return the basket to the air fryer, and cook the chicken for approximately 6 more minutes, until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees F on a digital meat thermometer.
- Use tongs to remove the chicken from the air fryer. Serve with a spoonful of hot teriyaki glaze on top.
- Garnish with white sesame seeds and chopped green onion if desired. Serve with your favorite side dishes.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Preheat the air fryer before placing the chicken in it.
- Leave a bit of space between the chicken pieces so hot air can pass around them for even cooking.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket.
- Double the sauce ingredients if you would like extra teriyaki sauce. It tastes amazing drizzled on rice!
- Divide the heated sauce in half before applying it to the chicken halfway through the cooking time. Discard any sauce that doesn't get used; this will avoid contamination from raw ingredients.
Nutrition
📑 Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
Kimberly
I cannot believe how good this is! Hubby shocked it wasn't from a restaurant, it's just that good. We are definitely making this again....thanks!
Jeri Walker
Thank you for taking the time to try out the recipe, Kimberly, and for coming back to leave a comment! Your kind words mean so much to me; I'm glad you and your husband enjoyed it! 🙂
MJ
Just made this today. Thank you for the wonderful recipe! It is just awesome,. Great flavor and tender chicken. I served it over wild rice.
Jeri
Thank you for trying this recipe MJ, and for leaving such a glowing review! I'm so happy you enjoyed it! 🙂 The combination of flavors in this dish is really fantastic, and I'm so glad you thought so too! Thanks again for giving it a try!