Air Fryer Honey Garlic Marinated Chicken Thighs

February 23, 2022 by Tristin 30 Comments

Juicy Air Fryer Honey Garlic Marinated Chicken Thighs are a little sticky, but so worth the mess! Made with a simple 5-ingredient honey garlic marinade that is going to have your family coming back for seconds.

Quick cooking and delicious dinners are our favorite dinners just like this air fryer honey garlic marinated chicken. Another incredible meal you can make in the air fryer is Chicken Breast Without Breading, it comes out so tender and juicy. Or try making Air Fryer London Broil and serve with Dinner Rolls in the Air Fryer.

Up close of air fryer marinated chicken on a plate.

Marinated Chicken in Air Fryer

In need of an easy dinner? We’ve got you covered with this finger licking good, honey garlic chicken! Just consider dinner (basically) done! Well, the idea part is done, you still have to cook.

I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs in this recipe for a meal that is healthier and lower in fat.

You may be wondering why we are using a marinade for chicken in this recipe. I love using marinades because it is a great way to infuse a ton of flavor into your chicken. It’s also very easy to dry out chicken in the cooking process because it is a lean protein. Using a marinade makes the chicken even more flavorful and juicy.

Air Fryer Marinated Chicken

Making your own marinade means you can control all of the ingredients. You get a say in how much salt, sugar, and preservatives get added (or don’t get added). And homemade marinade is just so simple to make and cheaper.

For this marinade you will need honey, olive oil, garlic cloves (or 3/4 teaspoon of garlic powder), rice wine vinegar, a little soy sauce, salt, and pepper. All basic ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. Just go buy chicken thighs, that’s it.

An above view of marinated chicken in air fryer on a plate.

Can you Cook Marinated Chicken in an Air Fryer?

If you are wondering if marinated chicken can be cooked in an air fryer, the answer is yes. You can definitely use the air fryer for marinated chicken. In fact, I recommend making it this way because it is the best way to get juicy chicken.

Why Make This Air Fryer Chicken Recipe?

Cooks Quickly. This chicken cooks in under 15 minutes.
Low ingredient recipe. You only need 6 ingredients (plus salt and pepper) to make this recipe.
Delicious. Makes a meal your family is going to love.
Healthy. A great source of protein and great for your health. This recipe is low in sugar, keto friendly and low carb.

How Long to Marinate the Chicken Thighs?

I recommend marinating chicken thighs in the marinade for at least 30 minutes. But, it can also sit in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours. Since this marinade has vinegar in it, the acidity may break down your chicken or make it tough.

How Much Chicken Can I Make with This Marinade?

I have made up to 3 lbs of chicken using this marinade. If you are making more chicken than that then I recommend doubling the marinade.

Can the Marinated Chicken be Layered in the Air Fryer?

Make sure that you keep the air fryer chicken thighs with honey garlic marinade in one layer when you are cooking it in the air fryer. If you stack the raw chicken it will not cook properly or evenly.

What Temperature to Cook the Chicken Thighs to?

Use an instant read thermometer to check on the temperature of the chicken. It should be at 165°F

What if I Don’t Have Time to Marinate the Chicken?

Sometimes, we need dinner on the table stat and do not have time to fuss with marinating the chicken. Don’t worry about it because you can just do a quick marinate on this chicken. Pour all of the ingredients into a large zip bag along with the chicken and let it sit while the air fryer preheats.

It won’t be quite as flavorful as it would be if it had soaked for 30 minutes, but it will still add some flavor.

Air Fryer Honey Garlic Marinated Chicken Ingredients

Oil: I use olive oil to make these chicken thighs.
Honey: I like to use a local honey.
Garlic: Fresh garlic that has been minced.
Vinegar: You will need white wine vinegar, but any white vinegar will work.
Soy Sauce: I used regular soy sauce, buy low sodium soy sauce can also be used.
Salt and Pepper: I like to use just a pinch of sea or kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Chicken Thighs: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs.

All the ingredients needed for marinated chicken in air fryer.

How to Make Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Thighs

Cut any extra fat off the chicken thighs.
In a gallon sized zip bag, add in all of the seasonings . Zip the bag closed and smush around all the ingredients. You can also do this in a large bowl, stir ingredients.
Pour 1/4 cup of marinade into a small bowl to later pour on cooked chicken.
Add in chicken thighs. Try to get air out of the zip bag and zip closed.
Place the chicken in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or up to 12 hours.
Pull chicken out of the fridge.
Preheat air fryer. Once heated, carefully place chicken into the air fryer.
Cook chicken. Flipping over halfway through cooking time.
Let chicken rest for a few minutes before serving. Top with reserved marinade.

All the steps needed to make marinated chicken in air fryer.

How to Bake Marinated Chicken Thighs in Oven

If you don’t have an air fryer, it is no problem at all. Here are the instructions on how to cook chicken thighs in the oven.

Pull the marinated chicken thighs out of the refrigerator to warm up.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Cook chicken for 25-35 minutes. Check after 25 minutes to see how done it is. Cook until the internal temperature is 165°F.
Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving it. Top with the reserved marinade.

Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Tips and Variations

Check on your chicken at any time if you are worried about it burning or over cooking.
Chicken thighs are done when a meat thermometer reads 165°F.
Depending on the size of the chicken thighs and the amount you are making (and the size of your air fryer basket), you may need to cook the chicken in batches. I can comfortably fit 6 small or 4 large chicken thighs in my Cosori 5.8 quart basket style air fryer.
Make sure not to poke any holes in the chicken when putting into the air fryer or pulling it out.
Let chicken rest for a few minutes before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are chicken thighs healthy? Chicken thighs when prepared in a healthy manner, are actually good for you and a great source of protein. They are also typically more affordable than chicken breast. So, if you like chicken thighs I say get them.

Is this air fryer chicken recipe gluten free? Since regular soy sauce is traditionally made with wheat and soy, this means it contains gluten. So this is not a gluten free recipe. But, you can easily make it gluten free by using Tamari soy sauce, it’s typically gluten free but you will want to check the ingredients or buy gluten free soy sauce if you can find it.

Storage Instructions

How to refrigerate air fryer marinated chicken? Let the chicken cool and put in an air tight container. It should last about 3-5 days in the fridge.

How do you reheat marinated chicken in air fryer? Pre-heat the air fryer to 350° F. Cook chicken for 3-4 minutes or until heated to your liking.

How to freeze air fryer marinated chicken? Let chicken cool completely before wrapping well with plastic wrap and put into an air tight, freezer safe container. Chicken can be frozen for 3-6 months, just be sure to label with the recipe and date.

How to thaw frozen air fryer marinated chicken? Thaw frozen cooked chicken on a plate in the refrigerator overnight until defrosted.

An above view of two plates of marinated chicken in air fryer.

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5 from 12 votes