Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken

Contents [Hide]

Air Fryer Chicken Teriyaki 🧡🎉 is the perfect recipe to keep in your back pocket for an easy weeknight dinner that's tasty, high protein, simple, and satisfying! We're talking juicy chicken with sweet-and-savory teriyaki flavor that's crave-worthy without even needing to turn on your stove or oven, and ready in 20 minutes!

About the Recipe

I love most Asian-inspired recipes and chicken teriyaki is no exception. The savory-yet-sweet flavor gets me every time!

I've got other chicken teriyaki recipes with just about every cooking technique covered! Including stovetop Better-Than-Takeout Chicken Teriyaki, Sheet Pan Chicken Teriyaki with Pineapple, Sheet Pan Chicken Teriyaki with Vegetables, Pineapple Chicken Teriyaki Skewers, and Baked Chicken Teriyaki with Rice.

Although I didn't have an air fryer version until now! I love making chicken in my air fryer because it's a healthier choice because you use much less oil compared to other cooking techniques. This is also a high protein recipe which is important to feel full and satisfied.

And it's quick, simple, the chicken turns out moist and juicy, cleanup is a cinch, and I don't need to turn on my oven.

For this chicken teriyaki air fryer recipe, you can make your own homemade teriyaki sauce, but in an effort to keep this recipe super simple and geared towards busy weeknights when you're tired and rushed, just use store bought teriyaki sauce and doctor it up a little with extra ginger, brown sugar, and garlic to taste.

Ingredients in Air Fryer Chicken Teriyaki

• Teriyaki Sauce: Clearly a key ingredient in teriyaki chicken is teriyaki sauce! Rather than re-inventing the wheel, I use store bought teriyaki sauce. However, you can make your own teriyaki sauce like I've made in Better-Than-Takeout Teriyaki Chicken or this Homemade Teriyaki Sauce.
• Brown sugar: Optional with store bought but if you're making your own homemade teriyaki sauce, I suggest to include brown sugar for proper sweet-meets-savory flavor.
• Seasonings: Garlic powder and ground ginger add layers of flavor and help doctor up store bought teriyaki or homemade. You can't go wrong with garlic and ginger in Asian-inspired recipes! Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Chicken: Boneless skinless chicken breasts are what I use most but you can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs for richer flavor. Chicken breasts can be thick (too thick) at times to air fryer so make sure you either pound them or use thin-sliced chicken breasts. Thighs are naturally thinner.
• Garnishes, optional: Green onions, sesame seeds, red pepper flakes for heat, extra teriyaki sauce for dipping or drizzling are all welcome.

Instructions:

1. Teriyaki: Make easy homemade teriyaki sauce OR use store-bought teriyaki sauce. To either version, add brown sugar if desired, and then stir in garlic, ginger, salt, and pepper to taste. Tip – For extra layers of flavor, if you'd like to add a splash of regular soy sauce, sesame oil, or rice vinegar to the marinade, go for it.
2. Marinate: Dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces, and then marinate it with the teriyaki sauce mixture for at least 30 minutes, or up to 8 hours.
3. Air Fry: Depending on your air fryer, you may need to preheat it. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or add a light drizzle of olive oil. Using a slotted spoon, or tongs, place the pieces of chicken into the basket in a single layer.
4. Check: Depending on your air fryer, the size of the pieces of chicken, how warm your kitchen is, etc. cooking time will vary. Cook chicken until it's done, meaning 165F internal temperature.
5. Garnish: Garnish as desired and serve with coconut rice, veggies such as roasted broccoli, carrots, green beans, mashed cauliflower, or your favorites.

Tips:

• For extra flavor, marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes, or up to 8 hours.
• Make sure the chicken pieces are in a single layer in the air fryer basket for even cooking.
• Check the internal temperature of the chicken to ensure it's cooked to 165F.
• Feel free to add your favorite vegetables to the air fryer for a complete meal.
• You can use either chicken breasts or thighs for this recipe.

My Favorite Air Fryers

• COSORI 12-IN-1
• BEELICIOUS COMPACT
• NINJA
• COSORI ICONIC STAINLESS STEEL