Sweet Chili Air Fryer Chicken (Printer-friendly)
Crispy chicken thighs with sweet chili glaze made quickly in the air fryer for a simple, satisfying dinner.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 lbs)
→ Marinade & Glaze
02 - 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce
03 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
04 - 1 tablespoon honey
05 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
08 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Garnish
11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or green onions
12 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
# How To Make It:
01 - Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and black pepper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes until well combined.
03 - Add chicken thighs to the bowl and toss to coat thoroughly. Let marinate for at least 10 minutes, or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator for deeper flavor.
04 - Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
05 - Arrange chicken thighs skin-side up in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Reserve remaining marinade for glazing.
06 - Air fry for 14 minutes.
07 - While chicken cooks, transfer reserved marinade to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
08 - Brush chicken thighs with thickened glaze. Air fry for an additional 4 minutes, or until the skin is crispy and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
09 - Remove chicken and let rest for 2-3 minutes. Garnish with cilantro or green onions and sesame seeds before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The air fryer creates impossibly crispy skin while keeping the meat juicy inside
- That sweet and spicy glaze clings perfectly to every bite
- From marinade to table in under 30 minutes on busy weeknights
02 -
- Never skip the step of boiling the leftover marinade because raw chicken juice should never end up back on your cooked food
- Crowding the air fryer basket turns crispy chicken into steamed chicken, so cook in batches if necessary
- The glaze can burn quickly in those final minutes, so set a timer and check after 3 minutes just to be safe
03 -
- Spritz the air fryer basket with oil before adding chicken to prevent sticking, even with skin-on thighs
- Double the glaze recipe and save half in the fridge for drizzling over rice or roasted vegetables during the week