Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken

Mastering Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken:¹

Air fryer teriyaki chicken offers a delightful fusion of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors, all achieved with the ease and speed of air frying. This recipe delivers a restaurant-quality meal experience right in your kitchen, using simple, readily available ingredients. This comprehensive guide will walk you through each step, ensuring your air fryer teriyaki chicken turns out perfectly every time.

Understanding the Flavor Profile:

Teriyaki sauce, the heart of this dish, is a symphony of flavors. Shoyu (Japanese soy sauce) provides a deep umami base, while mirin (sweetened Japanese rice wine) adds a touch of sweetness and complexity. Sake, another Japanese rice wine, contributes subtle notes and depth. Sugar enhances the sweetness, balancing the savory elements. Fresh ginger and garlic provide aromatic warmth and a slight bite, creating a harmonious blend of tastes.

Choosing Your Chicken:

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are an excellent choice for this recipe. Their inherent juiciness and ability to retain moisture make them ideal for air frying. Cut the thighs into bite-sized pieces for even cooking and easy serving. However, you can adapt this recipe to use other chicken parts, such as breasts or drumsticks, adjusting cooking times as needed.

The Magic of Marination:

Marination is crucial for infusing the chicken with the rich teriyaki flavors. The longer the chicken marinates, the more intense the flavor will be. Aim for at least two hours of marination, but overnight marination yields the best results. The teriyaki sauce acts as a tenderizer, ensuring the chicken remains succulent and flavorful.

Air Frying to Perfection:

Air frying offers a healthier alternative to traditional frying methods. It uses hot air circulation to cook food quickly and evenly, achieving a crispy exterior while keeping the inside moist and tender. Preheat your air fryer before adding the chicken to ensure optimal cooking.

Crafting the Teriyaki Glaze:

The teriyaki glaze adds a glossy finish and intensifies the teriyaki flavor. By reserving a portion of the marinade and thickening it with a cornstarch slurry, you create a luscious glaze that coats the chicken beautifully. The glaze also adds a touch of sweetness and shine to the finished dish.

Tips and Tricks for Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Success:

• Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket: Arrange the chicken in a single layer to ensure even cooking and crispiness. Cook in batches if necessary.
• Customize the flavor: Feel free to add other seasonings to your teriyaki sauce, such as red pepper flakes for heat or a dash of sesame oil for nuttiness.
• Adjust cooking times: Cooking times may vary depending on your air fryer model and the size of your chicken pieces. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for food safety.
• Serve with your favorite sides: Air fryer teriyaki chicken pairs perfectly with rice, noodles, steamed vegetables, or a fresh salad.
• Store leftovers properly: Refrigerate leftover chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer or microwave.
• For a thicker glaze: If you prefer a thicker glaze, you can add a bit more cornstarch slurry to the reserved sauce.
• Using other cuts of chicken: If using chicken breasts, consider pounding them slightly thinner for even cooking. Drumsticks may require a longer cooking time.
• Adding vegetables: You can add vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, or onions to the air fryer alongside the chicken for a complete meal. Add them towards the end of the cooking time as they will cook faster than the chicken.
• Garnish with flair: Sprinkle the cooked chicken with sesame seeds or chopped green onions for an attractive presentation.
• Preventing sticking: Ensure your air fryer basket is sprayed with non-stick cooking spray before adding the chicken.
• Flavor boost: A little grated fresh ginger or a minced clove of garlic in the marinade enhances the flavor profile.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Can I use frozen chicken? It’s best to thaw chicken before air frying. If you must use frozen chicken, adjust cooking times and ensure it reaches the proper internal temperature.
• How do I know when the chicken is cooked? Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. It should reach 165°F (74°C).
• Can I make this recipe without sake? You can substitute sake with chicken broth or dry sherry, although the flavor profile may be slightly different.
• How do I store leftover teriyaki chicken? Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken

Recipe by admin

0.0 from 0 votes

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

12

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Delicious and easy air fryer teriyaki chicken with a sweet and savory glaze.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup shoyu (Japanese soy sauce)

• 1/3 cup mirin (sweetened Japanese rice wine)

• 1/3 cup sake (Japanese rice wine)

• 2 tablespoons sugar

• 1/2 inch ginger, sliced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 teaspoon cornstarch

• 2 teaspoons water

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes

Directions

• In a medium bowl, combine shoyu, mirin, sake, sugar, ginger, and garlic. Reserve 1/4 to 1/2 cup of this sauce in a separate container for glazing.
• Add chicken to the remaining sauce in the bowl, cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight.
• Preheat air fryer to 380°F (190°C).
• While the air fryer preheats, prepare the glaze: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the reserved sauce with the cornstarch and water mixture. Stir until thickened.
• Spray the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray. Arrange marinated chicken in a single layer in the basket.
• Cook for 6 minutes, then flip the chicken. Brush with the teriyaki glaze.
• Cook for another 5-6 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
• Let cool slightly and serve. Enjoy

Notes

• Aim to air fry your chicken in a single layer for the best results. You can always work in batches if you have to!
  
•  I use teriyaki sauce so much that I decided to create and bottle my own to have on hand.  just remember to add in the garlic and ginger before you make your cornstarch slurry!
   
• I tried to keep this recipe as simple and straightforward as possible. That said, you can add in more seasonings if you want. Red pepper flakes are great for my spicy food lovers.

Nutrition Facts

• Total number of serves: 1
• Calories: 237kcal
• Fat: 5g
• Saturated Fat: 1g
• Trans Fat: 0.02g
• Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g
• Monounsaturated Fat: 2g
• Cholesterol: 108mg
• Sodium: 2002mg
• Potassium: 434mg
• Carbohydrates: 18g
• Fiber: 0.3g
• Sugar: 11g
• Protein: 25g
• Vitamin A: 27IU
• Vitamin C: 1mg
• Calcium: 26mg
• Iron: 1mg