Quick, simple, and packed with flavor, Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken is better than takeout and easy to make gluten-free if needed!

Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken was one of the first recipes I ever made in the Air Fryer, and after that, I was completely hooked. The crispy chicken with the delicious sweet and savory honey garlic sauce was easy to customize, came together in minutes, and didn’t cost me as much as takeout! This recipe can easily be adapted to use a variety of different sauces, too.

What you’ll love about this Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe:

Perfect Texture – Crispy, Tender Chicken without the oil.
Great Flavor – The sweet and savory sauce gives flavor to every bite.
Adaptable – Easy to customize to gluten-free, too.
Quick and Easy – It’s ready in less than 30 minutes.
Family Friendly – It’s a crowd pleaser, the kids will love this too.

Ingredients needed for Honey Garlic Chicken in the Air Fryer:

Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
Cornstarch
Honey
Soy Sauce or Gluten Free Soy Sauce
Brown Sugar
Ketchup
Cloves Garlic or Garlic Powder
Ground Ginger
Cornstarch
Cooked Rice
Cooked Green Beans
Sliced Green Onions
Grapeseed Oil Spray, Olive Oil Spray, or Avocado Oil Spray for Crispiness!

The only ingredient swap needed to make this gluten-free is to use gluten-free soy sauce or coconut aminos for the sauce. It’s best to use boneless skinless chicken thighs versus boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs will be juicier.

How do you make Honey Garlic Chicken?

The chicken thighs will be cut into small cubes and then coated with cornstarch. These will be placed in the air fryer basket with a coat of oil spray to cook until fully cooked to at least 165 degrees F.

While the chicken is cooking, in a small saucepan on the stove, the sauce can be prepared. Once the chicken is fully cooked, it will be coated in the sauce.

If you are using a Ninja Multi-Cooker, the sauce can be prepared after the chicken is cooked in the pot, using the saute function, then the chicken can be added back into the pot and mixed and warmed through.

If you want to mix things up a bit, add red pepper flakes to the sauce to add in some spice.

Tips for Making Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe:

Use chicken thighs – Chicken breast works; however, they dry out very quickly, and chicken thighs will be juicy and taste most like the restaurant quality.
Watch the cooking time – All air fryers heat differently, and the chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F to be considered done. The Ninja Air Fryer took about 20-24 minutes; however, some air fryers take closer to 15 minutes. Keep an eye on the chicken and check it throughout the cooking time with a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking.
Do not overcrowd the basket – Always leave room around the chicken so that air can fully circulate, place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Flip, Stir, or Mix throughout the cooking time – For an evenly cooked chicken, flip the chicken, toss, or shake it halfway through the cooking time.
Use oil spray – Use grapeseed oil spray or your preferred oil spray to coat the chicken, this will allow it to get crisp.

How do you store leftovers?

Once fully cooled, store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When ready to reheat, heat at 350 degrees F for 2-3 minutes, use oil spray to revive the crispy chicken. Alternatively, the chicken can be reheated on a microwave-safe plate in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

Best Side Dish Options to Serve with:

Ninja Foodi Rice

Air Fryer Green Beans

If you love these, you’ll also enjoy these Air Fryer Teriyaki Bowls or Air Fryer Sesame Chicken!

Whether it’s a busy weeknight or just craving something delicious, this Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken is the BEST family dinner that everyone will love in their bowl on those busy weeknights. Give it a try and let your Air Fryer do the work!

Created by: Kristy Still

Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken

Course Air Fryer Recipes

Cuisine American

Servings

Make a delicious Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken right at home with a Ninja Foodi or Air Fryer!

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Total Time 35

Ingredients

6 Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
Cornstarch or Potato Starch
1/2 Cup Honey
1/2 Cup Soy Sauce or Gluten Free Soy Sauce
2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
2 Tbsp Ketchup
1 Clove Crushed Garlic
1/2 Tsp Ground Ginger
1 Tbsp Cornstarch
Cooked Rice
Cooked Green Beans
Sliced Green Onions

Instructions

Cut the chicken into cubed chunks, then toss in a bowl with Cornstarch or Potato Starch. Use enough to coat the chicken evenly.
Place in the Air Fryer and cook according to your Air Fryer Manual for chicken. (Note – I cooked ours on 390°F for 24 Minutes, 12 minutes on each side. Chicken will be done anywhere from 15-25 minutes, when it reaches an internal temperature of at least 165°F.)
While the chicken is cooking, in a small saucepan, combine the honey, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, garlic, and ginger.
Bring this to a low boil, then whisk in the cornstarch until the sauce is thickened. (Note, if it’s not thick enough, add in additional cornstarch until nicely thickened.)
Set aside.
Once the chicken is cooked, mix it into the sauce and warm up. This can be done in a small skillet or the saucepan, simply coat the chicken with the sauce. It will be a sticky texture sauce.
Serve the chicken over the cooked rice with green beans.
Garnish with green onion.

Video

Notes

If you are making this in the Ninja Foodi:

Once you have the chicken made, carefully remove the basket. It will be hot, use oven mitts. Clean the pot out, then you can do your sauce in this pot. Simply use the sauté function on medium-high heat. Make sure to use a wooden utensil or one that won’t scratch the pot. Stir it until it’s well combined then mix in the chicken.

The rice and green beans can also be made in this; however, I find it’s faster to just do those on the stove while the chicken is cooking. That’s your preference.

Nutrition

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