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Sweet Chili Glazed Chicken Thighs – Easy Air Fryer Recipe for Juicy Dinner

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Juicy, crispy chicken thighs coated in a sticky-sweet, tangy, and mildly spicy glaze, made effortlessly in the air fryer. This quick weeknight dinner is a crowd-pleaser with minimal cleanup and maximum flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 4–6 thighs)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon grated ginger (optional, or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger)
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil (or olive oil)
  • 2 stalks green onions, thinly sliced (for garnish, optional)
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (for garnish, optional)
  • Red pepper flakes (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Sprinkle both sides with salt and black pepper. Let sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, honey, lime juice, minced garlic, grated ginger, and sesame oil until smooth.
  3. Pour half the glaze over the chicken thighs and turn to coat. Marinate for 10-15 minutes if time allows (optional).
  4. Preheat air fryer to 380°F for about 3 minutes.
  5. Arrange chicken thighs skin-side down in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook at 380°F for 12 minutes.
  6. Flip each thigh and brush with more glaze. Cook for another 10-12 minutes, or until skin is golden, caramelized, and chicken is cooked through (internal temp 175°F).
  7. Brush with any leftover glaze and let chicken rest for 3-5 minutes before serving.
  8. Garnish with green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes if desired. Serve hot.

Notes

For extra flavor, marinate the chicken for up to 30 minutes. Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket—cook in batches if needed. To make it gluten-free, use tamari or coconut aminos and check your sweet chili sauce label. For extra crispiness, dry the chicken skin thoroughly before seasoning. Leftovers reheat well in the air fryer. The glaze can be thickened in a saucepan if desired.

Nutrition

Keywords: sweet chili chicken, air fryer chicken thighs, easy chicken dinner, Asian chicken, weeknight dinner, sticky chicken, sweet and spicy chicken, gluten-free option, meal prep, family dinner

Find it online: https://magnetmeal.com/sweet-chili-glazed-chicken-thighs-easy-air-fryer-recipe-for-juicy-dinner/