4.6 from 78 votes
Glazed Air Fryer Chicken thighs
This recipe features marinated chicken thighs cooked in an air fryer to achieve a tender, juicy texture with a caramelized glaze. The marinade combines soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, sweet chili sauce, chili paste, and garlic for a blend of savory, sweet, and mildly spicy flavors. Half of the marinade is used for soaking the chicken, while the remainder is reduced into a glaze, giving the cooked thighs a glossy, flavorful finish.
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
18 mins
Marinade Time
30 mins
Total Time
53 mins
Servings:
3
Calories:
503 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken thighs 3-4 bone in thighs or 5-6 boneless
Marinade
- ¼ cup soy sauce reduced sodium if desired
- 2 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sweet chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili paste hot; or 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 tablespoons garlic cloves minced; or 2 teaspoons garlic powder
Instructions
- In a bowl mix the soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, sweet chili sauce, hot chili paste and garlic.
- Set half of the marinade aside to use later as a glaze.
- Pour the other half of the marinade in a big bowl and add the chicken thighs. Mix and let it rest, refrigerated, for 30 minutes to overnight.
- Take the marinated chicken out and put it in the air fryer basket, being sure not to crowd them. Cook the chicken in batches if necessary.
- Cook bone in thighs at 370 degrees F for 18 minutes. Cook boneless thighs at 370 degrees F for 12-14 minutes. For either turn them once about halfway through the cooking time. Check the internal temperature with an instant read meat thermometer and make sure they have reach 165 degrees F. If not cook them some more.
- While the thighs are cooking add the remaining marinade to a saucepan and cook on medium heat until it reduces and thickens slightly. This should take 3-4 minutes. Then set it aside.
- To serve, drizzle the sauce over the top. Garnish with sesame seeds, green onions or crushed red pepper.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Always discard the marinade that was in contact with raw chicken; do not reuse it as glaze without cooking.
- Use a meat thermometer to confirm chicken thighs reach an internal temperature of 165°F for safety.
- If cooking for children or those sensitive to spice, omit the chili paste or hot sauce ingredients from the marinade.
- Cooking times vary with air fryer models and chicken piece sizes; adjust as needed while monitoring internal temperature.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1g
Calories
503kcal
(25%)
Carbohydrates
20g
(7%)
Protein
27g
(54%)
Fat
35g
(54%)
Saturated Fat
8g
(40%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
9g
(53%)
Monounsaturated Fat
14g
(70%)
Trans Fat
0.1g
(5%)
Cholesterol
148mg
(49%)
Sodium
1257mg
(52%)
Potassium
393mg
(8%)
Fiber
0.3g
(1%)
Sugar
17g
(34%)
Vitamin A
122IU
(2%)
Vitamin C
2mg
(2%)
Calcium
35mg
(4%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 3 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 503
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1g | |
| Calories | 503kcal | 25% |
| Carbohydrates | 20g | 7% |
| Protein | 27g | 54% |
| Fat | 35g | 54% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 9g | 53% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 14g | 70% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 148mg | 49% |
| Sodium | 1257mg | 52% |
| Potassium | 393mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 0.3g | 1% |
| Sugar | 17g | 34% |
| Vitamin A | 122IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 35mg | 4% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.