Description
This Sweet Chili Chicken Thighs recipe is bursting with flavor and incredibly easy to make. Perfectly cooked in the air fryer, these thighs are juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside with a delicious sweet chili glaze.
Ingredients
- Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- Sweet chili sauce
- Fresh garlic, minced
- Fresh ginger, grated
- Low-sodium soy sauce
- Rice vinegar (unseasoned)
- Toasted sesame oil
- Sriracha sauce (optional)
- Lime juice (optional)
- Toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)
- Sliced green onions (scallions) (for garnish)
- Fresh cilantro (for garnish)
Instructions
- First, pat the chicken thighs thoroughly dry with paper towels and trim off any large pieces of excess fat. If using bone-in, skin-on thighs, make a few shallow slits on the underside to help the marinade penetrate better.
- In a medium bowl, combine the sweet chili sauce, minced fresh garlic, grated fresh ginger, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. If adding Sriracha or lime juice, add it now and whisk everything together until well combined.
- Place the prepared chicken thighs into a large bowl or resealable plastic bag. Pour about three-quarters of the sweet chili marinade over the chicken, reserving the remaining quarter for glazing later. Toss the chicken to coat evenly, cover the bowl or seal the bag, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour, or up to 2-4 hours or overnight for best results.
- About 5-10 minutes before cooking, preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- Lightly grease the air fryer basket or tray with cooking spray. Arrange the marinated chicken thighs in a single layer, ensuring not to overcrowd the basket. Cook for 10-12 minutes, skin-side up, until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is golden.
- After the initial cooking time, carefully pull out the air fryer basket and brush the chicken thighs generously with the reserved sweet chili sauce. Return the chicken to the air fryer and continue cooking for another 5-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Once cooked, remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and fresh green onions or cilantro before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 thigh
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
Keywords: Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket for crispy chicken. Pat the chicken dry before marinating for better crispiness. Reserve some marinade for glazing to prevent burning.