These air fryer soy sauce chicken thighs are marinated in a bold and delicious blend of soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger and fiery sriracha. Blend up the marinade ahead of time and air fry the bone-in and skin-on thighs to juicy, crisp perfection in under 20 minutes!
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Bone-in and skin-on (and budget-friendly!) chicken thighs are super versatile and great for marinating in nearly any combination of flavors. In this air fryer soy sauce chicken thighs recipe the chicken pieces are soaked in a sweet, tangy and spicy blend of classic Asian cuisine ingredients that are absolutely irresistible!
Our marinade includes soy sauce, honey, fresh minced garlic and ginger, plus rice vinegar and sriracha. The thighs soak in the marinade for as little as 30 minutes before air frying perfectly moist, tender and delicious with super crispy chicken skin.
From start to finish you can make this recipe in less than an hour. Or mix up the marinade in advance, marinate the chicken overnight, and air fry for less than 20 minutes. Then serve with your favorite Asian-inspired side dishes for a quick, easy, and satisfying weeknight meal!
Recipe ingredients
- Chicken Thighs: Bone-in and skin-on thighs are dark meat pieces cut from the upper part of the chicken leg. They are rich, juicy, and delicious - and perfect for soaking in a flavorful marinade.
- Soy Sauce: This classic Asian condiment is made from fermented soy beans. It has a very concentrated umami flavor that makes it great to pair with sweet honey and spicy sriracha.
- Honey: Use honey that is smooth and pourable. This allows it to blend well with the other marinade ingredients.
- Sesame Oil: This oil is rich with a mild nutty taste.
- Garlic: Peel and mince fresh garlic to release its earthy and savory oils.
- Ginger: Use freshly peeled and grated ginger for the best taste. Ginger has a spicy (but not hot) and slightly sweet flavor, and is commonly used in many Asian recipes.
- Rice Vinegar: Vinegar made from rice is sharp and tangy but not as harsh as white vinegar. We use just a tablespoon this air fryer soy sauce chicken recipe to tenderize the meat without overpowering the other ingredients.
- Sriracha: This popular hot sauce is made from a combination of fermented spicy chili peppers plus garlic, vinegar, and a bit of sugar. Alternatively you can use thicker garlic chili paste, or omit entirely for a mild recipe.
- Sesame Seeds: We use these tiny little tasty, nutty seeds to garnish the thighs after air frying.
- Green Onions: Garnish the chicken with slices of green onion for a pop of freshness.
Frequently asked questions
The marinade in this recipe includes a bit of fiery sriracha or garlic chili paste (your choice), both of which are quite hot. However, we only use a teaspoon so the spiciness is not overwhelming. The honey and soy sauce balance the heat, but you can omit the sriracha if you are sensitive to spicy foods.
That depends on personal taste... I love the crunch and succulent flavor of air fried chicken skin! Air frying with the skin on also helps to keep the chicken from drying out and keeps meat nice and moist.
Yes, you can cook raw chicken in the air fryer! I recommend lining the fryer basket with parchment paper before cooking to cut down on mess when frying marinated chicken. Preheat the appliance first and place the parchment in the basket right when you are ready to add the thighs.
Soak the thighs in the marinade for at least 30 minutes. Chicken can marinate in the fridge for up to 24 hours, but any longer and you run the risk of the meat becoming overly soft.
The thighs will cook either way. But yes, I do recommend flipping chicken halfway through air frying to get the meat more evenly cooked with the crispiest chicken skin.
More chicken thighs recipes
Air fryer lemon chicken thighs
Air fryer bacon wrapped chicken thighs
Hope you will like this air fryer soy sauce chicken as much as we do. Rate the recipe if you made it and leave a comment if you have any questions or suggestions.
Recipe
Soy sauce chicken
Ingredients
- 3 chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger minced
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sriracha or garlic chili paste
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds for garnish
- 2 green onions sliced (for garnish)
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients int he bag or large bowl. Let chicken marinade for at least 30 minutes, better overnight.
- Cook thighs in the air fryer at 375 degrees for 15-17 minutes. Start with skin side down, then flip half way through.
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