This Maple Glazed Chicken recipe combines the rich sweetness of maple syrup with a hint of heat from chili crisp making this dish unbelievably delicious. It’s simple to make in the air fryer, delivering perfectly glazed, juicy chicken in just 25 minutes. You will be making this every week.
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This chicken leg quarters in air fryer is a recipe you must try. It's made with super simple ingredients and you can whip it up for the entire family any night, even on a busy weeknight.
If you love this delicious recipe, then you need to check out these other easy chicken recipes: Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers, Korean Fried Chicken Air Fryer, and Sticky Sweet Chili Chicken Thighs.
Why you will love this!
- LOTS OF FLAVOR! The sweet and sticky glaze has a deep, complex flavor with some heat. Plus, it gives the chicken a beautiful caramelized finish!
- Convenient: Ready in just 25 minutes! It's such an easy dinner to prep during busy weeknights. Just season, air fry, and glaze as it cooks.
- Healthy: Maple syrup is a great alternative to white or brown sugar. And it's satisfyingly delicious in this recipe! Try it to see how it complements the crispy chicken.
Jump to:
- Why you will love this!
- Here’s what you need to make
- How to make Maple Glazed Chicken
- Substitutions
- Equipment
- 9 Kitchen Essentials
- How to store and reheat Maple Glazed Chicken
- Top tips for success
- Maple Glazed Chicken - FAQ
- Related
- How to serve Maple Glazed Chicken
- Don't miss out!
- Maple Glazed Chicken
- Food safety
Here’s what you need to make
- Chicken thighs (I used chicken leg quarters)
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Smoked paprika
- Black pepper
Maple Glaze: - Maple syrup
- Butter
- Chili crisp
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make Maple Glazed Chicken
Maple Glazed Chicken is easy to make, I used chicken leg quarters. Here are my step-by-step instructions.
- Step 1
- Step 2
- Step 3
- Step 4
- Pat the Chicken Dry: Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels until very dry to ensure crisp skin.
- Make the Spice Mix: In a bowl, combine garlic powder, salt, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Season both sides of the chicken thighs generously with the spice mix.
- Cook the Chicken: Place the chicken skin side down in the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking.
- Make the Glaze: While the chicken cooks, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl, mix the melted butter, maple syrup, and the crunchy part of the chili crisp.
- Brush the Chicken with Glaze: Use a pastry brush to apply the maple glaze to both sides of the chicken while it’s cooking in the air fryer. Ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) or higher using a meat thermometer.
- Serve: Serve hot and enjoy your delicious Maple Glazed Chicken!
Substitutions
- Chicken thighs: I prefer using bone-in thighs, but boneless skinless breasts also work well as a leaner option. You can also swap it for pork chops.
- Smoked paprika: If you don't have smoked paprika, regular paprika with chipotle powder or red pepper flakes is a good option. You can also use Dijon mustard powder for a nice surprise.
Maple Glaze: - Maple syrup: Honey is the closest substitute to pure maple syrup, though it won’t have the same sweet flavor and depth as maple.
- Butter: Use a neutral oil like vegetable or olive oil for a dairy-free option.
- Chili crisp: Chili oil can be used in place of chili crisp. You can mix a bit of crispy fried garlic, onions, and green onions into the sweet maple glaze for added crunch.
Equipment
This Maple Glazed Chicken is easy to make, here are a few things that will make it easier for you.
- Air Fryer
- Knife
- Cutting board
check out my list...
9 Kitchen Essentials
life-changing tools that will make your time easier in the kitchen!
How to store and reheat Maple Glazed Chicken
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
To reheat, warm it in the air fryer or oven at 350 degrees F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
Top tips for success
- Pat the chicken thighs very dry before seasoning. This helps the skin crisp up beautifully in the air fryer, giving you that perfect golden brown crust.
- If you prefer a milder glaze, use less chili crisp or opt for just the crunchy browned bits without the chili oil. For extra heat, add a bit of the oil from the chili crisp to the glaze.
- Flipping the chicken halfway and brushing with the glaze ensures the flavor coats every inch. Glaze the chicken a few times.
Maple Glazed Chicken - FAQ
Some people prefer to glaze the chicken before cooking as it helps the flavor penetrate into the meat. Others like to add the glaze after cooking as a finishing touch. I prefer adding the glaze as the chicken cooks, around the halfway mark until the last few minutes of cook time.
Absolutely! Honey is traditionally used in glazes for chicken, but maple syrup is a great alternative with its unique flavor. Compared to honey, real maple syrup has fewer carbs and a lower glycemic index, which could make it a better choice for specific diets.
Make sure that the chicken thighs or breasts are completely dry before you cook them. I also prefer to glaze as the chicken cooks, brushing the glaze every 5 minutes or so. This technique helps the glaze stick better while allowing it to caramelize.
In this recipe, we’re using a combination of maple syrup, butter, and chili crisp to create a thick and flavorful glaze. If you want to make it even thicker, you can add a cornstarch slurry (a mixture of cornstarch and water) to the glaze and cook on the stove top on a low simmer.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
How to serve Maple Glazed Chicken
As a busy mom, I tend to keep things simple for dinner and stick to a protein, side, and salad or roasted vegetables. Here are some ideas for Maple Glazed Chicken:
- Serve with rice and a side of Garlic Braised Kale.
- Pair with Garlic Fried Rice.
- Also, serve this with Asian Coleslaw as a refreshing side salad.
Don't miss out!
Maple Glazed Chicken
This Maple Glazed Chicken recipe combines the rich sweetness of maple syrup with a hint of heat from chili crisp for an easy and delicious dish. It’s simple to make in the air fryer, delivering perfectly glazed, juicy chicken in just 25 minutes. Serve it with your favorite sides like roasted sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts for a healthy meal!
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: makes 6 quarter chicken thighs 1x
Ingredients
6-8 chicken thighs (I used chicken leg quarters)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon black pepper
Maple Glaze:
¼ cup maple syrup
2 tablespoon melted butter
1 tbsp chili crisp (use only the crunchy part)
Instructions
1. Pat the Chicken Dry: Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels until very dry to ensure crisp skin.
2. Make the Spice Mix: In a bowl, combine garlic powder, salt, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Season both sides of the chicken thighs generously with the spice mix.
3. Cook the Chicken: Place the chicken skin-side down in the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking.
4. Make the Glaze: While the chicken cooks, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl, mix the melted butter, maple syrup, and the crunchy part of the chili crisp.
5. Brush the Chicken with Glaze: Use a pastry brush to apply the maple glaze to both sides of the chicken while it’s cooking in the air fryer. Ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) or higher using an instant-read thermometer.
6. Serve: Serve hot and enjoy your delicious Maple Glazed Chicken!
Notes
-
- Pat the chicken thighs very dry before seasoning. This helps the skin crisp up beautifully in the air fryer, giving you that perfect golden brown crust.
-
- If you prefer a milder glaze, use less chili crisp or opt for just the crunchy browned bits without the chili oil. For extra heat, add a bit of the oil from the chili crisp to the glaze.
-
- Flipping the chicken halfway and brushing with the glaze ensures the flavor coats every inch. Glaze the chicken a few times.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Mains
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Food 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
Amie Yi says
I loved everything about this chicken, the sweet from the maple is perfect amount! So easy and quick, loved it ❤️
Sarah Weiss says
Wow, flavor is off the charts.