Air Fryer Chicken Teriyaki

Introducing air fryer chicken teriyaki, a delightful fusion of Japanese flavors and efficiency, brought together in that magic hot box sitting on your kitchen countertop called the air fryer.

Prepare to be blown away by the incredible taste and simplicity of making the popular teriyaki chicken dish using your air fryer. It’s savory with a hint of sweetness and a whole lot of umami, not to mention that gorgeous charring (thank you, air fryer!).

P/S: While I love to use the air fryer to make chicken teriyaki, the oven and stovetop method works great too if you prefer it, and I’ve included that in this recipe as well!

Chicken Teriyaki in the air fryer

Teriyaki is a cooking style in Japanese cuisine that is known for its savory sweet flavor combined a slightly sticky consistency. Teriyaki is loved all around the world and is used for meats, fish and vegetables.

Some of my favorite teriyaki recipes on the blog include Teriyaki Glazed Salmon, Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry and Teriyaki Chicken Skewers. Recently I tried making teriyaki chicken in the air fryer and I find myself making it over and over again. It is so easy and delicious!

Air fryer chicken teriyaki is not only quicker than traditionally grilled or oven baked chicken teriyaki, it consistently yield perfectly cooked chicken that comes with the crispiest edges and moist, juicy meats.

The teriyaki marinade is a fairly traditional recipe consisting of mirin (sweet cooking wine) and sake (Japanese cooking wine) – two classic ingredient in Japanese cooking. We let the chicken thighs marinade so that the flavor penetrates into the chicken, creating an explosion of flavor to every bite.

Combining the elegance of Japanese cuisine with a modern approach, this air fryer chicken teriyaki is a must-try recipe especially for busy folks out there who loves the authentic flavors of teriyaki but want to get the cooking done quickly.

Air fryer chicken teriyaki is the perfect meal if you love Asian food, Japanese flavors, and want a wholesome meal that cooks under 15 minutes! (Just make sure you marinade it ahead of time)

Air Fryer

I feel obligated to mention that a good air fryer made a whole lot of difference in the final product.

I’ve tried many and never cared for air frying until I started using this air fryer. That little thing is one powerful machine that brings the most beautiful browning I’ve ever seen of any air fryers.

In short, get a high quality air fryer for best results.

A plate loaded with charred teriyaki chicken thighs that is made in the air fryer

Ingredients

Chicken teriyaki is one of the most famous dishes within the teriyaki genre, where moist and tender chicken are coated and cooked in the delicious teriyaki sauce.

Here are all the ingredients you will need to make chicken teriyaki in the air fryer!

Boneless skinless chicken thighs – thigh meat brings so much flavor and moisture, and thus is preferred over chicken breast when it comes to making chicken teriyaki. If you use bone-in chicken thigh, you may want to cook it for a minute or two longer because bone-in chicken typically takes longer to cook.
Soy sauce – I typically use regular soy sauce, but low sodium soy sauce can be used as a healthier alternative. It won’t be as salty (flavorful) though!
Japanese cooking wine (sake) – in a pinch, dry white wine could be a substitute, but for an authentic taste, try to source Japanese cooking wine or sake at Asian grocery stores or Asian markets online. Chinese cooking wine (shaoxing cooking wine) works great as well.
Mirin – mirin is a type of rice wine and it’s sweeter and lower in alcohol. It can also be found in Asian markets or online. Note that this is different from cooking wine because it has a sweet component in it.
Brown sugar – you can substitute with white granulated sugar if needed.

How to air fry chicken teriyaki

This air fryer chicken teriyaki recipe can be whipped up in a matter of minutes. That is part of the appeal of this amazing dish. Here is how we make it happen!

Marinate Chicken

Start by mixing all the ingredients for the marinate in a medium size mixing bowl, then marinate the chicken thighs in it.

Remove excess fat from chicken thighs, pat dry, then submerge chicken thighs into marinade.

Use a pretty large bowl or a rectangular dish so that chicken thighs touch marinate and are fully coated in it (or as much as possible).

Marinate at room temperature for at least 1 hour, or longer (up to 12 hours or overnight) in fridge for a more flavorful chicken teriyaki.

The longer you marinade it the more flavorful it will be!

Cook Chicken Thighs

Grease air fryer, then place chicken thighs into air fryer in a single layer.

For easier cleanup, use air fryer liners! These things are SUCH life savers – I CANNOT live without them!

Set the remaining marinate aside – I like to brush them onto the chicken when we flip them!

Air fry chicken thighs for 10 minutes at 390℉, then flip them over. Brush them with more marinate, then air fry for another 7 minutes.

Chicken should be at least 165℉ to be fully cooked when measured using a meat thermometer.

I use this meat thermometer to measure the internal temperature – it is one of the best out there in terms of accuracy and quick reading.

When done cooking, remove chicken teriyaki from air fryer and let it sit for a few minutes.

When cooked in an air fryer, chicken teriyaki will be slightly charred around the edges. This is very similar to chicken teriyaki that is grilled, but the air fryer method is so much easier!

Before and after air frying teriyaki chicken

I owned this air fryer for over a year now, and every time I’m just STUNNED by how beautiful the charring turns out in just a few short minutes.

Now you know why I cannot stop making chicken teriyaki in the air fryer! There’s really no turning back after this.

Other Cooking Methods

While I think teriyaki chicken is superior in the air fryer, I do feel responsible to still provide you with other methods of making chicken teriyaki.

You may not own an air fryer, or want to be converted into air frying world (that was me for a long time), or you simply don’t need another kitchen gadget in the house (I get it, I get it).

If so, here are quick instructions on how to make teriyaki chicken sans air fryer:

Stovetop: Sear chicken thighs on a heated greased pan on the stovetop, flip once the bottom is browned. Cook until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165℉
Oven: Bake in the oven at 400℉ for 15 minutes, then flip and bake for another 10 minutes. Bake until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165℉
Grill: Heat grill to 400℉, then cook skin side down for 5-6 minutes, then flip and cook the other side for another 5-6 minutes. Cook until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165℉

Pieces of teriyaki chicken thighs on a plate

Tips and Tricks

A few more tips for making teriyaki chicken thighs in the air fryer!

Use a good air fryer: high quality air fryer makes a LOT of difference in the way your teriyaki chicken (or anything really) cooks. This is my favorite after trying a lot of them!
Choosing the right chicken: While this recipe works with chicken breast or other cuts, I highly recommend using boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Dark meat is just more tender, juicy, and flavorful than white meat, and boneless option makes cooking more uniform and simpler in the air fryer. The air fryer cooking time will be longer if you use bone-in chicken.
Marinating the chicken: For full flavor, make sure to submerge chicken thighs in the marinate. You can use your hands or a silicone spatula to really coat the chicken in the marinate. Also, while the recipe instruct an hour of marinating time, marinating overnight or for a few hours will yield a deeper, more robust taste.
Use a meat thermometer: To make sure chicken is cooked to your desired level of doneness, measure the internal temperature (make sure to insert meat thermometer into the thickest part of the meat). Chicken is fully cooked at 165℉.
Preventing chicken from sticking in air fryer: Remember to grease your air fryer basket or tray well to avoid any sticking.
Rotate chicken: Half way through the cook time, flip to the other side and brush with marinate for an evenly cooked and flavored chicken teriyaki.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for mirin and/or Japanese cooking wine (sake)?

If you don’t have mirin, you can use a dry sherry or sweet Marsala wine as a substitute. In a pinch, dry white wine could be a substitute for Japanese cooking wine. Use 1 extra tablespoon of sugar in marinate if you cannot find mirin.

Can I use low sodium soy sauce?

Yes you can but the flavor would be less intense, until you use more than what it is called for.

How can I make the teriyaki flavor more intense?

For a more intense flavor, trying marinating the chicken for a longer time. If you are short on time, consider using a vacuum-sealed marinating technique for faster absorption of flavors, or slice a few slits into the chicken.

Can I overlap chicken in the air fryer?

Single-layer cooking ensures even cooking and crispier results. I typically will overlap the ends slightly but not the whole piece of chicken. Overlapping too much will lead to uneven cooking.

Why is my chicken dry even though I followed your instructions?

To ensure your chicken remains juicy, avoid overcooking. Using a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature (minimum of 165°F) will help achieve the desired doneness without drying it out. Keep in mind that air fryers do vary. When making this for the first time, check a few minutes before cook time is up to make sure chicken isn’t overcooked.

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