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    Home » Recipes » Dinner Recipes » Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs (Boneless and Bone-in)

    Published: Apr 26, 2023 by Cara Lanz · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs (Boneless and Bone-in)

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    air fryer basket with cooked teriyaki chicken thighs and air fryer teriyaki chicken thigh on a white plate with white rice and broccoli
    air fryer teriyaki chicken thighs on a white platter
    air fryer teriyaki chicken thigh on a white plate with white rice and broccoli
    air fryer teriyaki chicken thigh on a white plate with white rice and broccoli

    Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs with homemade teriyaki marinade and sauce are tender and juicy and cook to perfection in under 30 minutes. Delicious and easy dinner recipe the whole family will love. 

    air fryer teriyaki chicken thigh on a white plate with white rice and broccoli
    Jump to:
    • Why You're Going to Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
    • Storage & Reheating
    • Success Tips
    • FAQs
    • Stuff I Use
    • More Delicious Chicken Recipes
    • Let's Stay in Touch
    • Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs (Boneless or Bone-In)

    This air fryer chicken teriyaki recipe with easy homemade teriyaki sauce is a delicious dinner that comes together quickly with simple ingredients. 

    The flavorful teriyaki sauce is easy to make and does double duty as a marinade and basting sauce. 

    Boneless skinless chicken thighs or skin-on bone-in chicken thighs are both are great choices for this delicious teriyaki chicken recipe because they're way more flavorful than chicken breasts -- and hard to overcook.  

    Serve over rice or mashed potatoes with a side steamed broccoli or roasted green beans and a fresh spinach salad. 

    Why You're Going to Love This Recipe

    Easy weeknight dinner with minimal prep that cooks in under 30 minutes

    Juicy, flavorful chicken thighs with a simple homemade teriyaki sauce

    Air fryer teriyaki chicken is a versatile dish that's delicious on rice, mashed potatoes, or a fresh salad

    Ingredients

    Please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full list of ingredients. 

    air fryer teriyaki chicken ingredients

    Chicken thighs. You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs or bone-in chicken thighs. 

    Soy sauce. I use reduced-sodium soy sauce, which is still plenty salty, so there's no need for additional salt. 

    Rice vinegar. Rice vinegar, aka rice wine vinegar, is a light, mild flavored vinegar. Apple cider vinegar will also work in this recipe. 

    Ground ginger. If you have fresh ginger, 1-2 tablespoons of that instead. It will be even more delicious!

    Cornstarch. Cornstarch is used to thicken the unused portion of the marinade into delicious teriyaki sauce. 

    How to Make Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs

    1. Marinate the chicken. 

    Combine the teriyaki marinade ingredients in a small bowl. Stir until the sugar and honey have completely dissolved. 

    teriyaki marinade and a clear whisk in a clear bowl

    Place the chicken and ½ cup marinade into a ziptop bag or a large bowl covered with plastic wrap. Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for at least 15-30 minutes, up to overnight. 

    2. Make the homemade teriyaki sauce. 

    Place the unused marinade in a small saucepan over medium to medium-high heat. Make a cornstarch slurry with 1 teaspoon each cornstarch and water. 

    When the marinade comes to a boil, add the cornstarch slurry, and reduce to a simmer. Stir and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until the sauce thickens and reduces by about ⅓. 

    While the sauce is simmering, you can start prepping the air fryer and cooking the chicken.

    teriyaki sauce in a saucepan with a wooden spoon

    Place ¼ cup of the teriyaki sauce in a bowl for basting the chicken while it cooks. 

    Set aside the remaining sauce in a separate bowl for serving with the cooked chicken. 

    4. Prep the air fryer.

    ​Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees. 

    Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup. You can also spray the basket with pure olive oil or avocado oil cooking spray. 

    5. Air fry the chicken. 

    Remove the chicken thighs from the marinade and discard the used marinade. 

    For boneless skinless chicken thighs: 

    • Arrange the chicken thighs top side down in a single layer in the air fryer basket. 
    • Air fry for 9 minutes. 
    • Brush with sauce, flip the chicken, and air fry for 5 more minutes. 
    • Brush with sauce and air fry for 4 - 6 more minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken is at least 165 degrees F, up to 175-195 
    half cooked teriyaki chicken thighs in an air fryer basket
    cooked teriyaki chicken thighs in an air fryer basket

    For bone-in skin-on chicken thighs: 

    • Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket skin side down. 
    • Air fry for 10 minutes. 
    • Brush with sauce and air fry for 5 more minutes. 
    • Flip the chicken, brush with sauce and cook for 5 more minutes. 
    • Turn the heat up to 400 degrees and air fry for 2-4 more minutes or until the skin is crispy and they reach an internal temperature of at least 165, up to 175-195
    teriyaki chicken thighs in air fryer basket with tongs flipping one over

    Discard any leftover basting sauce since it has been in contact with raw chicken. 

    Total cook times will vary for larger or smaller chicken pieces. 

    6. Let the chicken rest, serve, and enjoy! 

    Rest the chicken for about 5 minutes.

    If desired, brush on some of the reserved teriyaki sauce, or serve it on the side. Sprinkle with sliced green onions and white sesame seeds. 

    air fryer teriyaki chicken thighs on a white platter

     Serve on a bed of white rice, brown rice, or mashed potatoes, a side of steamed broccoli or roasted green beans, and a spinach salad. 

    air fryer teriyaki chicken thigh on a white plate with white rice and broccoli

    Storage & Reheating

    Store leftover teriyaki chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. 

    Reheat in the air fryer at 350 degrees until warmed through to 165 degrees, about 7 minutes for boneless chicken and 9 minutes for bone-in chicken.

    Success Tips

    Cooking time will vary by the size of the chicken pieces. Brush the sauce on during the last 5 minutes of cooking time so the sauce doesn't burn. 

    Cook chicken to an internal temperature of at least 165 to ensure it's fully cooked in the center. Then take it up to 175-195 for the juiciest, most flavorful chicken thighs. 

    Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes to allow the meat to fully absorb the flavors. 

    FAQs

    How long should I cook teriyaki chicken thighs in an air fryer at 380 degrees?

    Air fry boneless skinless chicken thighs for 18-20 minutes and bone-in chicken thighs for 22-24 minutes.

    How do I prevent chicken thighs from sticking to the air fryer basket? 

    Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or aluminum foil or spray it with olive oil or avocado oil. 

    How long should I marinate the chicken thighs in teriyaki sauce?

    Marinate the chicken for at least 15- 30 minutes, up to 24 hours, to allow the flavors to absorb into the meat. Marinating the chicken for over 24 hours can cause the chicken to become mushy.  

    air fryer teriyaki chicken thigh on a white plate with white rice and broccoli

    Stuff I Use

    My 6-quart Instant Vortex Plus air fryer has a nice roomy basket and a window in the front so I can see what's going on inside. 

    ​This instant read digital meat thermometer is also magnetized -- I keep ours stuck to the side of the fridge for easy access. 

    More Delicious Chicken Recipes

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    Let's Stay in Touch

    Follow Midwestern HomeLife on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and subscribe via email to receive all of the latest recipes!

    air fryer teriyaki chicken thigh on a white plate with white rice and broccoli

    Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs (Boneless or Bone-In)

    Cara Lanz
    Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs are juicy chicken thighs in a sweet, savory homemade teriyaki marinade and glaze that cook to perfection in under 30 minutes. Easy weeknight dinner recipe.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 238 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 to 2 ½ pounds chicken thighs boneless skinless or bone-in skin on

    Teriyaki Marinade and Sauce

    • ½ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
    • ¼ cup brown sugar
    • ¼ cup honey
    • ¼ cup water
    • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
    • 1 clove minced garlic
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • cornstarch slurry 1 teaspoon cornstarch + 1 teaspoon water

    Instructions
     

    Make the Teriyaki Marinade

    • Combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, water, rice vinegar, garlic, and ginger in a small bowl. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved.
    • Place the chicken thighs and ½ cup of the marinade in a covered bowl or ziptop bag in the refrigerator for at least 15-30 minutes, up to overnight.
      If making ahead, refrigerate the rest of the marinade in a covered container.

    Make the Teriyaki Sauce

    • Place the unused marinade in a small saucepan over medium to medium high heat. Stir together 1 teaspoon each cornstarch and water in a small bowl.
      When the teriyaki mixture comes to a boil, add the cornstarch mixture, stir, and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer and stir for 10-12 minutes or until the sauce has thickened and reduced by about ⅓.
      While the sauce simmers, tart prepping the air fryer and cooking the chicken.
    • Place ¼ cup of sauce in a bowl for basting the chicken as it cooks.  
      Place the rest of the sauce in a separate bowl to serve with the cooked chicken.

    Teriyaki Chicken Thighs

    • Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees. Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
    • For boneless skinless chicken thighs:
      Remove the chicken thighs from the marinade and discard the used marinade. Arrange the chicken thighs top side down in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
      Air fry for 9 minutes.
      Brush with sauce, flip the chicken, and air fry for 5 more minutes.
      Brush with sauce and air fry for 4 -6 more minutes.
    • For bone-in skin-on chicken thighs:
      Remove the chicken thighs from the marinade and discard the used marinade.
      Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket skin side down.
      Air fry for 10 minutes.
      Brush with sauce and cook for 5 more minutes.
      Flip the chicken, brush with sauce and cook for 5 more minutes.
      Turn the heat up to 400 degrees and air fry for 2-4 more minutes to crisp up the skin.
    • Discard any unused basting sauce. Cook chicken thighs to an internal temperature of at least 165 up to 195.
    • If desired, brush cooked chicken with additional sauce, or serve on the side.

    Notes

    Cooking time will vary by the size of the chicken pieces. Brush the sauce on during the last 5 minutes of cooking time so the sauce doesn't burn. 
    Cook chicken to an internal temperature of at least 165 to ensure it's fully cooked. Then take it up to 175-195 for the juiciest, most flavorful chicken thighs. 
    Do not marinate the chicken for longer than 24 hours or it can make the meat mushy.
    Divide the sauce into two portions: ¼ cup for basting the chicken as it cooks and the remainder for serving with the cooked chicken. Discard any unused basting sauce.  

    Nutrition

    Calories: 238kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 29gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 135mgSodium: 703mgPotassium: 421mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 34IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg
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    Hi, I'm Cara!

    I love dreaming up easier, and sometimes healthier twists on dishes from the heartland.

    This is where I share my recipes, tips, and inspiration for a happy home.

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