Honey Ginger Chicken is a delicious Asian dish that combines honey with the zesty kick of fresh ginger to make the most scrumptious air fryer chicken thighs recipe. The marinade infuses the tender chicken thighs with a perfect balance of flavors, resulting in a juicy and aromatic main course.
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This honey ginger chicken recipe is perfect for busy nights when you want something delicious and quick for the whole family!
This was inspired by my other air fryer recipes, Spicy Sesame Chicken, Garlic Miso Chicken and pairs well with this fantastic sidedish: Cilantro Lime Rice and Mushroom Fried Rice recipe.
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Why you will love this recipe
- Bursting with Flavor: The combination of honey, ginger, and other simple ingredients creates a harmonious blend of sweet and savory flavors that will tantalize your taste buds.
- Tender and Juicy Chicken Thighs: The boneless chicken thighs in this easy recipe turn out incredibly tender and juicy, ensuring a satisfying and succulent eating experience.
- Quick and Easy Preparation: With just a few simple steps, you can have this delicious dish on your table in no time, making it perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends.
What you need for honey ginger chicken
Boneless chicken thighs
Honey
Sweet dark soy sauce
Ginger
Green onions
Oyster sauce
Sesame oil
Chinese 5 spice powder
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Making Honey Ginger Chicken Thighs is easy! Here's how you make it.
Combine all ingredients into a large bowl and mix thoroughly.
Air fry and enjoy!
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees.
- Prep the marinade. Combine honey, sweet dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, Chinese 5 spice powder, ginger, and the white part of the spring onions.
- Add the chicken thighs. Marinate for 10 minutes or overnight. You can also omit this step and proceed to air frying after mixing.
- Air fry at 375 degrees, skin side down, for 20 minutes.
- Flip halfway and let the skin get crispy.
- Serve with your favorite vegetable side dish and white rice.
Substitutions
Other than boneless chicken thighs, you can use chicken breasts, wings, or chicken drumsticks for this recipe.
If you don't have honey, you can substitute it with maple syrup or agave nectar.
Sweet dark soy sauce can be replaced with regular soy sauce mixed with a small amount of brown sugar. You can also use coconut aminos for a gluten-free meal.
For oyster sauce, you can use hoisin sauce or soy sauce combined with a dash of Worcestershire sauce.
If you don't have Chinese 5 spice powder, a blend of equal parts ground cinnamon, cloves, fennel seeds, star anise, and Sichuan peppercorns can be used as a substitute.
This image shows that you can do this with boneless skinless chicken thighs.
Variations
Here are some other variations you would enjoy.
- Spicy Honey Ginger Chicken: Add sliced red chilies or red pepper flakes to the marinade for an extra kick of heat.
- Citrus Honey Ginger Chicken: Incorporate orange or lemon juice and zest into the marinade to infuse a refreshing citrus flavor.
- Sesame Honey Ginger Chicken: Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and toasted sesame oil for added nutty and crunchy element.
Equipment
- Air fryer
- Bowl
- Measuring spoons
- Knife
- Cutting board
How to store and reheat
To store leftovers, place the leftover chicken thighs in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to three days.
To reheat, preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees, then place the chicken thighs in the air fryer and cook for 7-8 minutes until heated through. Alternatively, you can reheat them in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Top Tips for Success
- Marinating: For the best flavor, marinate the chicken thighs for at least 10 minutes, or ideally overnight, to allow the flavors of this dish to meld together.
- Flip for Crispy Skin: Remember to flip the chicken thighs halfway through the cooking time to ensure the skin gets crispy and golden brown.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the green part of the green onion and sliced red chilies over the cooked chicken thighs for a vibrant and visually appealing presentation. Serve alongside your favorite vegetables like green beans and steamed white or brown rice to complete this delicious meal.
Honey Ginger Chicken - FAQ
Yes, you can use maple syrup as a substitute for honey in chicken recipes. While the flavor profile may be slightly different, the sweetness and consistency of maple syrup make it a suitable alternative for adding a touch of sweetness to your chicken dishes.
No, honey chicken and orange chicken are not the same. While both dishes are sweet and savory, honey chicken is typically glazed with a honey-based sauce, while orange chicken features an orange juice-based, tangy sauce. The flavor profiles and ingredients differ between the two dishes.
Ginger in a marinade adds a unique flavor profile with a subtle spicy and tangy note. It also helps tenderize the meat by breaking down its proteins, resulting in a more tender and flavorful dish.
Related
Looking for other air fryer recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this recipe:
Honey Ginger Chicken - Easy Air Fryer Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees.
- Prep the marinade. Combine honey, sweet dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, Chinese 5 spice powder, ginger, and the white part of the green onion.
- Marinate for 10 minutes or overnight. You can also omit this step and proceed to air frying after mixing.
- Air fry at 375 degrees, skin side down for 20 minutes.
- Flip halfway and let the skin get crispy.
- Serve with your favorite vegetable side dish and rice.
Tried this recipe?
Mention @eatwithcarmen in all social platformsFood safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Alice says
Got hooked because of the photos, okay ill give this a try
Ruby says
Hate ginger but its turns out not overpowering the dish, anyway my hubby love it!
Peter Drake says
Where do I find sweet dark soy sauce? I have found sweet soy sauce but it doesn't appear to be thick.
Carmen Spillette says
I will send you the link to the dark sweet soy sauce (kecap manis).
Ilana Weihrauch says
Hello i cant seem to find the recipe for the red cabbiage slaw- what is in the sauce please?
Carmen Spillette says
Here you go!!! Cabbage Slaw
Boyd says
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Clive Baxter says
can I use dry ginger in this?
Carmen Spillette says
You can, but I do not think it will taste great. Fresh ginger has a different taste than powder. If you do use powder, let me know how it tastes.
Pete & marie says
We used
Kelsey Fox says
This recipe is absolutely amazing! The ginger adds a subtle warmth that's just perfect with the honey.
Carmen Spillette says
Thank you!!!