Sweet Chili Air Fryer Chicken Thighs (Print Version)
Crispy chicken thighs with sweet chili glaze made quickly in the air fryer.
# What You 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 (use gluten-free if needed)
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 (optional)
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 (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels. 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.
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 - After 14 minutes, brush chicken thighs with thickened glaze. Air fry for an additional 4 minutes, or until the skin is crispy and the 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 this impossibly crispy skin while keeping the meat incredibly juicy inside
- That sweet and spicy glaze gets all caramelized and sticky in the best possible way
02 -
- Crowding the air fryer basket will steam the chicken instead of crisping it so cook in batches if you need to
- Always boil the leftover marinade before brushing it on because it touched raw chicken
03 -
- Room temperature chicken cooks more evenly so take it out of the fridge about 20 minutes before starting
- Line the air fryer basket with foil for easier cleanup but cut holes in it so air can still circulate underneath