Air-Fried Teriyaki Chicken: Quick, Easy, And Delicious

Air fryer teriyaki chicken is a quick, easy, and tasty dish to make at home. It's a popular chicken dish with a sweet and savoury sauce that goes well with fried rice, white rice, and steamed vegetables. The air fryer gives the chicken a nice grilled flavour and helps caramelise the sauce so that it coats the chicken nicely. This dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner as it takes less than 30 minutes to make and can be paired with a simple side salad or steamed rice.

Choosing the right cut of chicken

When making teriyaki chicken in an air fryer, the cut of chicken you use is important. The right cut will ensure your chicken is juicy and succulent, with perfectly glazed skin.

For the best results, use skin-on chicken. The skin holds in a lot of moisture when air frying, providing a great texture and giving the teriyaki sauce something to cling to. You can use boneless or bone-in chicken, but if you opt for boneless, make sure it's still skin-on.

You can use chicken thighs, drumsticks, wings, or breast meat. Thighs are a good choice as they have a higher fat content, which helps keep the meat moist and juicy. Drumsticks and wings also have skin and bone, which can help keep the meat moist. If you're using chicken breasts, be careful not to overcook them as they can dry out easily.

Keep in mind that the cooking time will vary depending on the cut of chicken you choose. For example, boneless chicken thighs will cook faster than bone-in thighs or drumsticks. Adjust your cooking time accordingly to ensure your chicken is cooked through and safe to eat.

When preparing the chicken, pat it dry with a paper towel and season it with salt and pepper before placing it in the air fryer. You can also make a few cuts on the thicker parts of the chicken to allow it to cook faster and prevent shrinking.

In summary, for the best teriyaki chicken in an air fryer, choose skin-on chicken thighs, drumsticks, wings, or breasts. Remember to adjust your cooking time based on the cut of chicken you choose, and always ensure your chicken is cooked to the recommended internal temperature before serving.

Making the teriyaki sauce

Start by adding all the ingredients to a small saucepan and whisking them together. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Then, reduce the heat to medium-low and let the sauce simmer until it thickens. This should take around 3 to 5 minutes. You will know the sauce is ready when you see lots of small bubbles on the surface. Remove the sauce from the heat and let it cool for a couple of minutes before brushing it onto your chicken.

You can make the teriyaki sauce ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to two weeks. If you are preparing it in advance, simply reheat it over medium heat and whisk in a little water if it has become too thick.

Marinating the chicken

Firstly, prepare the chicken thighs by placing them bottom-side up and making a few cuts on the thicker parts. This technique helps the chicken cook faster and prevents it from shrinking during the cooking process. It is also important to use good quality chicken, such as organic, free-range, or pasture-raised chicken, as this makes a significant difference in the taste and texture of the dish.

Once the chicken is prepared, it's time to season it. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken thighs with salt and black pepper according to your taste preferences. You can let the chicken rest at room temperature for about 10 minutes after seasoning, or you can even prepare it in advance and store it in the fridge until you're ready to cook. If you choose to refrigerate the seasoned chicken, remember to let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before cooking to take off the chill.

Now, let's talk about the star of the dish—the teriyaki sauce. The sauce is what gives the chicken its signature sweet and savoury flavour. In a separate bowl, combine the ingredients for the teriyaki sauce. The basic ingredients for the sauce are soy sauce, mirin (sweetened Japanese rice wine), and honey or brown sugar. You can also add other ingredients like garlic, ginger, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, and sesame seeds to enhance the flavour. Experiment with different ingredients and find your perfect combination.

After mixing the sauce, it's time to marinate the chicken. Place the chicken thighs in a bowl and pour the teriyaki sauce over them, making sure that the chicken is well coated. Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator to marinate. For the best results, it is recommended to let the chicken marinate for at least 2 hours. However, if you have the time, marinating the chicken overnight will infuse it with even more flavour.

While the chicken is marinating, you can prepare the rest of the ingredients and set up your air fryer. Remember to preheat your air fryer before cooking to ensure even cooking. Additionally, if you want to thicken the teriyaki sauce into a glaze, you can do so by creating a slurry with cornstarch and water, then adding it to the sauce in a saucepan over medium heat.

Once the chicken has finished marinating, it's time to cook it in the air fryer following the standard procedure. Enjoy your juicy and flavourful air fryer teriyaki chicken!

Air-frying the chicken

Place the chicken thighs skin side up in a single layer in the air fryer. Set the temperature to 350°F and air fry for 10 minutes. For even cooking, do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. You may need to cook the chicken in batches.

After 10 minutes, flip the chicken over and air fry with the skin side down for another 5 minutes or until the internal temperature of the thickest part reaches 165°F.

Brush a generous amount of teriyaki sauce on the bottom side of the chicken thighs. Flip the chicken over and baste the skin side as well.

Air fry with the skin side up at 325°F for 3-5 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken and form a coating. Keep a close eye on it and be careful not to let the sauce burn. Pull out the chicken thighs as soon as the sauce is thick and sticky.

Allow the chicken to rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing. Serve with steamed rice.

Serving suggestions

There are several ways to serve air fryer teriyaki chicken. Here are some suggestions:

Rice

White rice is a classic Japanese side dish that is part of most meals. It is recommended to use short-grain white rice, but you can use another type of rice if you prefer.

Salad

You can chop some vegetables for a simple side salad. For the dressing, Japanese sesame dressing is a good option and can be bought in most Asian grocery stores. It complements the rice and teriyaki chicken well.

Vegetables

Broccoli, bell pepper, and other vegetables can be air-fried, sautéed, or steamed. They add a balanced element to your meal and are easy to prepare.

Miso Soup

Miso soup is a healthy and delicious addition to any Japanese meal, and it is simple to make at home.

Sandwich

You can also make a teriyaki chicken sandwich.

Salad

If you want to keep things light, serve your teriyaki chicken with a salad. Air-fried, sautéed, or steamed vegetables like broccoli or bell peppers are great options to include.

Frequently asked questions