Sweet Chili Air Fryer Chicken Thighs (Printable)
Crispy, juicy chicken thighs with a sticky-sweet chili glaze made in the air fryer.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 pounds)
→ 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 and season lightly with salt and black pepper on both sides.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes until thoroughly combined.
03 - Add chicken thighs to the bowl and toss to coat evenly. Let marinate for at least 10 minutes, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours for deeper flavor development.
04 - Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes before cooking.
05 - Place marinated chicken thighs skin-side up in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they do not overlap. Reserve the remaining marinade for later.
06 - Air fry the chicken for 14 minutes at 400°F.
07 - While chicken cooks, transfer the reserved marinade to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
08 - Brush the chicken thighs generously with the thickened glaze. Return to the air fryer and cook for an additional 4 minutes, or until the skin is crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
09 - Remove chicken from the air fryer and let rest for 2–3 minutes. Garnish with chopped cilantro or green onions and sesame seeds before serving.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The glaze gets sticky and caramelized while the skin turns impossibly crisp without any deep frying
- Twenty minutes from start to dinner means this happens even on chaotic weeknights
02 -
- Overcrowding the air fryer basket kills the crispiness, so cook in batches if needed
- That extra step of boiling the marinade prevents any cross-contamination while intensifying the flavor
03 -
- Line your air fryer basket with foil for easier cleanup, but don't cover the bottom completely
- Buy chicken thighs with similar sizes so they finish cooking at the same time