Sweet Chili Air Fryer Chicken Thighs (Printable)
Crispy glazed chicken thighs with a sweet and spicy Asian-inspired finish, ready in minutes.
# What You'll 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)
# How-to Steps:
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 Pointers:
01 -
- The glaze creates this incredible candy-like coating that balances sweet and heat perfectly
- Crispy skin without the mess and time of traditional frying methods
- Marinade doubles as a sauce so nothing goes to waste
02 -
- Don't skip simmering the leftover marinade because raw chicken juice needs to be cooked through for safety
- Crowding the air fryer basket will make the skin soggy, so work in batches if needed
- Letting the chicken rest for even just 2 minutes makes a huge difference in juiciness
03 -
- Set your air fryer to 375°F instead of 400°F if you find the glaze is burning before the chicken is done
- Line the bottom of your air fryer with foil for easier cleanup, but never cover the basket itself