If you’re anything like me, you love finding new ways to make dinner delicious without spending hours in the kitchen. I got you, here is a recipe for Air Fryer Soy Garlic Chicken Thighs. With a perfect blend of savory and sweet flavors, these chicken thighs are crispy on the skin, juicy on the inside, and packed with a punch of flavors. The best part? The air fryer does most of the work, making this a quick and easy meal you can whip up any night of the week.
Let’s get cooking!
What You Need
- 4 chicken thighs, skin on
- 3 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp minced fresh garlic
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 ½ tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp cooking wine
The combination of soy sauce, garlic, and honey creates a balanced, savory-sweet flavor that’s simply irresistible. Pair this dish with your favorite pickled side dishes for a flavor contrast that will definitely bring your meal to the next level.
Air fryer is my favorite cooking appliance and you might want to use an air fryer to fry the chicken thighs. It helps speed up the cooking process without creating a mess from oil splashing like when pan-frying. Plus, it delivers that perfect crispiness every time!
The Air Fryer I Use
COSORI Air Fryer Pro LE 5-Qt Airfryer
This Cosori air fryer is my favorite, not only for its powder but also its cute color. This is a 5-quart capacity for 1-4 people. Dishwasher-safe, non-stick basket. It heats up very fast and has 7 modes like Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate, Broil, Frozen, and Reheat for versatile cooking.
How to make air fryer soy garlic chicken thighs
- Prepare the Marinade: In a medium bowl, mix the oyster sauce, brown sugar, ground black pepper, minced garlic, honey, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and cooking wine.
- Marinate the Chicken: Place the chicken thighs in a large ziplock bag or a shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring each thigh is well-coated. Seal the bag or cover the dish and refrigerate overnight. This step is key for maximum flavor, so don’t skip it!
- Preheat Your Air Fryer: When you’re ready to cook, preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). This ensures the chicken cooks evenly and gets that crispy skin.
- Air Fry the Chicken: Arrange the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket, skin side down. Cook for 15 minutes, then flip them over and cook for another 10-15 minutes until the skin is crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C).
- Serve and Enjoy: Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving. This helps the juices redistribute, keeping your chicken thighs moist and flavorful. Serve with your favorite sides.
Other recipes I think you might like
Tips for the Best Soy Garlic Chicken Thighs
- Marinate Overnight: The longer the chicken marinades, the better the flavor. Overnight is ideal, but even a few hours will work if you’re short on time.
- Check the Temperature: Use a meat thermometer to ensure your chicken reaches 165°F (75°C) internally for safe and juicy chicken.
- Skin Side Down: Start by cooking the chicken thighs skin side down. Once you flip them, the air fryer will crisp up the skin as it cooks, ensuring the skin gets extra crispy on top while the meat stays juicy.
- Line the Air Fryer: Line the air fryer with parchment paper or foil to collect the juice from the chicken while frying instead of letting them drip off the pan. This helps ensure your chicken stays moist and flavorful.
Pairing soy garlic chicken with the right sides give your meal to a whole new level. Here are some great ideas:
- Steamed Rice
- Pickled Vegetables: my go-to pickles are carrot and radish pickles for Vietnamese sandwiches (banh mi). But you can also use any type of pickles you like.
- Stir-Fried Vegetables: Lightly seasoned vegetables like bok choy, broccoli, or snap peas add a fresh crunch.
- Asian Slaw: A slaw with cabbage, carrots, and a sesame-ginger dressing makes a perfect pair.
- Kimchi
- Cucumber Salad
- Miso Soup: A warm bowl of miso soup provides a comforting start to your meal
- Edamame: Steamed edamame sprinkled with sea salt is a healthy, protein-rich side dish
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes: The natural sweetness of roasted sweet potatoes pairs well with the soy chicken.
Air Fryer Soy Garlic Chicken Thighs
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs skin on
- 3 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp minced fresh garlic
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 ½ tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp cooking wine
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a medium bowl, mix the oyster sauce, brown sugar, ground black pepper, minced garlic, honey, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and cooking wine.
- Marinate the Chicken: Place the chicken thighs in a large ziplock bag or a shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring each thigh is well-coated. Seal the bag or cover the dish and refrigerate overnight. This step is key for maximum flavor, so don’t skip it!
- Preheat Your Air Fryer: When you’re ready to cook, preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). This ensures the chicken cooks evenly and gets that crispy skin.
- Air Fry the Chicken: Arrange the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket, skin side down. Cook for 15 minutes, then flip them over and cook for another 10-15 minutes until the skin is crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C).
- Serve and Enjoy: Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving. This helps the juices redistribute, keeping your chicken thighs moist and flavorful. Serve with your favorite sides.
