My air fryer chicken thighs are savory, sweet, and such a simple dinner. I marinate the chicken in honey and soy sauce for maximum flavor!
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My Favorite Marinated Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer
These air fryer chicken thighs were one of the first ways I made chicken in the air fryer. I love a good stir fry and wanted an easy way to switch up the chicken.
I marinated the chicken thighs in the morning before I left for work, covered them, and stuck them in the fridge. I took the chicken straight marinade in the bowl and put them directly in the air fryer – no oven needed!
I served them over rice and veggies, and that first bite was an oh my gosh moment. They were perfectly glazed, sticky, and were so flavorful.
I still remember the exact words my husband, Ben, said with his mouth full of chicken, “Wow, this tastes like it came from a restaurant.” I was flattered because while he loves my food, this was the first time he ever compared it to restaurant food. Mission accomplished, right?!
Since then, I have made these marinated chicken thighs in the air fryer every single month, making some slight tweaks. That’s 7 years of me air frying, and at least 80 times I’ve made this delicious dish! It also means that this recipe has been tested to the point of perfection.
And, if you love a good air fryer chicken recipe, try my recipes for air fryer chicken legs, air fryer orange chicken, air fryer whole chicken, air fryer chicken tenders, air fryer fried chicken, and air fryer cornish hen.
Ingredients to Air Fry Chicken Thighs
- Chicken thighs – I like to use boneless chicken thighs, but bone-in chicken thighs work great too
- Soy sauce
- Oil – My go-to oils for marinades are olive oil, vegetable oil, and peanut oil
- Honey – I’ve also used maple syrup in place of this
- Garlic powder
- Ground ginger – fresh minced ginger works too
- Salt and pepper
How to Cook Chicken Thighs in an Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Put the honey, soy sauce, oil, garlic powder, and ground ginger in a large bowl and mix to create the marinade.
STEP TWO: Place half of the marinade in a small bowl and set it aside. This will used as a sauce at the end.
STEP THREE: Add the chicken to the remaining marinade and coat both sides. Cover it with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for 30 minutes or up to overnight.
STEP FOUR: When ready to air fry, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
STEP FIVE: Add the chicken thighs to the air fryer basket or tray in a single layer skin side up, and air fry them for 10 to 15 minutes, flipping halfway. They are done when the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.
STEP SIX: Remove the chicken thighs from the air fryer and baste them with the remaining honey soy sauce on top.
Tips for the best Boneless Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer before putting in the chicken thighs. This is my secret to getting the skin extra crispy without overcooking the chicken!Â
- Pat the chicken dry thoroughly with a paper towel to ensure the marinade sticks. This helps the oil adhere to the chicken so it crisps up.
- Leave some room between each chicken thigh. Air fryers work by circulating hot air, so I find leaving room on all sides of the chicken allows it to cook evenly.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F. My secret trick to cooking juicy meat is pulling the chicken out of the air fryer as soon as it hits the temperature.
- Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes before serving. This helps lock in those juicy flavors.
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Substitutions and Variations
- Squeeze orange or lemon juice into the marinade for a pop of citrus. I recommend using fresh-squeezed over the bottled stuff.
- Use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce for a gluten-free dish.Â
- Substitute maple syrup for honey. I like how this makes the flavor a little deeper and works perfectly for the spring when it’s in season here in NY.
- Add a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes for a nice kick of heat. I’ll include them in the marinade if everyone likes spicy food, but otherwise, I just sprinkle them over my chicken thighs before eating.
- Marinate the chicken thighs in a Ziploc bag. Add all the ingredients into a large Ziploc bag, close it, shake it up, then let it marinate. I love doing this to cut down on cleanup.
- Cook the additional marinade set aside on the stove until it comes to a simmer for 2 minutes to thicken it up. I’ve also added a cornstarch slurry to make it even thicker.
- Use some spices or herbs like dried thyme, rosemary, oregano, onion powder, or smoked paprika for a lovely herbal note in the dish.
What to serve with Marinated Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer
I like to keep my dishes in the Asian cuisine when making this for dinner. After all, stir fry is one of my favorites! I love to pair it with some Ninja Foodi rice or air fryer potatoes and air fryer asparagus or air fryer veggies for a typical weeknight.
When I want to switch things up, I will put together some air fryer wontons, air fryer spring rolls, air fryer pot stickers, or air fryer bok choy. I’ve even cooked this alongside my shrimp fried rice for an extra protein that my kids will eat or on top of salads when I want to eat healthier.
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs FAQs
Can I Stack Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer?
I recommend cooking any chicken dish, including this recipe in one single layer in the air fryer. Stacking raw chicken will cause it to cook evenly.
How Long to Cook Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer
I find air frying chicken thighs for 10 to 15 minutes in a preheated air fryer at 400 degrees F is perfect to get juicy chicken. Larger thighs will take longer than smaller ones.
How to store leftover Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
I don’t often have leftovers for this dish, but when I do, I store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They’ll stay fresh for up to 3 days. I also freeze them for up to 3 months, but I find they taste the best fresh.
I like to reheat them in the air fryer at 380 degrees F for about 5 minutes until they are heated all the way through and get that crispy chicken skin on the outside again!
How Long To Marinate Chicken Thighs
I recommend marinating the chicken for at least 30 minutes. I personally love to marinate them either overnight or in the morning I’m making this dish to get the flavors to really soak into the chicken (and to make dinner time easier).
Do I need to Marinate The Chicken to Air Fry Chicken Thighs?
I’m a busy mom of two little ones, so I get it. While testing my recipe, I made versions without it being marinated because I knew it would happen to me once or twice in the future, too.
Just simply toss the chicken thighs in half of the marinade and let it sit for 5 minutes while the air fryer preheats then cook as normal. While the marinade won’t seep into the chicken thighs as much, the additional honey soy marinade added at the end will help bring the flavor out.
How to Double This Air Fried Chicken Thighs Recipe
I have made this recipe with both 1.5lbs and 3lbs of chicken thighs while still using the same amount of marinade. I find I only need to double the marinade recipe if I’m using more than 3lbs of chicken thighs or I want extra marinade to use to coat some veggies.
How to Make Frozen Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer:
One of the things I love about the air fryer is how I can cook basically any meat from frozen without needing to thaw it. To air fry chicken thighs from frozen, cook them inside a preheated air fryer at 380 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. If using my liquid marinade, baste the chicken with it halfway through cooking and then again at the end.
More Easy Air Fryer Dinner Recipes
- Air fryer turkey burgers
- Air fryer meatloaf
- Air fryer sirloin steak
- Pork loin in the air fryer
- Air fryer filet mignon
- Air fryer kielbasa
- Tri tip in the air fryer
- Air fryer ravioli
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Easy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless chicken thighs skin-on or skinless
Honey Soy Marinade
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pour the honey, soy sauce, oil, garlic powder, and ground ginger into a large bowl and mix to create the marinade.
- Place half of the marinade in a small bowl and set it aside. This will used as a sauce at the end.
- Add the chicken to the remaining honey soy marinade and coat both sides. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 30 minutes or up to overnight.
- When ready to air fry, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
- Add the chicken thighs to the air fryer basket or tray in a single layer skin side up, and air fry for 10 to 15 minutes, flipping halfway, until the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.
- Remove the chicken thighs from the air fryer and baste them with the remaining honey soy sauce on top.
Video
Notes
- Preheat the air fryer before putting in the chicken thighs to get a crispy skin.
- Pat the chicken dry thoroughly with a paper towel to ensure the marinade sticks.
- Leave some room between each chicken thigh.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.
- Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes before serving.
- Reheat chicken thighs in a preheated air fryer at 350 degrees for around 5 minutes, until warmed thoroughly.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
These look so beautiful and I can’t wait to try them out!
Wow, these look fantastic! My husband is gonna be so happy I came across this recipe. He loves Honey Soy Chicken and I love easy = WIN WIN!! Haha! Thank you so much, can’t wait to try this recipe.
Thanks, Karrie! I have to say this is one of my favorite air fryer recipes so far. I’ve even been using the honey soy marinade on other foods now!
Very good marinade. Used it tonight on a BS Chx Breast ‘ cause that’s what I had. Marinated for about an hour. Air fryer 385* for about 6 minutes a side. Came out flavorful and very moist. Quick and easy for last minute dinner with what’s on hand.
Thank you
So glad to hear PattiAnn! I am also obsessed with the marinade on its own too. We’ve used it in a stir fry recently and it worked very well.
This recipe is excellent. The whole family loved it.
Thank you for this recipe! I prepped the chicken last night and cooked it tonight and oh-my-gosh!!! It was so good! I will definitely be making it again.
I left a photo of my beautiful chicken in Pinterest comments.
🙂
So glad you loved it, Maria! I did see the picture over on Pinterest last night and it looks great! I love to use this recipe as a side dish and even just a sauce for a stir fry. It’s just the perfect amount of sweetness.
So do you use air fryer setting or bake? I have a bunch and I’m not sure
Hi Dana, any air fryer recipes on the site will always use the “air fry” setting on the machine!
Does anyone know why this set off my fire alarm…? My air fryer was smoking like crazy. I feel like a doofus.
Hi Jacob, it’s possible your air fryer needs a good clean, including the top around the fan. When there is too much grease in the air fryer, it can cause the air fryer to smoke and set off the alarm. You can read more about it here: https://www.everydayfamilycooking.com/air-fryer-smoking/
Can I substitute the ginger with something else? That’s the only ingredient I don’t have.
Hi Ginger, you can substitute the ginger for allspice if you have that on hand. If not, you can omit the ginger and it will still taste fantastic. Enjoy!
Hi. I love this recipe! It was so tasty & I loved the crunchy bits. I’m a strange one, I use the usual honey soy marinade but add lemon juice & Worcestershire sauce. Yes, I know but, it works. We Aussies have taste buds 🙂
Can this be made with bone in thighs if so is there a change to cooking times
Hi Mary, yes this recipe can be made with bone-in chicken thighs as well, but they may cook a little faster as bone-in chicken tends to cook faster than boneless.
GOOD!!!
I’m going to try it on your ‘Bone-In Chicken Thighs’ recipe!
2-1/2 lbs…Did a 30’ marinade came out very well. 24h marinade came out even better.
Is oil needed? Or is there a substitute? I’ve been procrastinating going to the store to do some grocery shopping 😩 that’s the only thing I don’t have lol
Hi Joann, it is needed for this recipe, but you can try out this air fryer chicken thighs recipe that doesn’t use any!: https://www.everydayfamilycooking.com/air-fryer-bone-in-chicken-thighs/
This recipe was outstanding! The chicken was like butter so tender, we cooked jasmine rice for a side and put some marinade on it, then cooked edemame beans for a vegetable! It was an excellent dinner with the least amount of work! Thank you for the recipe!