Juicy chicken thighs marinated in a savory soy honey sauce and air fried to perfection. This easy air fryer soy sauce chicken is ready in 30 minutes with simple ingredients. A great main that is better than Chinese takeout!
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This soy-flavored chicken is made of skin-on chicken thighs marinated in soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, oyster sauce and other seasonings. The marinated chicken thighs are then air fried and garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.
This easy chicken dish serves best over steamed rice and with leafy greens, like bok choy, choy sum, gai-lan, or napa cabbage.
It's a simple busy weeknight chicken recipe when you have little time or energy to cook. You could even marinate the chicken the night before to save on preparation time.
The golden brown chicken skin is the best part and the meat is packed with savory flavors. Chinese restaurants often serve a variation of this Asian chicken dish, but you can easily make it at home if you own an air fryer.
I also share how to bake or pan fry the chicken if you don't have an air fryer.
I love making this Chinese dish at home because it's so simple and it requires minimal ingredients. The results are always so good and you can save yourself $15-20 on take out.
Ingredients & Substitutes
Please scroll down to below recipe card for exact measurements.
- Skin-on Chicken Thighs: or use skin-on boneless chicken thighs if that's available. Or substitute with skinless chicken thighs but please reduce the cooking time by a couple minutes.
- Sesame Seeds: if you're allergic to sesame seeds, please omit.
- Green Onions
Chicken Marinade
- Regular soy sauce: or substitute with low sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce. If you’re gluten-free, substitute with tamari sauce, coconut aminos or a gluten-free soy sauce.
- Dark soy sauce: this is thicker and darker than regular soy sauce.
- Oyster sauce: a thick brown sauce made of oysters that adds a lot of umami flavor. Or substitute with vegetarian stir-fry sauce. If you're gluten-free: substitute with a gluten-free version.
- Honey: or substitute with light or dark brown sugar, maple syrup, or light corn syrup.
- Sesame Oil: if you're allergic to sesame oil, please omit and substitute with a neutral tasting oil.
- Shaoxing wine: a Chinese rice cooking wine. Or substitute with Dry Sherry. For a non-alcoholic or gluten-free version, substitute with any broth.
- Fresh Ginger: or substitute with ½ teaspoon ginger powder.
- Garlic Powder: or substitute with 2 teaspoon finely minced garlic.
- White Pepper or Black Pepper
Note: Most Asian grocery stores will carry most of the Asian specific ingredients or check online stores, like Amazon.
Expert Tips
- Pat chicken thighs dry with clean paper towels especially the skin so the marinade can adhere better.
- Marinate chicken for at least 15 minutes or overnight in the fridge for best results.
- Give the chicken thighs some space in the air fryer by placing them in a single layer without overlap.
- Optional: use parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup. Line the base of the air fryer basket with a square of parchment paper or foil.
- If you have leftover marinade, heat it in a small saucepan over medium heat until it boils and use it as a serving sauce for the chicken.
Instructions
Below are step-by-step instructions on how to make air fryer soy sauce chicken thighs:
- Debone the chicken thighs by carefully making small slits around the bone with a sharp knife, until it can be easily removed. If you're using boneless chicken thighs, skip this step.
- Transfer chicken thighs into a large bowl. Add marinade ingredients into the bowl and massage into chicken until coated. Marinate for 15 minutes or overnight in the fridge.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with vegetable oil or cooking spray or line the base of the basket with air fryer parchment paper. Place chicken thighs in the basket in a flat single layer and skin side up. You will need to air fry in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Air fry the chicken for 8-9 minutes at 375 degrees F or until an internal temperature is 165 F with a digital instant read thermometer and skin is browned. No need to flip halfway. Note: the cooking time will range per air fryer so monitor the cooking process.
- Remove the cooked chicken and slice it into pieces. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.
To Bake
- To bake the marinated chicken thighs, place thighs skin side up in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, cast iron skillet or oven-safe pan.
- Bake at 425 F for 20-25 minutes and then broil them at 500 F for 4-5 minutes until the skin is slightly charred on the edges but monitor this process. The chicken is cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 F with a digital instant read thermometer inserted at the thickest part or until juices run clear.
To Pan Fry
- Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large pan on medium heat. Place the chicken thighs in a single layer without over lap, skin side down. You may need to cook the chicken in small batches.
- Fry the chicken for 5-6 minutes, flip over and fry on the other side for another 4-6 minutes on the other side until you reach an internal temperature of 165 F with a digital instant read thermometer inserted at the thickest part or until juices run clear.
Storage
- Leftovers will last up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat: microwave for 2-3 minutes or reheat in the air fryer at 350 F for 5-10 minutes until hot.
- Freezer friendly? Soy sauce chicken can be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze: let the cooked chicken cool down and place the thighs into a freezer-safe bag. To enjoy: defrost the frozen chicken in the fridge overnight and microwave for 2-3 minutes or reheat in the air fryer at 350 F for 5-10 minutes until hot.
Pairing Suggestions
Soy sauce chicken serves well with:
- starters like egg rolls, crab rangoons, egg drop soup, hot and sour soup
- white or brown rice, cauliflower rice, or fried rice
- chow mein, lo mein, plain noodles, soup noodles
- cooked vegetables like bok choy, spicy garlic bok choy, choy sum, gai lan, garlic green beans or stir fried snow pea leaves.
- protein dishes like Oven-Roasted Char Siu or Air Fryer Char Siu, or Chinese Roasted Pork Belly.
FAQ
Air fryer soy sauce chicken can be made up to 4 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat, microwave for a few minutes or reheat in the air fryer at 350 F for 5-10 minutes until hot.
Yes, please see above for further instructions or below in the Notes section of the recipe card.
Other cuts of chicken can be used for this recipe but please adjust the air frying time to reach an internal temperature of 165 F as per below:
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs: Air Fry at 375 F for 6-8 minutes, no need to flip.
- Chicken Legs: Air fry at 400 F for 20 minutes in total, flipping over halfway.
- Wings: Air fry at 400 F for 16 minutes, flipping over halfway.
- Chicken Breast: Air fry at 370 F for 10 minutes on one side and another 6-8 minutes on the other side.
Note: Please note that every Air Fryer brand heats differently so it's best to monitor the air fryer process. These are the cooking times that work for my Phillips Air Fryer.
📖 Recipe
Quick & Easy Air Fryer Soy Sauce Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 lb skin-on bone-in chicken thighs or boneless chicken thighs
- ¼ teaspoon sesame seeds for garnishing
- 1 tablespoon green onions finely chopped for garnishing
Marinade
- 1 tablespoon regular soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce or vegetarian stir fry sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup, brown sugar or light corn syrup
- ½ tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon shaoxing wine or dry sherry wine or chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon ginger grated
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper or black pepper
Instructions
- Debone the chicken thighs by carefully making small slits around the bone with a sharp knife, until it can be easily removed. If you're using boneless chicken thighs, skip this step.
- Transfer chicken thighs into a large bowl. Add marinade ingredients into the bowl and massage into chicken until coated. Marinate for 15 minutes or overnight in the fridge.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with vegetable oil or cooking spray or line the base of the basket with air fryer parchment paper.
- Place chicken thighs in the basket in a flat single layer and skin side up. You will need to air fry in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Air fry the chicken for 8-9 minutes at 375 degrees F or until an internal temperature is 165 F with a digital instant read thermometer and skin is browned. No need to flip halfway. Note: the cooking time will range per air fryer so monitor the cooking process.
- Remove the cooked chicken and slice it into pieces. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.
Notes
To Bake
- To bake the marinated chicken thighs, place thighs skin side up in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, cast iron skillet or oven-safe pan.
- Bake at 425 F for 20-25 minutes and then broil them at 500 F for 4-5 minutes until the skin is slightly charred on the edges but monitor this process. The chicken is cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 F with a digital instant read thermometer inserted at the thickest part or until juices run clear.
To Pan Fry
- Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large pan on medium heat. Place the chicken thighs in a single layer without over lap, skin side down. You may need to cook the chicken in small batches.
- Fry the chicken for 5-6 minutes, flip over and fry on the other side for another 4-6 minutes on the other side until you reach an internal temperature of 165 F with a digital instant read thermometer inserted at the thickest part or until juices run clear.
Sinda
I made it yesterday for dinner and I could not stop myself from eating what I made for tomorrow's lunch as well 🙈 it was so good, I could not believe I made it myself ! This recipe is definitely a keeper, thank you 😊
Christie Lai
Thank YOU so much for this very kind review! Super happy to read this and glad it's now a keeper!
Marianna
First mouthful and my son commented “ this is delicious “. Really easy to make and super tasty. This recipe is a keeper !
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe! Glad you both enjoyed it!
Jazzel
This was really quick and easy! My fiancé and daughter enjoyed it very much! I paired it with garlic noodles!
Yum! 🤤
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe! Glad you both enjoyed it!
Iva
Could I do this with Bones in? If so, how should I adjust the cooking time?
Thank you
Christie Lai
Hi Iva, in that case I would redirect you to my other recipe that is bone in and made on the stove top. Please click here.
Meredith
Can you make this with boneless, skinless chicken thighs?
christieathome
Yes, but I would suggest reducing the air frying time to 6-8 minutes or until an internal temperature of 165 F with a digital thermometer or until juices run clear.
Alicia
I just made this tonight and it’s so delicious! The flavour was perfect, ill definitely make this again! Thanks for showing me how to debone the thigh, made the prep so much easier!
christieathome
I'm so happy to read this! Glad I could share how to debone the chicken. Thanks so much for making my recipe, Alicia!
Millia
This was sooooo good and easy to make! Flavourful and glazed perfectly. Thank you!
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe! Happy you enjoyed it!
Tony
My chicken didn't end up with gorgeous dark glaze yours has, although I used brown sugar - cook longer, change to honey, any suggestions. Would love for the resulting dish to look as good as yours.
christieathome
Thanks for sharing! Keep in mind that every air fryer is different in terms of heating so in your case I would suggest air frying for a bit longer until you get that dark colour.
Yen
Just tried this tonight and it’s perfect and quick! Marinaded for about 30 minutes and it was delicious! Nothing left! Thank you!!
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe, Yen! So glad you liked it 🙂
Garry
This looks amazing and I cant wait to try it.
Thanks Christie x