Air Fryer Sesame Garlic Chicken Thighs – Crispy Air Fried Chicken Thighs with Sticky Garlic Sauce | Best Chicken Thigh Recipe Air Fryer

Dinner with three teenagers is no joke. One wants spicy, one wants plain, and the other is always hungry again two hours after dinner. That is why I lean hard on my air fryer because it saves me most nights. Air fried chicken thighs have been a game changer in my kitchen. They come out juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside and my kids actually agree on them which is rare.

I love making air fryer chicken thighs because they are quick and they taste better than takeout. The skin gets that perfect crunch, almost like air fryer fried chicken, but I do not have to mess with hot oil or a giant mess. The flavor comes from the sauce and the right chicken thigh seasoning recipes that make the whole house smell so good.

If you just got an air fryer and you are looking for new air fryer recipes, this one is going to be your best friend. Once you try crispy air fryer chicken thighs you are going to want them every single week. I like to use bone in chicken thighs because they stay so juicy, but you can use boneless if that is what you have on hand. Whether you are searching for air fryer oven recipes, air fry recipes, or even the best chicken thigh recipe air fryer, this one is simple and delicious.

Cooking chicken thighs air fryer recipes has made dinner so much easier in my home. It is one of those chicken thighs recipes that does not take forever, and you can serve it with rice, noodles, or even a salad if you are feeling fancy. It is real family food that everyone eats without complaint. It is also one of my favorite ways to make crispy air fryer chicken without standing over a hot stove. If you are new to cooking chicken thighs or just want easy airfryer chicken thighs that work every time, this recipe is for you.

This is comfort food made easy. The kind of thighs chicken recipe that makes everybody happy, and honestly that feels like a win when you have a house full of teenagers. Out of all the chicken thigh air fryer recipes, this is the one that keeps me sane. Add this chicken thighs recipe to your weekly dinner plan and you will see why it is a keeper.

Ingredients You Will Need

• 4 bone in, skin on chicken thighs
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

For the sauce:

• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch + 1 tablespoon water
• Sesame seeds for garnish
• Green onions sliced for garnish

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: Dry and season the chicken

Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. This helps the skin crisp up in the air fryer. Rub them all over with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.

Step 2: Cook the chicken in the air fryer

Place the chicken thighs skin side down in the air fryer basket. Cook at 375°F for about 12 minutes. Flip them over and cook another 10 to 12 minutes until the skin is golden brown and the meat is cooked through at 165°F.

Step 3: Make the sesame garlic sauce

While the chicken is cooking, make the sauce. In a small pan, whisk together soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, garlic, rice vinegar, and brown sugar. Let it simmer for a couple of minutes. Stir in the cornstarch mixed with water until the sauce gets thick and glossy.

Step 4: Toss the chicken in the sauce

Once the chicken is done, brush or toss it with the sesame garlic sauce. Sprinkle sesame seeds and green onions on top.

Tips for Serving

I love serving these chicken thighs with white rice and some roasted broccoli on the side. The sauce drips onto the rice and it is just so good. You can also shred the chicken and throw it in lettuce wraps for an easy lunch the next day.

How to Store and Reheat

If you have leftovers, keep them in the fridge in a sealed container for up to three days. When you reheat, pop them back in the air fryer at 350°F for about 5 minutes to crisp the skin again.

Final Thoughts

This recipe is a total win in my house. It is quick, it is tasty, and it feels a little fancy without actually being hard. And honestly when you are a mom trying to feed three hungry kids, that is all that really matters. These air fryer sesame garlic chicken thighs are definitely going into our regular dinner rotation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Air Fryer Sesame Garlic Chicken Thighs Recipe Card

Air Fryer Sesame Garlic Chicken Thighs

Juicy bone in chicken thighs cooked in the air fryer until crispy, then coated in a sweet sesame garlic glaze. A quick dinner that tastes better than takeout and makes the whole family happy.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

  

For the chicken

• 4 bone in skin on chicken thighs
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

For the sauce

• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch + 1 tablespoon water slurry
• Sesame seeds for garnish
• Green onions sliced for garnish

Instructions

 

Step 1: Season the chicken

• Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Rub them with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.

Step 2: Cook the chicken in the air fryer

• Place chicken thighs skin side down in the air fryer basket. Cook at 375°F for 12 minutes. Flip them and cook another 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown and the inside reaches 165°F.

Step 3: Make the sesame garlic sauce

• While the chicken cooks, whisk soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, garlic, rice vinegar, and brown sugar in a small saucepan. Let it simmer. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook until the sauce thickens.

Step 4: Coat the chicken

• When the chicken is done, brush or toss it in the sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions.

Notes

Tips

• Patting the chicken dry is the secret to crispy skin.
• Do not skip flipping the chicken halfway.
• Use a meat thermometer to make sure chicken is fully cooked.
• Reheat leftovers in the air fryer at 350°F for 5 minutes to keep them crispy.

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Variations

• Swap the honey for maple syrup for a deeper flavor.
• Add chili flakes or sriracha to the sauce for extra spice.
• Try boneless chicken thighs for faster cooking.
• Use the same sauce on chicken wings or drumsticks for a fun twist.

Making dinner with three teenagers in the house is never quiet and it is never easy. Someone is always picky, someone is always rolling eyes, and someone is always hungry again at midnight. That is why I keep recipes like these air fried chicken thighs close. They are simple, they are tasty, and nobody fights me on eating them.

These air fryer chicken thighs are proof that air fried food can be crispy and full of flavor without a lot of mess. The skin turns into crispy air fryer chicken thighs that remind me of air fryer fried chicken but with way less oil. Using bone in chicken thighs makes them extra juicy, but boneless works too if that is what you have. Out of all the chicken thighs air fryer recipes I have tried, this one feels like the best chicken thigh recipe air fryer style because it just works every time.

I love that I can switch up the sauce or even the chicken thigh seasoning recipes when the kids get bored. Cooking chicken thighs in the air fryer really is a game changer for busy nights. Whether you are new to air fryer oven recipes or looking for new air fryer recipes to add to your weekly plan, this one needs to be on your list.

In the end this is one of those chicken thighs recipes that brings everybody to the table without a fight. It is comfort food but faster, it is real family food, and it is one of those air fryer chicken thighs recipes that keeps my teens full and me sane. If you have been searching for air fryer recipes chicken thighs, crispy air fryer chicken, or just a simple thighs recipe that makes life easier, then trust me this one is worth making again and again.

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