Air Fryer Asian Marinated Chicken Thighs are loaded with flavor and truly effortless to make in the air fryer. It’s your new go-to meal that you won’t be able to stop eating.
Imagine biting into a piece of chicken so tender and flavorful that brings an immediately ‘mmm’ to your lips. That’s exactly what you get with these Air Fryer Asian Marinated Chicken Thighs.
Marinated in a blend of savory and sweet Asian-inspired ingredients and then air-fried to perfection, this dish is a must-try for any home cook. It doesn’t get any easier.
Why You’ll Love It
- Flavor Explosion: The marinade perfectly infuses the chicken with an irresistible umami flavor with just the right touch of sweetness and tang.
- Healthy and Convenient: Using an air fryer means less oil and fewer calories without sacrificing taste. Plus, it’s a super convenient way to get a delicious meal on the table.
- Perfectly Cooked: Air frying ensures the chicken thighs are cooked evenly, with a beautifully crispy exterior and juicy, tender meat inside.
» You might also like this Air Fryer Korean Fried Chicken.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken thighs: You will need boneless chicken thighs for this recipe. Chicken thighs are a great alternative to chicken breasts, because the meat is very tender after cooking and doesn’t dry out. The easiest to make in the air fryer are boneless, but you can use bone-in, skin on chicken thighs if you want. They will just need longer to cook.
- Low-sodium soy sauce: I always use lower sodium because it doesn’t drown the chicken with saltiness.
- Brown sugar – The brown sugar lends a little bit of sweetness that balances the other flavors.
- Rice vinegar – If you don’t have rice vinegar you can use apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar.
- Dijon mustard – Don’t substitute with yellow mustard. Dijon gives just the right brightness.
- Garlic powder – You can use fresh garlic instead but it can burn in the air fryer so I stick with powdered.
- Ground black pepper
Equipment Information
- Air fryer: I use the 5.5-quart Ninja MaxXL basket-style air fryer. Angie uses this 5-quart Cosori Pro LE air fryer. We also both occasionally use the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill that has an air fryer setting.
- Kitchen tongs: It’s very easy to remove food from your air fryer with kitchen tongs. I use these kitchen tongs that are silicon coated so they don’t scratch the interior.
- Meat thermometer: The only way to tell if meat is fully cooked to the right temperature is to use a meat thermometer. I use this Instant Read thermometer. It’s so quick to open the basket and check the temp.
Helpful Tips
- For the best flavor, marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours, but if you have time, letting it sit in the fridge overnight will deepen the flavors even more.
- Make sure to turn the chicken halfway through cooking to ensure it cooks evenly.
- Check that your chicken has reached the safe internal temperature of 170°F (80°C).
How to Make Air Fryer Asian Marinated Chicken Thighs
Step 1: Marinate the chicken
Mix soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, mustard, garlic powder, and black pepper in a quart-sized plastic bag. Add the chicken thighs to the bag and gently shake to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 to 24 hours.
Step 2: Air Fry the Chicken
Place the marinated chicken thighs in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 380°F (195°C) for about 12-15 minutes, turning halfway through, until slightly browned and cooked to 170°F (80°C) internal temperature.
Some chicken thighs are larger than others, so it’s very important to check the temperature of the chicken before calling it done. The internal temperature should reach 170°F (80°C). Measure it with a meat thermometer to make sure it’s done. If not, continue cooking for another few minutes.
Storing and Reheating
- To Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To Reheat: Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for a few minutes until warmed through. This helps maintain the crispiness.
Can I Use Bone-In Chicken Thighs and/or Skin-On Instead?
Here’s the good news – you can use any type of chicken you want with this recipe. It’s possible to use boneless or bone-in and it doesn’t matter much whether it has skin or not. You can even use chicken breast. The difference is in how long you will need to cook it.
- Boneless (skin on or off): Cook for 12 minutes; 15 minutes from frozen; up to 18 minutes for larger pieces
- Bone-in (skin on): Cook for 25 minutes; 30 minutes from frozen, up to 35 minutes for larger pieces
- Boneless skinless chicken breast: Cook for 20 minutes; 23-25 from frozen; up to 28 minutes for larger pieces
Note: Always check the internal temperature of the chicken before determining it’s done. It should be 170°F (80°C).
What Side Dishes to Serve?
There are some really easy side dishes you can serve with your main dish cooked in the Air Fryer. In some cases, you can even cook them together in the air fryer to make it even faster.
Some of our favorite side dishes to serve include air fryer cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and corn on the cob. Other quick options are to make a side garden salad or some macaroni and cheese.
Oven Directions
Don’t have an air fryer? No problem!
To cook the chicken thighs in the oven, I always crisp up the skin side in a skillet before placing it in a baking dish, skin side up, along with the remaining marinade. Bake it for 25 minutes at 375°F(190°C). Check the internal temperature of the meat. Continue cooking until it reaches 165° F(75°C).
Questions About the Recipe
How long should you cook chicken thighs in an air fryer?
It will take about 12-15 minutes to cook raw chicken all the way through, but some chicken thighs are larger than others, so it’s very important to check the temperature of the chicken before calling it done. The internal temperature should reach 170°F (80°C). Measure it with a meat thermometer to make sure it’s done. It not, continue cooking for another few minutes.
At what temperature are boneless chicken thighs fully cooked?
Boneless chicken thighs are fully cooked and safe to eat when they reach an internal temperature of 170°F (80°C). This is the recommended minimum internal temperature for chicken established by food safety guidelines to ensure that any harmful bacteria present in the meat are killed.
Is it better to air fry chicken thighs at 380 or 400?
We like to air fryer chicken thighs at 380° F(195°C), rather than 400° F(205°C), because it leads to less drying out of the chicken and less likelihood that the skin (if there is any) will burn.
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Air Fryer Asian Marinated Chicken Thighs
Equipment
- Kitchen Tongs
Ingredients
- 2 pounds (907 g) chicken thighs 4 pieces bone-in skin on
- 1/4 cup (59 ml) low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons (24 g) brown sugar or brown sugar substitute
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon (2 g) garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) ground black pepper
Instructions
- Mix soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, mustard, garlic powder, and black pepper together in a quart-sized plastic bag until combined.
- Add the chicken thighs and shake gently to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C).
- Put the chicken thighs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicon mat.
- Bake for about 50 minutes, turning halfway through cooking. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 170°F (80°C).
Notes
- For the best flavor, marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours, but if you have time, letting it sit in the fridge overnight will deepen the flavors even more.
- Make sure to turn the chicken halfway through cooking to ensure it cooks evenly.
- Check that your chicken has reached the safe internal temperature of 170°F (80°C).
All air fryers have different wattage and may cook at different rates. You may need to adjust the time or temp for the best results.
Nutrition
Laura is a passionate foodie and owner of Air Fry Anytime She is dedicated to sharing delicious recipes and helpful tips for using air fryers at home. With years of experience in the kitchen and a love for healthy, flavorful cooking, Laura has become an expert at using air fryers to create amazing meals that are both nutritious and delicious.