Asian Marinated Chicken in the Air Fryer

Asian Marinated Chicken in the Air Fryer is a easy Asian recipe that serves 4. 250 calories per serving. Recipe by THE YELLOW RICE on YouTube.

Prep: 50 min | Cook: 29 min | Total: 1 hr 34 min

Cost: $8.17 total, $2.04 per serving

Ingredients

  • 4 pieces Chicken thigh halves (boneless or bone-in) (Approximately 800 g, remove excess skin and free the meat around the bone)
  • 3 tablespoons Soy sauce (Preferably light soy sauce)
  • 1 tablespoon Cooking wine (sherry type) (Optional, adds depth)
  • 1 tablespoon Sweet sauce (hoisin type) (Adds a sweet, thick touch)
  • 0.5 teaspoon Five-spice powder
  • 1 teaspoon Sesame oil (Toasted sesame aroma)
  • 1 teaspoon Sugar
  • 1 clove Fresh garlic (Finely minced)
  • 0.5 teaspoon White pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Vegetable oil (for brushing)
  • a pinch Red food coloring (Optional, to give a reddish hue)
  • 2 tablespoons Fresh chives (Thinly sliced for garnish)
  • 250 g Fragrant rice (Cook according to package instructions)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the first marinade

    In a bowl, combine the minced garlic, sugar, soy sauce, sweet sauce, white pepper, sesame oil and, if desired, the cooking wine, five-spice powder and red coloring. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.

    Time: PT5M

  2. Prepare the chicken thighs

    Remove excess skin from the thigh halves, then free the meat on each side of the bone to create a uniform surface for the marinade to penetrate.

    Time: PT10M

  3. Marinate the chicken

    Place the thighs in the sauce, coat them well, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

    Time: PT30M

  4. Preheat the Air Fryer

    Turn on the Air Fryer and preheat it to 170 °C for 5 minutes.

    Time: PT5M

    Temperature: 170°C

  5. First cooking

    Arrange the thighs, skin side down, in the Air Fryer basket. Cook for 14 minutes at 170 °C.

    Time: PT14M

    Temperature: 170°C

  6. Flip and brush

    Flip the pieces, brush generously with the remaining marinade, then continue cooking for an additional 10 minutes at 170 °C.

    Time: PT10M

    Temperature: 170°C

  7. Rest and plating

    Let rest for 2 minutes, then place the thighs on a serving dish, sprinkle with sliced chives and serve with the fragrant rice.

    Time: PT2M

Nutrition Facts

Calories
250
Protein
20 g
Carbohydrates
5 g
Fat
12 g
Fiber
1 g

Dietary info: Gluten-free (if gluten-free soy sauce used), Can be adapted to a low-sodium version, low-carb, low-calorie

Allergens: Soy, Sesame

Last updated: April 7, 2026

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Asian Marinated Chicken in the Air Fryer

Recipe by THE YELLOW RICE

Chicken thigh halves marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, five-spice powder and garlic, quickly cooked in an Air Fryer at 170 °C. Served with fragrant rice and garnished with chives, this simple and flavorful dish brings Asian flavors in under 30 minutes of cooking.

EasyAsianServes 4

Shop all ingredients on Amazon in one click • Printable PDF with shopping checklist

Source Video
42m
Prep
34m
Cook
10m
Cleanup
1h 26m
Total

Cost Breakdown

$8.17
Total cost
$2.04
Per serving

Critical Success Points

  • Remove excess skin and free the meat around the bone
  • Let the meat marinate for at least 30 minutes
  • Cook the first phase 14 minutes without moving the chicken
  • Flip and brush before the second cooking phase

Safety Warnings

  • Handle the Air Fryer with gloves or an insulating sleeve; the basket becomes very hot.
  • Ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of at least 75 °C before serving.

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