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These Air Fryer Honey Chicken Thighs are sweet, savory, and sticky in the best way. Marinated with garlic, honey, oyster sauce, and Shaoxing wine, they cook in just 14 minutes with golden skin and juicy meat.
Table of Contents
- Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
- Add This Recipe To Your Weeknight Lineup
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- How To Make Air Fryer Honey Chicken Thighs
- Secrets Techniques To Juicy Chicken Thighs
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What To Serve With This Recipe
- Other Air Fryer Recipes You Might Like
- Air Fryer Honey Chicken Thighs Recipe
Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
I’ll be honest—there’s something so satisfying about juicy chicken thighs glazed in a sticky, garlicky marinade. And the best part? You don’t need a wok or oven to get it right. These easy air fryer honey garlic chicken thighs are the perfect mix of simple and seriously flavorful.
I use skin-on, bone-in thighs (deboned for easy eating) because they give you tender, juicy meat with that golden skin everyone loves. The marinade is a straightforward, bold blend of garlic, honey, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and Shaoxing wine—no fuss, just pure flavor. Serve these with rice, wrapped in lettuce, or alongside your favorite chili sauce—either way, it’s a fast, delicious recipe that never disappoints. It’s one I come back to on busy nights when I want something tasty without the hassle. Once you taste the chicken, you’ll understand why. Check out my video guide below to see how easy these juicy honey garlic chicken thighs come together.
For more easy air fryer chicken recipes, check out my Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken and Air Fryer Chicken Tenders.
Add This Recipe To Your Weeknight Lineup
Forget boring dinners. This air fryer chicken thighs recipe gives you crispy skin and moist chicken meat loaded with bold, savory-sweet flavor—quick and hassle-free.
- Juicy, tender thighs. Skin-on, bone-in chicken cooks up with golden skin and moist, flavorful meat every time.
- Garlicky and sweet marinade. A glossy, sweet coating that clings to every bite, making each mouthful more addictive than the last.
- Quick to make, hard to resist. Cooked in just 14 minutes, this dish feels like a treat but comes together fast.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken thighs – I used skin-on, bone-in thighs and deboned them myself. Check out How to Debone Chicken Thighs.
- Honey – Go for a mild, runny honey—it creates a glossy, golden finish that caramelizes beautifully without burning.
- Fish sauce
- Oyster sauce
Check out the recipe card at the end of this post for all the ingredient details.
Shopping Guide: If you want your dish to taste great, try fish sauce from Red Boat, Three Crabs, or Magic Chef. They keep it simple with just anchovies and salt, so it won’t have that strong, funky smell some others do. For oyster sauce, Lee Kum Kee is thick and balanced, adding the perfect sweet-savory touch that makes the glaze really pop.
How To Make Air Fryer Honey Chicken Thighs
Take your chicken thighs and carefully remove the bones—but keep the skin on! This way, you get all that golden skin with juicy, easy-to-eat meat.
Add the minced garlic to the chicken and give it a good mix with a spoon. Then toss in the rest of the marinade and stir everything until the chicken’s fully coated. Let it hang out for about 15 minutes so all those flavors soak in.
Pro tip: Use your hands to gently massage the minced garlic into the chicken—that’s the best technique to really get that garlic flavor in there.
Alright, just lay the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket with the skin side up—make sure they’re in a single layer so they cook evenly. Spoon the marinade over the top. If you’re not a fan of those little garlic bits on the skin, just scoop the marinade without the garlic and spread that instead. Then pop it in the air fryer at 190°C (375°F) for 10 minutes.
After the first 10 minutes, flip the chicken thighs over and air fry for another 4 minutes. This helps make sure they’re cooked through and juicy all the way.
Slice the chicken to make serving easier, or just dig in with the thighs whole—either way works. Don’t forget to have your favorite chili sauce on the side for dipping!
Secrets Techniques To Juicy Chicken Thighs
Pro Tip #1: Use Olive Oil
Olive oil helps keep chicken moist by creating a barrier that locks in natural juices during cooking. It also promotes even browning, which adds flavor and prevents the meat from drying out.
Pro Tip #2: Perfect Air Fryer Temperature
Set your air fryer to 190°C (375°F) for juicy, tender chicken thighs. Overcooking makes the meat dry and rubbery, while undercooking means no crispy, caramelized skin. In my recipe, 14 minutes hits the perfect balance—fast cooking, full flavor, and great texture every time.
Pro Tip #3: Combine Fish Sauce and Oyster Sauce
For a serious umami boost and rich depth of flavor, mix fish sauce and oyster sauce together. These two Asian staples are must-haves in your kitchen—they instantly elevate any dish with minimal effort.
Pro Tip #4: Save the Dripping
If you’re like me and love that flavorful dripping, save it! Spoon it over white rice or drizzle it on your chicken to add an extra layer of deliciousness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Massaging the garlic into the chicken first helps the flavor soak in deep. If you just toss it with the marinade, the garlic mostly stays on the surface instead of getting into the meat.
About 15 to 30 minutes is enough to soak up the flavors. If you have more time, marinating for up to 2 hours in the fridge can deepen the taste.
Let the chicken cool, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently so the glaze doesn’t dry out.
Reheat in the air fryer at 160°C (320°F) for 4 minutes. This keeps the glaze sticky and the meat juicy without drying it out.
This recipe is 463 calories per serving.
What To Serve With This Recipe
For an easy and wholesome weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes:
I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
Other Air Fryer Recipes You Might Like
Air Fryer Honey Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 4 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs, about 450g
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pinch salt
- 3 heavy dashes ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoon fish sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoon oyster sauce
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine, or rice wine
Instructions
- Debone chicken thighs, keeping the skin on.
- Add minced garlic and mix well. This step is important to impart the garlic flavor into the chicken—using your hands to gently massage it in is the best technique. Then, add the remaining ingredients and mix to coat evenly. Marinate for 15 minutes.
- Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket skin side up in a single layer. Spoon the marinade over the chicken. If you prefer not to have garlic bits on top, just spoon the marinade without the garlic. Air fry at 190°C (375°F) for 10 minutes.
- Flip the chicken thighs and air fry for another 4 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.
- Slice the chicken for easier serving, or enjoy the thighs whole. Serve with your favorite chili sauce on the side.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
