Sweet Chili Air Fryer Chicken Thighs (Printable)
Crispy chicken thighs with sweet chili glaze, air-fried to perfection. Ready in under 30 minutes.
# What You 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
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
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
# How To Make:
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 Tips:
01 -
- The skin gets impossibly crispy without any deep frying mess or oil splattering everywhere
- The sweet and spicy glaze caramelizes into something that tastes like it came from a restaurant
02 -
- Overcrowding the air fryer is the fastest way to disappointingly soggy skin, work in batches if necessary
- That extra step of boiling the marinade isn't optional, it thickens the glaze and food safety matters
03 -
- Line the air fryer basket with foil for easier cleanup, but make sure to poke holes so air can still circulate underneath
- If your chicken thighs vary wildly in size, check the smaller ones a couple minutes early