Making Chinese soya sauce chicken at home is very easy. This Easy Chinese Air Fryer Soy Sauce Chicken Thighs recipe 氣炸鍋豉油雞 gets the chicken perfectly charred, sticky, and moist inside! All you need is 20 minutes, and you can wrap your fingers around this restaurant-quality marinated crispy chicken you are so used to ordering for Chinese take-out!
Jump to:
- What is Soy Sauce Chicken?
- What is Air Fry Soy Sauce Chicken?
- What Cuts of Chicken Do You Use For Soy Sauce Chicken?
- Easy Soy Sauce Chicken Air Fryer Recipe Ingredients and Substitutions
- How To Cook Soy Sauce Marinated Chicken in Air Fryer
- How Long Do You Air Fry Chicken Thighs?
- Best Air Fryer Method Tips
- Easy Chinese Freezer Meal Prep
- What To Serve With Chinese Soy Sauce Chicken
- Easy Chinese Air Fryer Soy Sauce Chicken Thighs 氣炸鍋豉油雞
What is Soy Sauce Chicken?
The Soy Sauce Chicken (豉油雞, Chǐ yóu jī) is an iconic favourite Chinese take-out dish. This sweet, savoury, sticky marinated chicken is standard at many Chinatown BBQ Master 燒臘店. The chicken skin is plump and the meat juicy. It is next to the Barbecue Pork Char Siu, with roasted ducks and pork.
What is Air Fry Soy Sauce Chicken?
If the traditional Cantonese soy sauce chicken 豉油雞 and Chinese Fried Chicken 炸子雞 had a baby, it would be this Air Fry Soy Sauce Chicken recipe.
This easy homemade soy chicken in the air fryer is sweet and savoury with crisp skin!
What Cuts of Chicken Do You Use For Soy Sauce Chicken?
When choosing which cut of chicken to use for making Chinese Soya Sauce Chicken recipes, typically soy sauce chicken, is made with a whole chicken.
I prefer a lovely boneless chicken thigh with the skin on for easy meals at home.
Western grocery stores do not always carry boneless chicken thighs with skin on. You can always ask your local Chinese chicken shop owners for a specific cut.
From experience, I find the boneless chicken thighs with skin yield the best results for the juiciest chicken thigh recipes!
You can also substitute this recipe with boneless skinless chicken thighs or skinless chicken breasts if you don't want it to be so fatty. However, you will not get that cooked chicken with crispy skin enjoyment!
I've also tried chicken drumsticks, and they were equally fantastic!
I would save your chicken wings for this easy 8-minute Microwave Chicken Wings Recipe instead!
Easy Soy Sauce Chicken Air Fryer Recipe Ingredients and Substitutions
- Boneless Chicken Thigh with Skin On
- Vegetable Oil or Cooking Spray
Marinade Ingredients
- Light Soy Sauce
- Dark Soy Sauce
- Shaoxing Wine
- Ground White Pepper
- Sugar or Honey
- Minced Garlic (or garlic powder if you do not have fresh Garlic)
- Five Spice Powder
For this simple marinade, you do not need many ingredients typically required to poach whole soy chicken like star anise, ginger, green onions, and rose-flavoured wine (Mei Guilu). You do not even need corn starch to thicken the sauce.
Substitute regular soy sauce for low-sodium soy sauce if you do not want the air fryer chicken thighs to be too salty.
How To Cook Soy Sauce Marinated Chicken in Air Fryer
Mix simple marinade in a small mixing bowl to combine. Set aside.
Wash chicken thighs and pat dry with paper towels.
Place chicken thighs and the simple marinade in a resealable plastic bag (gallon-sized ziplock bag).
Massage the chicken around the marinade to ensure it is evenly coated.
Let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes hours.
How Long Do You Air Fry Chicken Thighs?
Depending on the air fryer model, you can cook chicken thighs in the air fryer in just 20 minutes (I use THIS Ninja Foodi air fryer!)
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for two minutes. Preheating the air fryer yields a more even cooking heat distribution.
Brush the bottom of your air fryer basket with a little bit of oil or use a cooking spray. The best way to avoid messy clean-ups is to use air fryer parchment paper and line the bottom of the pan.
Place the air fryer chicken thighs boneless, skin-on facing up in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
You can air-fry the chicken with a little sauce on it.
Air Fry Honey Soy Chicken at 390 Degrees F (390°F) for 18 minutes. No need to flip halfway.
Remove air fryer chicken thighs carefully with kitchen tongs. Place cooked chicken thighs on a cutting board and cut them into chicken pieces.
Serve with white rice, and stir-fry bok choy, and you've got a delicious dinner for the whole family!
Best Air Fryer Method Tips
If you've never cooked with an air fryer before, this small kitchen appliance can be intimidating. However, I swear by its convenience and versatility and rapidly circulating hot air to cook crispy food without using too much oil!
Here are a few tips for anyone who has (or is planning on getting) an air fryer!
1. What is the best temperate to air fry chicken thighs?
It is best to air fry chicken thighs at 390F to mimic the high heat temperature of a roaster. Don't worry! Your roasted chicken will still be tender with just the right about of char.
2. How long should I air fry soy chicken?
Depending on the size and the thickness of the chicken you put into the air fryer, 18 minutes should cook it thoroughly with a beautiful char. This also depends on the model of your air fryer, so you may want to reduce or increase the air frying time by one to two minutes.
3. Do I need to preheat the air fryer?
Based on experience, you should always preheat the air fryer before filling it with food. By doing this, the air fryer's temperature is more consistent, and your food will cook more evenly. Simply preheat your air fryer for two to three minutes before cooking.
4. How to choose the right air fryer?
Choosing the right air fryer for your kitchen depends on your lifestyle, available counter space, and if you intend to cook small or big batch meals. For us, we like the supersized XL pressure cooker and 7.6L cooking pot that is big enough to cook a small chicken, 12 potstickers or one large broccoli inside like THIS Ninja Foodi Air Fryer!
5. How to clean air fryers easily?
Use air fryer parchment paper and line the bottom of the pan for easy clean-ups. Then wash the air fryer basket with warm soapy water.
Easy Chinese Freezer Meal Prep
This Air Fryer Soy Sauce Chicken Recipe is healthy and effortless to make. Because the chicken thighs are boneless, parents can rest assured that it is also a kid-friendly freezer meal.
Simply place the marinated chicken in the freezer. When you are ready to defrost the chicken for your busy weeknight dinner, your chicken will be marinating in the fridge!
Print this cheap freezer meal with a shopping list NOW!
What To Serve With Chinese Soy Sauce Chicken
- Chinese Papaya Soup with Black Eyed Peas (Easy) 木瓜花生眉豆雪耳雞腳湯
- Easy Vegan Fried Rice with Mushrooms 生炒牛肉飯 (素食)
- Vegan Tofu Stir Fry 豆乾小炒王
- Bean Curd Sheets with Baby Bok Choy Stir Fry 腐皮蒜蓉炒白菜
- Easy Red Bean Soup With Coconut Milk 椰汁紅豆沙
If you enjoyed ike this Flavorful Chicken with Soy Sauce, add this family-style recipe to your easy weeknight meal menu! Also, check out our Air Fried Chicken Wings Recipe! I'd love to see how you went with my recipes! Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @INSTANOMSS #INSTANOMSS.
PrintEasy Chinese Air Fryer Soy Sauce Chicken Thighs 氣炸鍋豉油雞
Making Chinese soya sauce chicken at home is very easy. This Easy Chinese Air Fryer Soy Sauce Chicken Thighs recipe 氣炸鍋豉油雞 gets the chicken perfectly charred, sticky, and moist inside! All you need is 20 minutes, and you can wrap your fingers around this restaurant-quality marinated crispy chicken you are so used to ordering for Chinese take-out!
- Prep Time: 2
- Cook Time: 18
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 people 1x
- Category: Main Dishes
- Method: Air Fry
- Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients
- 2 pieces Boneless Chicken Thigh with Skin On
- Vegetable Oil or Cooking Spray for the air fryer
Marinade Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Light Soy Sauce
- 2 tbsp Dark Soy Sauce
- 2 tbsp Shaoxing Wine
- 1 tsp Ground White Pepper
- 1 tsp Sugar or Honey
- 5 cloves Garlic, minced
- ½ tsp Five Spice Powder
Instructions
- Mix simple marinade in a small mixing bowl to combine. Set aside.
- Wash chicken thighs and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Place chicken thighs and the simple marinade in a resealable plastic bag (gallon-sized ziplock bag).
- Massage the chicken around the marinade to ensure it is evenly coated.
- Let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes hours.
- Depending on the air fryer model, you can cook chicken thighs in the air fryer in just 20 minutes (I use THIS Ninja Foodi Air Fryer!)
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for two minutes. Preheating the air fryer yields a more even cooking heat distribution.
- Brush the bottom of your air fryer basket with a little bit of oil or use a cooking spray. The best way to avoid messy clean-ups is to use air fryer parchment paper and line the bottom of the pan.
- Place the air fryer chicken thighs boneless, skin-on facing up in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air Fry Honey Soy Chicken at 390 Degrees F (390°F) for 18 minutes. No need to flip halfway.
- Remove air fryer chicken thighs carefully with kitchen tongs. Place cooked chicken thighs on a cutting board and cut them into chicken pieces.
- Serve and enjoy with white rice, and stir-fry bok choy, and you've got a delicious dinner for the whole family!
Notes
- This recipe was made in a Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 Pressure, Slow Cooker, Air Fryer.
- For even cooking, don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Arrange the chicken thighs in a single layer.
- Preheat the air fryer for a more even cooking heat distribution.
- Use air fryer parchment paper and line the bottom of the pan for easy clean ups
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 199
- Sugar: 3.3 g
- Sodium: 2147.8 mg
- Fat: 8.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 9.7 g
- Fiber: 0.7 g
- Protein: 22.7 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg
Keywords: Air Fryer, Soy Sauce, Chicken, chicken thighs, 氣炸鍋, 豉油雞, easy, freezer meals, meal prep, chinese recipes, main dishes
Pin the above image to your Easy Air Fryer Recipe Pinterest Board to bookmark this page. We are so excited to share our recipes with you!
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dave says
damn these were juicy. air fryer soy sauce chicken thighs are my new favourite meals! i really liked this cut you recommended!
★★★★★
Sherry says
Your air fryer chicken thighs are so delicious and tasty!
★★★★★
Rebecca says
We have just purchased an air fryer and cannot wait to try this recipe, thank you.
★★★★★
Bianca says
This was so delicious and so easy to make!
★★★★★
Cindy Mom the Lunch says
I've added this to my meal plan this week. I can not wait to try it!
★★★★★
Jean says
rich in flavor and so glad it dont need lots of oil for cooking.
★★★★★
Emily Flint says
I couldn't believe how good this chicken turned out in the air fryer! And...my child ate it so now it's in the rotation!
★★★★★
Shelby says
One of my favorite weeknight dinner recipes! A great one for meal prep the next day too!
★★★★★
dave says
this air fryer soy chicken is amazing. the crispy skin was BOMB! What an easy and terrific recipe!
★★★★★
Choclette says
Soy sauce makes such a brilliant marinade. So simple, but so delicious.
★★★★★
Terri says
Finally bought an air fryer- so excited to make this!!
★★★★★
Nancy says
woo hoo!!! what kind of air fryer did you get?
Sean says
I love my air fryer, but this just makes me realize how much Chinese cooking I need to start converting for it! Fantastic recipe, and so wonderfully easy. SO glad you use dark and light soy sauces too - I think the difference in salt quantity and that rich caramel colour in the dark soy sauce really makes a big difference in this recipe (and in many other soy-sauce-centric recipes!). Cheers!
★★★★★
Nancy says
Haha Sean you are absolutely right because there is no just one soy sauce for all. All the flavours builds upon each other and they are two very different animal!
Melinda says
Delicious! The flavor is far better than any takeout version - and I love a recipe that uses chicken thighs instead of breasts. It’s a nice change of pace. Thanks for sharing.
★★★★★
Colleen says
I was looking for something different to make with chicken in the air fryer. So when I saw this recipe I went and bought some shaoxing wine and made this. SO good! Will be making again!
★★★★★
Sunrita says
Such a fabulous recipe. Love the ease and deliciousness of flavour! Kids loved it!
★★★★★
Elaine says
Sweet and sticky chicken! So juicy and quick in my air fryer. Love the easy cleanup, too!
★★★★★
Jill says
Ok this is just amazing! The flavor from the soy sauce marinade is perfect! Loved the ease of making it in the airfryer too!
★★★★★
Andrea says
Oh wow! So good. I used a different cooking wine but they turned out so well. Thanks.
★★★★★
Jamie says
This chicken was so delicious and satisfying!
★★★★★
Asha says
Love how tender and juicy the chicken came out, and crispy on the outside. Great recipe
★★★★★
Vanessa says
This was an easy meal that the whole family loved! Love the crispy skin!
★★★★★
Lesley says
These chicken thighs look delicious. So quick any easy to cook in the air fryer too.
★★★★★
Lucas says
Such a delicious recipe! My kids loved it.
★★★★★
Tatiana says
Love this easy chicken dinner
★★★★★
Freya says
Such a delicious marinade that I use on tofu and veg as well!
★★★★★
Mary O’Brien says
These look delicious! I can't wait to taste them.
★★★★★
Keri says
I love that these are so tasty and easy to make in the air fryer.
★★★★★
Andrea says
love how easy this recipe is!
★★★★★
Alexandra says
So delicious - we will be making this again soon!
★★★★★
Stine Mari says
I wish I had an AirFyrer so I could make these delicious Chinese soy sauce chicken just as you made them. Yum!
★★★★★
Andréa Janssen says
Great recipe, easy to prepare!
★★★★★
Amanda says
This was so easy to make and tasted delicious. Thank you for sharing!
★★★★★
jan says
so much flavour
★★★★★
Addie says
Love these flavors!
★★★★★
Nancy says
isn't it wonderful!?
Julia says
I love that making this in the air fryer cuts down on the time and makes it healthier. This is a great standalone meal with some rice!
★★★★★
Nancy says
totally!! rice and veggie on the side makes all the differences!
Kayla DiMaggio says
These air fryer soy sauce chicken thighs were so delicious! I loved how easy they were to make!
★★★★★
Nora says
I love this recipe! It's so easy and quick to make! Thank you!
★★★★★
Marcella says
Easy and tasty!
★★★★★
Natalie says
This looks delicious Nancy. Your images always make me hungry, can`t wait to try it, thanks!
★★★★★
Jean says
rich in flavor and goes well with a hot cup of rice
★★★★★
Rebecca says
I've been busy searching for air fryer recipes and this was one of the best in have tried so far.
★★★★★
Freya says
These really were so good and packed full of flavour!
★★★★★
Alexandra says
I am always looking for more recipes for my air fryer and this is delicious.
★★★★★
Jerika says
This Chinese soya sauce chicken is one of my favorites with my rice.:) What I love about this is, it is very easy to prepare. Love it!:)
★★★★★
Andrea says
love how simple this is to make!
★★★★★