Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken

This air fryer teriyaki chicken is super quick and easy to make, with only 5 minutes prep time and less than 20 minutes of cooking time. Try it and this recipe just may become your go-to quick and delicious no-hassle weeknight recipe!

I'm a big fan of the air fryer -- I love how it uses less oil, cuts down the cooking time and makes the food more flavorful, especially when cooking meats.

I found that teriyaki chicken is a dish that's perfect for cooking in an air fryer, as it gives chicken a nice grill flavor without going through the hassle of lighting up a grill. It also helps caramelize the sauce so that it coats nicely on the surface of the chicken.

After you learn how to make teriyaki chicken with your air fryer, I think this dish will likely become a regular in your weeknight dinner rotation!

If you like air fryer recipes, make sure you check out my Extra Crispy Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken Air Fryer Chicken Wings and Air Fryer Chinese Eggplant with Garlic Soy dressing.

Why You Should Try This Recipe

• It's easier and tastier when you make teriyaki chicken in an air fryer.
• I use honey instead of sugar to make this teriyaki sauce healthier.
• It's a perfect weeknight dinner recipes that takes less than 30 minutes to make.
• Leftovers heat up well! So make more and save some for lunch next day.

Ingredients You'll Need

Here are the main ingredients you'll need for making this recipe. Check the recipe box below for the full ingredient list with actual measurement.

Note

• Chicken thigh - I use boneless skinless chicken thigh, you can also use boneless skin on ones if you prefer.
• Cooking wine - You can use either Chinese rice cooking wine (Michiu) or Japanese sake
• Mirin - It's a key ingredient for making teriyaki sauce, you can get in most grocery stores or online.
• Sesame seeds - I use toasted black and white sesame seeds.

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1 - Prepare chicken thigh.

Place the chicken thigh bottom side up, make a few cuts on the thicker parts to allow the chicken to cook faster while preventing it from shrinking.

Sprinkle both sides with salt and black pepper and set it aside for 10 minutes. You can also do this a few hours or the day before and store in the fridge until ready to use.

Step 2 - Make teriyaki sauce.

Add all the teriyaki sauce ingredients in a small sauce pan, bring it to a boil and maintain a medium boil for about 3 minutes or until the sauce is thickened (you will see lots of small bubbles on the surface). Save half of the sauce for serving and use the rest for brushing the chicken.

You can make this ahead of time and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Step 3 - Cook chicken thigh in air fryer.

Place chicken thigh bottom side up on the air fryer rack. Brush teriyaki sauce all over the surface and cook at 350°F (180°C) for 8 minutes.

Flip it over, brush with more sauce and adjust the cooking temperature to 400°F (200°C).  Cook for another 6 minutes or until cooked through, brushing sauce on one last time half way through.

Step 4 - Finish up and serve.

Sprinkle teriyaki chicken with sesame seeds, cut in strips, drizzle with more sauce and serve with warm rice.

You can also squeeze a bit of lemon juice on your teriyaki chicken for more flavor.

Other than serving teriyaki chicken with rice, you can also make it into a sandwich or eat it with salad. If you need a simple side to go with your meal, Asian cucumber salad with miso and sesame is a good complement that you can make ahead of time and store in the fridge to enjoy whenever you want.

I hope you will enjoy this dish.

Happy cooking!

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Use good quality chicken, like organic, free range or pasture raised, as this makes a big difference in the taste and texture of the dish.
• The air fryer I use for this recipe is Cuisinart digital air fryer, the actual cooking time and temperature may vary depending on your air fryer and the thickness of the chicken you use.
• If you marinate your chicken with salt and pepper ahead of time and store it in the fridge (which I prefer to do), let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before cooking.

Recipe FAQs

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