Want crispy chicken coated in a tangy teriyaki sauce in less time than it takes to order delivery? Make this Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken recipe! It’s fast and easy for busy weeknights but elevated enough for special occasions.
Teriyaki chicken is a classic Japanese dish that we love to order as a family. It’s one of those dishes that every person in the family can agree to love!
I’ve been experimenting with my own recipe for the past several years, and this air fryer version is definitely the big winner. I’m so excited to finally share this recipe with you all here on the blog!
The chicken is lightly breaded then air fried, then coated in a tangy teriyaki sauce. It’s fast, easy, and so very delicious!
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this family favorite recipe!
- Fast – Thanks to the almighty air fryer, you can make this fave take-out dish in under 30 minutes. For us, it’s even faster than ordering take-out or delivery!
- Easy – The recipe is just a few simple steps that are easy to follow.
- Great texture – The light breading crisps up nicely in the air fryer, but the chicken stays nice and juicy.
- Flavorful – I use my own teriyaki sauce recipe here, with big umami flavors.
- Crowd pleasing – Teriyaki chicken is one of those dishes that kids and adults tend to love alike!
Ingredient notes
You’ll need a few basic ingredients that you probably already have on hand, especially if you cook Asian recipes at home often. I’ve also included some substitutions for the ingredients you may not have on hand all the time.
- Chicken – Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for the best flavor and juiciest chicken. You can substitute chicken breasts if you prefer, but it won’t be the same.
- Dry breading ingredients – You’ll need tapioca starch, garlic powder, and kosher salt to lightly bread the chicken. I prefer tapioca starch because it gives the chicken that nice lighter crispy texture. But you can substitute arrowroot or potato starch, or even AP flour in a pinch.
- Sauce ingredients – To make the teriyaki sauce, you’ll need soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sake, and light brown sugar. If you don’t have rice wine vinegar, you can substitute mirin or a dry sherry cooking wine. If you don’t have sake, you can either use a little more rice wine vinegar or you can also leave it out.
- Garnishes – thinly sliced green onions and a sprinkling of white sesame seeds finish the dish with finesse. You can leave these out entirely if you prefer. You can also substitute chopped fresh cilantro or parsley instead of the green onions.
Step-by-step instructions
You’ll find the full list of ingredients along with measurements, and more detailed instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here are some step-by-step photos, along with a basic overview of instructions, to help you make this air fryer teriyaki chicken recipe.
- Start by making the teriyaki sauce.
- Then whisk together the breading ingredients.
- Toss the diced chicken into the breading ingredients.
- Make sure the chicken is well coated.
- Add the chicken to the air fryer basket(s) in a single even layer. You may need to work in batches depending on your air fryer.
- Air fry at 400°F for 8 minutes.
- Gently shake the basket, then air fry for 2 more minutes.
- Place the cooked chicken into a large bowl.
- Pour the teriyaki sauce over the chicken.
- Gently toss to coat the chicken fully in the teriyaki sauce.
- Serve either as is or garnished with sliced green onions and white sesame seeds.
Marlynn’s Tip
Recipe Tip
After breading the chicken, let it rest for 2-5 minutes. This helps settle the breading and helps it stick more to the chicken during cooking.
Recipe FAQs
Use a meat thermometer to check doneness. When the thermometer is inserted into a thick part of a chicken piece, it should read 165°F when the chicken is done.
If you want a saucier teriyaki chicken, toss the chicken in the sauce and allow it to sit for about 15-30 seconds, then toss fully in the sauce again, then rest; repeat as many times as you want or until you’ve used all of the sauce.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Serving suggestions
This air fryer teriyaki chicken is best served over a bed of white rice or garlic rice. It’s also great with chili garlic noodles. You can also serve this with shrimp and chicken fried rice.
For some appetizers and side dishes to complement the teriyaki chicken, consider serving it with Asian pickled cucumbers, Asian cabbage coleslaw, or easy air fryer cabbage.
🍷 🥂 Wine pairings
I find that, because of the umami flavors of teriyaki chicken, it can pair well with either white wine or red wine. If you’re in the mood for a white wine pairing, go for a light, refreshing Riesling or Gewürtztraminer. For a red wine pairing, opt for a lighter bodied, low tannin red wine such as a Pinot Noir or Gamay.
More dinner recipes you’ll love
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
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Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
Teriyaki sauce
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup rice wine vinegar, or mirin
- ½ cup sake, or Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Chicken
- 1¼ – 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- ⅓ cup tapioca starch, or potato starch or arrowroot
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Oil + Garnishes
- cooking oil spray
- 2 green onion stalks, sliced
- ½ teaspoon white sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, whisk together the soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sake, light brown sugar, and sesame oil and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes, just until the sauce thickens a bit.
- Preheat the air fryer at 400°F for 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the tapioca starch, garlic powder, and salt.
- Add the chicken and gently toss to coat in the dry mixture.
- Spray the air fryer baskets lightly with cooking oil spray. Add the chicken in an even singly layer, leaving a little room around each piece. Depending on how much chicken you have and the size of each piece, you may need to work in batches. Then lightly spray the tops of the chicken with cooking oil spray.
- Air fry at 400°F for 8 minutes. Shake the basket to gently toss the chicken. Air fry for another 2 minutes. Check the chicken with a thermometer; it's done when the thermometer reads 165°F.
- Transfer the chicken from the air fryer to a large bowl and pour over the teriyaki sauce.
- Gently toss to coat all of the chicken. Plate, and garnish with sliced green onions and white sesame seeds before serving.
Notes
- Substitute mirin or dry sherry for the rice wine vinegar.
- Substitute arrowroot or potato starch for the tapioca starch.
- Substitute tamari or coconut aminos for soy sauce.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
