Marinated Chicken in Air Fryer

Moist marinated chicken in air fryer directions are here! Homemade teriyaki sauce makes these chicken thighs or breasts amazing when they’re done cooking in your Cosori or Ninja Foodi.

Air Fryer Marinated Chicken

You can use your Ninja Foodi to make this, or any other electric air fryer brand you have. It really doesn’t matter what color yours is or the name on the side. I have several different ones and there is barely any difference. The biggest is the size of the basket. Obviously if you have a large family you’d want a 6 quart or larger.

If you choose to use your favorite bottled sauce that is okay, we love homemade teriyaki sauce. It is easy to throw together and you can add a bit of heat too if you like them spicy. Use what you love a few hours before and then here’s how to cook them perfectly moist and tender.

How long do you marinate chicken?

Ideally, you really should marinate your chicken thighs, legs or drumsticks, breasts or other parts between 30 minutes and 12 hours max. The thicker the pieces, the longer it will take to flavor the meat all the way thru. I usually let this and our baked teriyaki chicken thighs sit for about 2 to 4 hours.

That seems to give it a chance to really soak in. Always place the bag with your meat inside your fridge, not left out on the countertop.

That is important to remember because poultry if left out raw can start to grow bacteria and we don’t want that. Just set a timer like I do so you don’t forget to keep yourself on schedule. 😉 I just whip up the sauce in the morning after drop off, throw it in the fridge to soak and then cook around 5pm.

Can you marinate frozen chicken?

Yes and no. You could put meat into a bag with your sauce even if it’s rock hard but it won’t soak in until it’s defrosted so it would take twice as long in the fridge. A few hours to thaw and a few hours to soak in the sauce.

If you want to choose to make this sauce, it’s quite easy and doesn’t require a lot of ingredients. I am sure you have everything in your cupboard already. Remember that if you like spicy marinated chicken you can do that in several different ways. Sriracha is great but there is dry Sriracha, red pepper flakes, chili powder and other favorites.

Is air fried chicken healthy?

Yes! Especially when you cook it this way. If you love air fryer chicken with no breading, this is the way to go. Tons of flavor without the need for extra carbs on the outside.

As for the size of the chicken pieces, I always recommend medium. Very large thighs and/or breasts make it hard to cook chicken appropriately in order to get the correct internal temperature without burning the outside. If you want it diced into bite size pieces first try our air fryer teriyaki chicken directions.

Ninja Foodi Marinated Chicken

You will need to use the lid that is not attached with this machine. Tip to getting REALLY crispy chicken skin is to spray the outside with olive oil for a few additional minutes at the very end. Here are the basic steps to follow:

1. Whisk teriyaki chicken marinade together in a bowl.
2. Add meat and put into fridge for 30 minutes.
3. Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees for 5 minutes.
4. Spray air fryer basket with non stick spray and lay chicken pieces inside. Can sprinkle with salt and pepper now too if you want.
5. Set cook time to 15 minutes and flip halfway through.

Check and if you want skins crispier, spray with olive oil and add a few more minutes. We are all about the crunch when it comes to our air fryer chicken recipes.

What temp should chicken thighs be?

165 degrees F is a safe temperature, not touching the bone. You should always have a meat thermometer in your drawer to test. The best way to test is to pull out a piece and stick into the thickest portion of the meat. If you leave it in the basket that is already hot it won’t be as accurate. Super quick meal prep and cook time until a perfectly healthy meal.

What should I serve with chicken thighs?

When we make chicken and potatoes or this, our go to is a batch of mashed potatoes or Instant Pot white rice. Paired with mixed vegetables it’s great. This is what is made almost always. A side salad is an easy go to as well.

I have lots of other ideas and add more every single week so bookmark our site for lots of other ideas. I’ll share a few of our favorites though below for ya’.

• You can also use this same idea if all you have is frozen chicken breast in air fryer too.
• If you want simple salt and pepper without marinating first, you can follow our air fryer chicken thighs recipe too.
• Air fryer chicken fried steak is a Southern favorite too that is great with a side of turnip greens.

Below is a printable recipe card with nutritional information included. This accounts for the sauce listed and 5 chicken thighs. If you choose to use more the amounts will vary.