Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs with Honey Garlic Sauce

Two air fryer boneless skinless chicken thighs covered in honey garlic sauce on a plate with green onion on top.

Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs with Honey Garlic Sauce

These Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs are tender and juicy with a light, crisp coating and tossed in a homemade honey garlic sauce. Dinner is ready in just 30 minutes!

Course Dinner

Cuisine Canadian, Chinese

Keyword air fryer, boneless, chicken thighs, dinner, honey garlic sauce, skinless

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Total Time 30

Servings pieces

Calories 216kcal

Author Leanne

Ingredients

For the chicken:

6 boneless skinless chicken thighs about 1 1/2 - 2 pounds, excess fat trimmed
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the sauce:

1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon fancy molasses
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar
5 garlic cloves minced
1/4 cup water for cornstarch slurry
1 tablespoon cornstarch for cornstarch slurry

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel.
In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Coat the chicken on all sides.
Spray both sides of the chicken thighs with oil and place in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Air fry at 400F for 12-15 minutes or until lightly crisp and golden, stopping after 7-8 minutes to flip the pieces over. The internal temperature should be at least 165F but it's okay if it goes to 175F.
While the chicken air fries, add the honey, soy sauce, 2 tablespoons water, molasses, vinegar, sugar and garlic to a small sauce pan. Stir together over medium heat until it starts to bubble.
Make a cornstarch slurry by whisking together 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1/4 cup of water. Whisk into the honey mixture and stir until thickened. Remove from heat.
Transfer the air fried chicken to a serving dish and pour the warm sauce over the chicken. Serve with sliced green onions and/or chopped fresh parsley along with your favorite side dishes.

Notes

Make sure the chicken is evenly coated with the cornstarch and seasoning mixture. The cornstarch helps absorb moisture and contribute to a crispy texture. While I coated the chicken by using my hands, you can also add everything to a large resealable bag and shake until the chicken is coated all over.
To ensure the chicken cooks evenly on all sides, it should be placed in the air fryer basket in a single layer with a little space around each piece. I used a 5.8 quart air fryer, which fit 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs. If you have a smaller air fryer, you will need to air fry in batches or half the recipe.
If you prefer a honey garlic sauce that's thinner, just add more water. If you prefer a thicker sauce, use more cornstarch slurry.

Nutrition