Marinated Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer

These are the best teriyaki marinated chicken thighs in air fryer. Incredibly moist and juicy when they’re done cooking in your Cosori or Ninja Foodi, you can really use any sauce you want but this is our favorite.

Ninja Foodi Marinated Chicken

You can make this as one of our best Ninja Foodi recipes or any brand really. I have several different ones and there is barely any difference except for the size of the basket and with this multi-cooker you need to remember to use the lid that is attached to air crisp (they call it). To getting REALLY crispy chicken skin is to spray the outside with olive oil for a few additional minutes at the very end.

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 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.

Tips

I usually cut the sauce in half. I’ll add 1-2 Tbsp of hot sauce (whatever I have on hand) for my husband and middle daughter to enjoy and leave the rest mild.

Soak in two different bags so when done everyone is pleased. Don’t forget to remember which is which though. I push toothpicks into the spicy ones so there is no mistake. 😉 Alternatively, you can use our lemon pepper chicken marinade if that’s more to your liking. During the summertime if you want a lighter flavor this might be up your alley.

Check at the end 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.

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.

I choose to use chicken thighs whenever possible. I do this for many reasons: they’re super cheap and really moist. You can use this same method for other pieces, like marinated air fryer stuffed chicken breast in air fryer too. Timing will depend on the size of each piece, follow timing in post links below:

Chicken legs in air fryer are always a kid fave because they can pick them up easily. Dry Rub Air fryer chicken wings may be my favorite part of the bird all together. It doesn’t take long to cook those babies.

If you want to cook an entire air fryer whole chicken you could soak it overnight in this marinade first. If you haven’t tried this it is way way better than just buying an already done (usually overcooked) rotisserie at the store.

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.

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 air fryer 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 collard greens.