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.
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 chicken thighs
- 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 oilCook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark
- 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, and freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- 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.
