Sweet Chili Air Fryer Chicken (Printable)
Juicy chicken thighs glazed with sweet chili sauce, air fried until crispy and golden. Ready in just 30 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
→ Marinade and Sauce
02 - 1/3 cup sweet chili sauce
03 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
05 - 1 tablespoon honey
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Garnish
10 - 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
11 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
# Steps:
01 - Pat the chicken thighs dry thoroughly with paper towels to ensure proper browning and crispiness during cooking.
02 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, olive oil, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
03 - Place the chicken thighs in a large zip-top bag or shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken, turning each piece to coat evenly. Marinate for at least 10 minutes, or up to 4 hours refrigerated for deeper flavor penetration.
04 - Preheat the air fryer to 380°F for 3 minutes to ensure even cooking from the start.
05 - Place the chicken thighs skin-side up in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if needed to avoid crowding. Brush the tops with remaining marinade.
06 - Cook for 20 minutes, flipping the thighs halfway through and basting with any remaining marinade. Continue cooking until the skin is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. For extra crispy skin, add 2–3 additional minutes.
07 - Let the chicken rest for 3 minutes to allow juices to redistribute. Transfer to a serving plate, garnish with chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds, and serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sticky sweet chili glaze caramelizes in the air fryer creating this incredible candy like crust that you cannot replicate in an oven.
- Cleanup is almost nonexistent since the air fryer basket catches all the drips and nothing sticks if you arrange things right.
02 -
- Do not skip the drying step because even slightly damp skin will leave you with a rubbery texture that no amount of sauce can fix.
- If you want extra crunch, toss the chicken back in for two or three more minutes at the end and watch it like a hawk so it does not burn.
03 -
- Crowding the air fryer basket is the single biggest mistake you can make because the hot air needs room to circulate around each piece.
- Reserve a spoonful of fresh marinade before it touches raw chicken so you can drizzle it over the finished dish for extra flavor and shine.