hese insanely delicious Sweet Chili chicken thighs in air fryer bring a tasty combo of sticky, sweet, and spicy flavors. These air fryer chicken thighs are an easy meal to whip up any night. Air fry or bake in the oven – up to you.
Irresistible Sticky Sweet Chili Chicken Thighs is quick to prepare. Fantastic for a tasty lunch or a delicious dinner.
Ingredients for Sweet Chili Chicken Thighs
- Chicken thighs (bone-in or boneless)
- Avocado oil
- Lemon pepper
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Pepper
Sticky Sweet Chili Glaze:
- Sweet chili sauce
- Soy sauce
- Lemon juice
- Sesame oil
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make Sweet Chili Chicken Thighs
Air frying chicken thighs is my favorite way to prepare chicken. It is simple, always come juicy – never dry! Once you start air frying, you will never go back.
Prep the chicken thighs. Season and set aside.
Air fry skin side down.
Make the glaze
Glaze and flip the chicken to get the skin crispy and caramelized.
Preparing the Chicken Thighs (oven or air fryer)
- Start by preheating your oven or air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel to ensure a crispy chicken skin.
Air Fryer Chilli Chicken
These insanely delicious Sweet Chili chicken thighs in air fryer bring a tasty combo of sticky, sweet, and spicy flavors. These air fryer chicken thighs are an easy meal to whip up any night. Air fry or bake in the oven – up to you.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: mains
- Cuisine: asian
Ingredients
6 bone in chicken thighs
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
Sticky Glaze
½ cup sweet chili sauce
3 tablespoon of soy sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
Instructions
Step 1: Preparing the Chicken Thighs (oven or air fryer)
- Start by preheating your oven or air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel to ensure a crispy chicken skin.
Step 2: Season the chicken
- In a small bowl, mix the avocado oil, lemon pepper, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Rub this flavorful seasoning mix all over the chicken thighs, ensuring an even coating.
Step 3: Air fry or Roast the chicken
- Air fry: Air fry the chicken skin side down at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.
- Oven: Line the baking tray with parchment paper. Roast the chicken skin side down for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. Flip and roast for 10 minutes until the skin is crispy.
Step 4: Sticky Sauce
- While the chicken is air fryer or roasting, prepare the sticky sauce.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk together the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and oyster sauce.
Step 5: Applying the Sticky Glaze
- Baste the chicken a few times with the sticky sauce while roasting or air frying. You want the chicken to be caramelized. I basted the chicken at least 4 times to get a nice coat of the glaze.
- Add more 10 minutes of cooking time to the chicken or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Step 7: Broiling for Extra Crispiness (Optional – highly recommended)
- For an extra crispy finish, turn on the broiler for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking. Keep a close eye to prevent burning and ensure that the chicken skin becomes beautifully caramelized.
Step 8: Serving
- Once done, remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes. Serve your Sticky Sweet Chilli Chicken Thighs over a bed of jasmine rice or with your favorite side dishes.
Notes
- For a crispy chicken: Make sure the chicken is patted dry with paper towel.
- Caramelized chicken: Broil for an extra 2 minutes at the end to get the chicken extra sticky and caramelized.
