Air Fryer Soy Garlic Chicken Thighs

These Air Fryer Soy Garlic Chicken Thighs are juicy, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make! The chicken is marinated in a sweet and savory soy garlic ginger sauce, then cooked in the air fryer until tender and delicious.

Serve it with white rice and veggies for a simple weeknight dinner that tastes like way more effort than it actually is.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This air fryer chicken thigh recipe is:

• Quick and easy
• Made with simple pantry ingredients
• Sweet, savory, garlicky, and full of flavor
• Great with rice, noodles, or vegetables
• Perfect for busy weeknights

I originally called this recipe air fryer teriyaki chicken, but after looking at the ingredients more closely, it's really more of a soy garlic chicken than a classic teriyaki chicken. It still has that sweet-savory flavor people love, but the garlic and ginger really shine here.

Soy Garlic Chicken vs. Teriyaki Chicken

Teriyaki, or 照り焼き, traditionally refers to a Japanese cooking method where food is grilled or broiled with a glossy sauce usually made with soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar.

This recipe has a similar sweet-savory flavor, but it uses soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, and rice wine or rice wine vinegar. Because of that, I think Air Fryer Soy Garlic Chicken Thighs is a more accurate name.

It's still delicious, still easy, and still perfect with rice - just a little more honest to what the recipe actually is!

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make air fryer soy garlic chicken thighs:

• Boneless skinless chicken thighs - I love using dark meat because it stays juicy and tender in the air fryer.
• Soy sauce - Adds salty, savory umami flavor.
• Honey - Adds sweetness and helps balance the soy sauce.
• Rice wine or rice wine vinegar - Rice wine adds depth, while rice wine vinegar gives the marinade a little tang.
• Garlic - Adds bold savory flavor.
• Ginger - Adds warmth and freshness.
• Cooking oil spray - Helps prevent sticking in the air fryer basket.

How to Make Air Fryer Soy Garlic Chicken Thighs

First, gather ingredients:

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
• Cooking oil spray
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon rice wine or rice wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger

Marinate the Chicken: In a large bowl, combine soy sauce, honey, rice wine (or vinegar), garlic, and ginger. Add the chicken thighs and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight for more flavor).

Prep the Air Fryer: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil.

Cook: Place the marinated chicken in the basket, making sure not to stack or overlap. Air fry at 400°F for 10 minutes.

Flip and Finish: Use tongs to flip the chicken and air fry for another 5-8 minutes, depending on thickness, until the chicken is cooked through. (Simba is waiting patiently for dinner lol)

Serve: Remove from the air fryer and serve! I love pairing this with white rice and veggies like Shanghai Bok Choy Stir Fry, Broccoli and Cauliflower Stir Fry, or Chinese Green Beans Stir Fry.

What to Serve with Soy Garlic Chicken Thighs

This chicken is great with:

• Steamed white rice
• Fried rice
• Stir fried noodles
• Bok choy
• Broccoli
• Green beans
• Cucumber salad

You can also slice the chicken and serve it over rice bowls with vegetables for an easy meal prep lunch.

Continue to Content

Air Fryer Soy Garlic Chicken Thighs

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Additional Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

These Air Fryer Soy Garlic Chicken Thighs are juicy, flavorful, and easy to make with soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, and rice wine. Serve with rice and veggies for a simple weeknight dinner.

Print

Ingredients

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon rice wine or rice wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger
• Cooking oil spray

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine soy sauce, honey, rice wine or rice wine vinegar, minced garlic, and grated ginger.
2. Add the chicken thighs and mix well, making sure the chicken is evenly coated in the marinade.
3. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight for more flavor.
4. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil.
5. Place the marinated chicken thighs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Do not stack or overlap the chicken.
6. Air fry at 400°F for 10 minutes.
7. Flip the chicken thighs with tongs, then air fry for another 5–8 minutes, depending on thickness, or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
8. Remove from the air fryer and serve hot with rice and vegetables.

Notes

• Chicken thighs work best for this recipe because they stay juicy and tender in the air fryer. You can use chicken breast instead, but adjust the cooking time as needed since chicken breast can dry out more quickly.
• For more flavor, marinate the chicken overnight.
• Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if needed.
• Cooking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of the chicken thighs and your air fryer model.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Wan Ja Shan Organic Aged Soy Sauce, 33.8fl.oz
• 
  Hiware 10-Pairs Fiberglass Chopsticks - Reusable Chopsticks Dishwasher Safe, 9 ½ Inches - Black
• 
  Amazon Basics 3.2 Quart Compact Multi-Functional Digital Air Fryer
• 
  Spice World Fat Free Minced Garlic, 32 Ounce
• 
  Nature Nate's 100% Pure Raw & Unfiltered Organic Honey; Product of Brazil and Uruguay; Packaged in 16 Ounce. Squeeze Bottle; Enjoy Honey's Balanced Flavor and Wholesome Benefits
• 
  La Tourangelle, Avocado Oil Cooking Spray, 5 Ounce (Packaging May Vary)

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 231Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 137mgSodium: 1046mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 0gSugar: 6gProtein: 29g

The nutrition information for this recipe is an approximate total per serving. Please double check the nutrition information for your exact ingredients and brands for more precise nutrition information.

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More Delicious Air Fryer Recipes!

If you enjoyed these Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs, you probably will like my other air fryer recipes! Crispy, tasty, and fuss-free-these air fryer favorites are perfect for quick meals or easy veggie sides!

• Air Fried Chinese Eggplants - Tender Chinese eggplants marinated in a savory soy sauce mix, then air fried to perfection. A delicious and easy veggie dish!
• Air Fryer Korean King Oyster Mushrooms - Sliced mushrooms tossed in gochugaru and furikake seasoning, then air fried until perfectly caramelized. Spicy, savory, and addictive.
• Air Fryer Cauliflower - Cauliflower florets air fried until golden and crisp. Simple, healthy, and great as a side or low-carb snack.
• Air Fryer King Oyster Mushroom - Meaty king oyster mushrooms, lightly seasoned and air fried in just 10 minutes. Minimal effort, maximum flavor.

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