Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs: Crispy, Sticky, and Ready in 20 Minutes

 



Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Sometimes you want comfort food without the all-day cooking commitment. These air fryer honey garlic chicken thighs deliver all the sticky, savory-sweet flavor of takeout—but they’re faster, healthier, and made with pantry staples you probably already have.

The air fryer ensures tender, juicy meat, and the honey garlic glaze brings the perfect balance of sweet and savory with just a hint of heat.

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

For the Honey Garlic Glaze:

  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (optional but recommended)
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch + 1 tablespoon water (slurry for thickening)

Step 1: Prep the Chicken

  1. Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels.
  2. Rub with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

Step 2: Air Fry the Chicken

  1. Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
  2. Place chicken thighs in a single layer in the basket.
  3. Air fry for 8 minutes. Flip the chicken and air fry for another 6-8 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Step 3: Make the Glaze

While the chicken cooks, make the sauce:

  1. In a small saucepan, combine honey, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes over medium heat.
  2. Simmer for 3-5 minutes, until garlic softens and flavors blend.
  3. Stir in cornstarch slurry and cook another minute until glaze thickens.

Step 4: Glaze and Finish

  1. Brush the cooked chicken generously with the honey garlic glaze.
  2. Return chicken to the air fryer for 2 more minutes to set the glaze (optional, but worth it).

Serving Suggestions

These thighs pair beautifully with:

  • Steamed jasmine rice
  • Garlic roasted green beans
  • A crunchy slaw with sesame dressing

Why This Recipe Works

  • Air fryer = fast and easy cleanup
  • Boneless thighs = quick cooking and tender texture
  • Honey garlic glaze = addictive sweet-savory coating

Pro Tip

For extra flavor, you can marinate the chicken in the glaze ingredients (minus the cornstarch) for an hour before cooking. The air fryer will still give you beautiful caramelization even with the marinade.

Want more easy weeknight meals? Check out our full collection of air fryer favorites!

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