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

 


Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Serving Size: 4 servings

Equipment Needed:

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 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)

Instructions:

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 the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Need a great air fryer? We love the Cosori 12-in-1 Air Fryer with turbo boost—huge capacity, awesome reviews, and easy clean-up.

Step 3: Make the Glaze

  1. While the chicken cooks, make the sauce:

  2. In a small saucepan, combine honey, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes over medium heat.

  3. Simmer for 3-5 minutes, until garlic softens and flavors blend.

  4. 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:

  • Steamed jasmine rice

  • Garlic roasted green beans

  • 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.

Support Our Mission: Love easy, flavorful meals? Support our work by visiting ko-fi.com/goodfoodreallife!

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