These air fryer teriyaki hen thighs are tender, filled with taste, and tremendous straightforward to make. The selfmade sauce is nice and savory, and the air fryer provides the hen these scrumptious, caramelized edges—no range or oven wanted.
Some nights, I simply need dinner to be easy however nonetheless really feel like one thing I’d be excited to order at a restaurant, and that’s precisely what these air fryer teriyaki hen thighs ship. They’re juicy, flavorful, and coated in a shiny selfmade sauce that’s simply the appropriate stability of savory and candy. They’ve that grilled hen taste with out having to fireside up your grill.
That is the form of recipe that checks all of the packing containers for our focus right here at Heavenly Residence Cooking: elevated taste, minimal effort, and weeknight pleasant.
I normally get the marinade going earlier within the day whereas I’m testing or photographing one thing else, then come dinnertime, the air fryer takes care of the remainder. My husband loves this one with steamed broccoli and rice, however I’ve additionally served it with crispy salad greens and even tucked into wraps. In case you take pleasure in flavorful, fuss-free dinners like this one, you may additionally like my hen pesto flatbread, garlic fried rice, or hen limone.
Causes to Love This Recipe
Ingredient Overview
You should definitely try the total recipe and ingredient listing under
Right here’s a fast take a look at what you’ll have to make this recipe, together with a couple of easy swaps in the event you’re lacking one thing:
- Rooster Thighs. Boneless, skinless thighs work greatest for this recipe as a result of they keep juicy within the air fryer. You may substitute boneless, skinless hen breasts. Simply be sure you modify the cook dinner time, as they might cook dinner sooner and may dry out extra simply.
- Soy Sauce. Low-sodium soy sauce is advisable to maintain the sauce from changing into overly salty. For a gluten-free possibility, tamari works nicely. Coconut aminos will also be used, however chances are you’ll need to cut back the sugar barely since they’re sweeter.
- Brown Sugar. This provides depth and balances the saltiness of the soy sauce. Honey is a superb substitute in the event you desire a naturally sweetened possibility.
- Rice Vinegar. Gives a delicate acidity that brightens up the sauce. White wine vinegar can even work in a pinch.
- Sesame Oil. Utilized in each the marinade and sauce so as to add taste.
- Garlic & Ginger. Contemporary is right right here. If wanted, you possibly can substitute ¼ teaspoon every of garlic powder and floor ginger within the sauce.
- Cornstarch & Water. This fast slurry helps thicken the sauce. Arrowroot powder or tapioca starch can be utilized as an alternative if wanted.
- Sesame Seeds & Inexperienced Onions. Non-compulsory, however extremely advisable for garnish. They add a pleasant pop of texture and shade. It’s also possible to use chopped cilantro or a sprinkle of purple pepper for one thing totally different.
Ingredient Highlight: Rooster Thighs
In the case of air fryer recipes, hen thighs are exhausting to beat. They keep juicy, develop stunning caramelization, and are extra forgiving than hen breasts. Boneless, skinless thighs cook dinner shortly and absorb taste superbly, which is ideal for teriyaki.
Why we love them:
- Richer taste than hen breast.
- Moist and tender, even after air frying
- Price range-friendly and simple to seek out
Can you employ hen breast as an alternative?
Completely. Simply hold a detailed eye on doneness. Breasts can dry out sooner. Slice them into evenly sized items for extra constant cooking.
Step-by-Step Directions with Images
It is a temporary overview. You should definitely try the total recipe and ingredient listing under
Step 3: Prepare dinner for 1–2 minutes, till barely thickened. Take away from warmth and let cool.
Step 4: Put aside ¼ cup of the sauce to make use of for brushing and serving.
Cowl and refrigerate for half-hour to 4 hours. Discard the marinade after use.
Suggestions for Success
- Don’t skip the marinade. Even half-hour makes an enormous distinction in taste. Letting the hen soak within the sauce helps tenderize the meat and infuse it with that signature teriyaki taste.
- Use a thermometer. An instant-read thermometer is the simplest manner to make sure your hen is completely cooked—165 F (74 C) is the candy spot for juicy, safe-to-eat hen.
- Keep away from overcrowding. Give the hen area within the air fryer basket so the recent air can flow into evenly. If wanted, cook dinner in batches.
- Let the sauce cool earlier than marinating. Sizzling sauce can begin cooking the hen prematurely. Make sure that the marinade is absolutely cooled earlier than including it to the bowl.
- Glaze on the finish. A remaining brush of reserved sauce after cooking provides the hen that shiny, sticky end that makes it look (and style) prefer it got here out of your favourite restaurant.
- Add a completion. Sesame seeds and sliced inexperienced onions aren’t simply garnish—they add crunch and freshness that stability the sweet-savory glaze.
Storage and Reheating
Storage:
Let the hen cool fully, then retailer it in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
Reheating:
Microwave it briefly bursts till heated by means of. Add a small spoonful of the reserved sauce (in the event you saved any) to maintain it moist.
Freezing:
You may freeze the cooked hen thighs for as much as 2 months. Allow them to cool fully, wrap tightly, and retailer in a freezer-safe container. Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Teriyaki Sauce:
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce (Notice 1)
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar or honey (Notice 2)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil non-obligatory, for depth of taste
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- ½ teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
Rooster:
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon floor ginger
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 boneless, skinless hen thighs
Garnish:
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 inexperienced onions thinly sliced
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In a small saucepan, mix ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce, 3 tablespoons brown sugar or honey, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon sesame oil (if utilizing), 1 clove garlic, and ½ teaspoon freshly grated ginger. Stir and convey to a delicate simmer over medium warmth.
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In a separate small bowl, whisk collectively the ½ teaspoon cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water to make a slurry. Slowly pour the slurry into the simmering sauce, stirring constantly.
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Prepare dinner for 1–2 minutes, till barely thickened. Take away from warmth and let cool.
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Reserve ¼ cup of this sauce for brushing and serving later.
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In a big bowl, combine the 1 tablespoon sesame oil, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon floor ginger, and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Add the 4 boneless, skinless hen thighs and the remaining cooled teriyaki sauce. Toss to coat evenly.Cowl and refrigerate for at the least half-hour, or as much as 4 hours.Discard the marinade after eradicating the hen (Notice 3).
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Preheat your air fryer to 375 F (190 C) for 3–5 minutes (Notice 4).Place the hen thighs in a single layer within the air fryer basket.
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Prepare dinner for 10 minutes. Flip the hen, brush with the reserved teriyaki sauce, and cook dinner for a further 8–10 minutes, or till the interior temperature reaches 165 F (74 C) (Notice 5).For caramelized edges, enhance the temperature to 400°F (200°C) over the past 2 minutes (Notice 6).
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Brush the cooked hen with extra of the reserved teriyaki sauce. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sesame seeds and 2 inexperienced onions.Serve the hen thighs over steamed rice with stir-fried greens or a crisp inexperienced salad.
- Low-sodium soy sauce helps forestall the dish from tasting overly salty.
- You may substitute honey for brown sugar for a lighter, subtly floral sweetness.
- For meals security, discard any marinade that has been involved with uncooked hen.
- Preheating helps the hen cook dinner extra evenly and brown higher.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the hen is absolutely cooked with out drying it out.
- This fast temperature increase on the finish provides the sides a lightweight caramelization with out drying out the hen.
Energy: 237kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 24g | Fats: 10g | Saturated Fats: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 3g | Monounsaturated Fats: 4g | Trans Fats: 0.02g | Ldl cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 679mg | Potassium: 386mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 89IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 2mg
Servings: 4 servings
Energy: 237kcal
