This ridiculously easy, quick Air Fryer Soy Sauce Chicken is everything. It’s the perfect dish when you need something comforting and delicious in a flash without the hassle of cleaning up a big mess.
This soy sauce chicken recipe is air fried until golden brown and crispy, yet still tender and juicy. The combination of soy sauce and a few other pantry staples provides the perfect Asian-inspired flavor that’s both sweet, tangy, and savory. It’s one of those dishes you can make again and again without ever getting bored!
Why you will love this recipe
- The cooking time for Air Fryer Soy Sauce Chicken is just 20 minutes, making it an easy weeknight meal for the whole family.
- A healthier alternative to deep-fried chicken, thanks to the air fryer.
- Great way to use up pantry items that yu already have in your fridge/pantry.
- Easily customizable to suit different tastes, you can add heat or more sweetness as desired.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs: Easy to cook and naturally more flavorful than other cuts of chicken, chicken thighs are the best choice for my favorite air fryer recipes. For a leaner option, use skinless chicken breasts instead. You can even use chicken drumsticks or chicken legs for bone-in options.
- Ginger: Fresh ginger adds a touch of warmth and earthiness to the marinade. Essential to many Asian dishes, it’s also a great way to add flavor without adding too much sodium.
- Garlic: Garlic is a must-have for this dish, as it provides the perfect pairing with soy sauce and other Asian flavors. Don’t skip this!
- Green onions: Never underestimate the power of green onions. They add a bit of sharpness and freshness to this dish, plus they look gorgeous when served!
- Apricot jam: You might not expect to find jam in a savory recipe, but it’s essential for that sweet and sticky glaze. You can also substitute with apricot preserves or even honey if preferred.
- Dark soy sauce: The base of this simple marinade, dark soy sauce, provides a deep color, sweet taste, and umami flavor. It’s thicker and much sweeter than regular soy sauce. If you’re using regular soy sauce or low-sodium soy sauce, add some brown sugar. If you’d like to make this gluten-free, use tamari instead.
- Mandarin orange: The juice and zest (optional) from fresh mandarin oranges add a hint of sweetness and acidity to the marinade. Mandarin orange slices can also be used as a garnish, along with sesame seeds, to add a beautiful color and extra flavor.
- Neutral oil: Used to help coat the chicken to preserve moisture and incorporate the flavors. I prefer a lighter and healthier option, like avocado or coconut oil. You can even use olive oil or sesame oil to add that unique, nutty flavor.
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Small or medium bowl
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Optional: parchment paper, aluminum foil
TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST AIR FRYER SOY SAUCE CHICKEN
- Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes before cooking to ensure it gets all the good flavor. Use your hands to rub the spices, juices, and oil into the chicken thighs.
- Use a high-quality soy sauce for your marinade. Otherwise, it won’t be as flavorful.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket when you cook your chicken pieces! This will help the chicken get evenly cooked and achieve that crispy skin.
- Open up the chicken thighs when putting them into the air fryer. They often come in the package folded over. It will take longer to cook if you keep them folded over.
- If you like your food with more heat, add some chili flakes or hot sauce to the marinade.
- Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check the temperature and make sure the chicken is cooked through. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit or more for it to be cooked.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
MEAL PREP – this chicken thigh recipe is great for meal prep. Marinate, store and air fry. Super easy!
STORE – store the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
REHEAT – reheat in a microwave or the air fryer to get the skin nice and crispy again.
FREEZE – freeze the cooked boneless chicken thighs in the freezer for up to 3 months.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH AIR FRYER SOY SAUCE CHICKEN
- White rice
- Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Shiitake Mushroom Fried Rice
- Garlic Braised Kale
- Sesame Cucumber Salad
MORE AIR FRYER CHICKEN THIGHS RECIPE
- Spicy Sesame Chicken – Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
- Gochujang Chicken Thighs Air Fryer
- Juicy Orange Chicken Air Fryer (gluten-free)
- Peach Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer
- Teriyaki Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
Air Fryer Soy Sauce Chicken
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 2-4 1x
Ingredients
5–6 pieces boneless chicken thighs (use whatever chicken cut you want)
1” ginger (julienned)
1 tbsp garlic (minced)
2 stalks of green onions
2 tbsp apricot jam (use whatever jam you have or honey)
2 tbsp dark soy sauce
juice of 1 mandarin orange (sub: lime, lemon, or any citrus)
1 tbsp neutral oil (avocado oil)
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients. Minced the garlic. Slice the green onions.
- Combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl.
- Mix in your chicken. Make sure it is fully incorporated.
- Air fry for 15-20 minutes. Flipping halfway. The cooked temperature of the chicken should be 165 degrees or more.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: mains
- Method: air fryer
- Cuisine: asian
Keywords: Air Fryer Soy Sauce Chicken, soy sauce chicken air fryer, honey soy chicken air fryer,
John Leigh
My family’s new favorite, unbelievable 👏 😍. Flavor is incredible!
Sandee
how long do you marinate the chicken?
Carmen
You can do a quick marinate in the fridge for 10 minutes or just air fry it right away.
Alice Onrait
All I can say is wow, I marinaded the chicken for 30mins, it was so juicy and off the charts flavor. Best airfryer soy sause chicken I’ve ever made. 10/10.
Jason Baum
This sounds great! What temperature do you recommend air frying the chicken? Thanks!
Carmen
Air fry at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Thank you!
Urma G
Best Soy Sauce Chicken recipe I’ve ever made!! So easy to make and absolutely delicious.