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    Home » Cooking Method » Air Fryer

    Published: Jan 15, 2022 · Modified: Mar 24, 2022 by Samantha · This post may contain affiliate links (I may earn a small commission if you shop through my link, at no additional cost to you).

    Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken

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    Cooking chicken thighs in the air fryer is one of the best ways to cook them. This cooking method paired with a homemade teriyaki sauce results in a perfectly glazed and tender piece of chicken. Teriyaki chicken is an American fusion recipe that goes great with whatever vegetable is in season and some rice.

    On a white plate, cubed teriyaki chicken garnished with sesame seeds with roasted broccoli and rice.
    Jump to:
    • Tips and Tricks
    • Ingredients
    • Method
    • Substitutions
    • Equipment
    • Top Tip
    • Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken
    • Food Safety

    Tips and Tricks

    How do you store teriyaki chicken? Once teriyaki chicken is cooked, cool it for about 15-20 minutes. Then store in a covered container for three to four days in the fridge. If you’re eating the chicken with rice and or veggies, it’s perfectly okay to store it all together. 

    What do you serve this with? I like to serve teriyaki chicken with rice as well as steamed or roasted vegetables. Some of my favorite roasted vegetables are roasted broccoli, roasted cauliflower with garlic or air fryer green beans. 

    Cooked green beans on a white plate, tossed in whole grain mustard and honey.

    How much chicken can you cook at once? This depends on the size of your air fryer. In my 5.5 quart air fryer I am able to cook three to four boneless skinless chicken thighs in one layer at a time. It is important for even cooking that the chicken remains in one layer. If you have more chicken, cook in batches. 

    How do you store extra teriyaki sauce? Store extra teriyaki sauce in the fridge in a covered container for up to two weeks or in the freezer in a covered container for up to three months. 

    How do you reheat leftover teriyaki chicken? Reheat leftover teriyaki chicken in the air fryer at 350 F for three to four minutes or until warmed through to 165 F. Another option is to reheat the chicken in the microwave until warmed through. 

    What else can you use teriyaki sauce on? If you find yourself with extra teriyaki sauce I recommend making baked teriyaki wings, adding it to salmon or tofu. 

    Ingredients

    Raw ingredients laid out on a white marble background with labels. Boneless skinless chicken thighs, garlic paste, rice wine vinegar, cornstarch, maple syrup, brown sugar, sesame seeds, cold water, soy sauce and ginger.
    • Low sodium soy sauce - other types of soy sauce may be too salty, adjust as necessary
    • Brown sugar - light or dark will work here
    • Rice wine vinegar - seasoned or unseasoned
    • Maple syrup (affiliate link) - preferably the real stuff
    • Garlic paste - freshly grated also works
    • Ginger paste - freshly grated also works
    • Cold water - used for a cornstarch slurry
    • Cornstarch - a thickener
    • Boneless skinless chicken thighs - doesn’t dry out as easily
    • Sesame seeds - optional for garnish

    See recipe card for quantities.

    What kind of chicken thighs do you use for this recipe? This recipe uses boneless skinless chicken thighs. You can try this with bone in and skin on thighs but cooking time will vary. 

    Can you use chicken breasts for this recipe? Yes, you can use chicken breast for this recipe, however the cooking time may vary. Chicken breasts often vary in size greatly and it is easier to overcook. When cooking chicken breast, cook until 160 F and allow to rest for five minutes before slicing.

    Method

    How do you make homemade teriyaki sauce? Start with a medium saucepan and combine soy sauce, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, maple syrup, garlic and ginger. Cook over medium low heat at a simmer for about five minutes while stirring occasionally to avoid burning.

    Next, in a small bowl, combine water and cornstarch until it forms a slurry. Whisk the slurry into the sauce and allow to come back to a simmer and thicken, this should take about one to two minutes.

    The sauce will be visibly thicker. Remove from the heat and set aside.

    Process photos in a 2x2 collage; 1) Teriyaki sauce ingredients poured into a medium sauce pan and being whisked together. 2) Raw chicken thighs in a mixing bowl 3) Teriyaki sauce poured over chicken thighs in a mixing bowl. 4) Chicken thighs tossed in teriyaki sauce in a mixing bowl.

    How do you make teriyaki chicken in the air fryer? After the teriyaki sauce is done, preheat the air fryer to 400 F. While preheating, toss chicken thighs with about half of the teriyaki sauce.

    Save the other half of the teriyaki sauce in the pan for after the chicken is cooked. Place chicken thighs in a single layer and cook for six minutes.

    Flip chicken over and cook for another five to six minutes until chicken is at least 175 F internally.

    Process photos in a 2x2 collage; 5) Raw chicken thighs in a single layer in air fryer. 6) Chicken thighs in a single layer in air fryer after first cook. 7) Chicken thighs in a single layer in air fryer after being flipped. 8) Chicken thighs in a single layer in air fryer after finished being cooked.

    Remove chicken from the air fryer and allow it to rest for five minutes. Cut the thighs into bite size pieces and toss in remaining sauce. Garnish with sesame seeds and serve with vegetables and rice while hot. 

    Process photos in a 2x2 collage; 9) Cooked chicken thighs on a cutting board. 10) Cooked chicken thighs cut up. 11) Pouring the rest of the teriyaki sauce over the cut up chicken. 12) In a mixing bowl, cut up chicken thighs are mixed together with teriyaki sauce.

    Why do you toss the chicken twice in teriyaki sauce? I recommend tossing the chicken twice in the sauce for maximum flavor. The first toss in the sauce allows the outside of the chicken to get a little crispy. The second toss, once the chicken is cut up, more evenly distributes sauce onto each piece. 

    How do you know when chicken thighs are done cooking? The best way to tell when any chicken is done cooking is with an instant meat thermometer (affiliate link). Chicken thighs are the best texture when cooked to at least 175 F internally.

    Another way to tell without a thermometer is how easily the thigh pull apart. If they are pull apart tender they are cooked enough. Finally, if you cut into the chicken and the juices run clear, the chicken is done cooking.   

    Do you have to flip the chicken thighs? I mention flipping the chicken thighs half way through to achieve even cooking. The heating element of most air fryers is on the top so typically the top will cook faster than the bottom. 

    Hint: Toss the chicken in teriyaki sauce before and after cooking for maximum flavor and sauce coverage.

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    Cut up chicken thighs tossed in teriyaki sauce on a white plate garnished with white sesame seeds.

    Substitutions

    Can you use store bought sauce? Totally! Use your favorite or make some at home, whatever works for you. 

    What other sauces can you use for this recipe? I often use this cooking method with different sauces on chicken thighs. Some of my favorites are BBQ sauce, sweet and sour sauce, General Tao’s sauce or any other favorites. For all of these sauces, I recommend tossing the chicken twice for maximum flavor. 

    Equipment

    This recipe uses the air fryer (affiliate link) because it cooks the chicken evenly and quickly. It preheats rapidly and the chicken is fulled cooked in less than 15 minutes start to finish.

    The resulting chicken is tender, juicy and perfectly glazed. If you’re curious what else you can cook in the air fryer, check out my tips, tricks and FAQ about them.

    Air Fryer FAQ collage featuring photos of tilapia, green beans, garlic bread and chicken meatballs.

    Top Tip

    Cook your chicken thighs to at least 175 F (79 C)  internally to ensure the best texture. Dark meat won’t dry out as quickly as white meat so it’s okay if it cooks a little longer.

    Three chicken thighs cooked in the air fryer.
    Cut up chicken thighs tossed in teriyaki sauce on a white plate garnished with white sesame seeds.

    Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken

    Air fryer teriyaki chicken thighs are done in about 20 minutes and leave you with a juicy, perfectly glazed, and tender piece of chicken. Use boneless skinless chicken thighs tossed in homemade teriyaki sauce for an easy weeknight dinner.
    Print Pin SaveSaved!
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Resting: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 Thighs
    Author: Samantha

    Ingredients

    Teriyaki Sauce

    • ½ cup low sodium soy sauce
    • ⅓ cup brown sugar
    • ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
    • 1 tablespoon garlic paste or 3 cloves grated
    • 1 tablespoon ginger paste
    • 2 tablespoons cold water
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

    Chicken

    • 4-6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
    • Sesame seeds for garnish
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    Instructions

    Teriyaki Sauce

    • In a medium saucepan combine soy sauce, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, maple syrup, garlic and ginger. Combine ingredients and cook over medium low heat at a simmer for about 5 minutes. Stir occasionally to avoid burning.
    • After 5 minutes, in a small bowl, combine water and cornstarch until it forms a slurry. Whisk the slurry into the sauce and allow to come back to a simmer and thicken, this should take about 1-2 minutes. The sauce will be visibly thicker. Remove from the heat and set aside.

    Cooking the Chicken

    • Preheat the air fryer to 400 F.
    • While preheating, toss chicken thighs with about half of the teriyaki sauce. Save the other half of the teriyaki sauce in the pan for after the chicken is cooked. Make sure chicken thighs are well coated.
    • Place chicken thighs in a single layer and cook for 6 minutes. If all the chicken doesn’t fit in a single layer, cook in batches.
    • Flip chicken over and cook for another 5-6 minutes until chicken is at least 175 F internally.
    • Remove chicken from the air fryer and allow it to rest for 5 minutes. Cut into bite size pieces and toss in remaining sauce.
    • Garnish with sesame seeds and serve with vegetables and rice.

    Notes and Accommodations

    • Store bought teriyaki sauce will work just as well with this recipe.
    • Add cornstarch to water to make a slurry before adding to the sauce to avoid a clumpy mess.
    • Boneless skinless chicken thighs are more forgiving, juicier and more tender than chicken breasts, chicken breasts cooking time may be different.
    • Store teriyaki sauce in the fridge for up to 2 weeks in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer. Thaw in the fridge before using.
    • Store cooked chicken for up to 3 days in the fridge.
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    Food Safety

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 175 °F (79 °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
    • Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

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