Easy Teriyaki Chicken Skewers in the Air Fryer

These easy teriyaki chicken skewers in the air fryer are quick and delicious! Seasoned chicken thighs skewered and air fried until tender brushed with a homemade teriyaki sauce. Serve over rice with steamed veggies for a quick, fun family meal. You can use wood or metal skewers in the air fryer, if using wood skewers soak them before use.

Highlights of this air fryer chicken recipe:

• Easy recipe, done in under 30 minutes
• Family favorites
• Skewers are fun to serve with kids
• Tender chicken
• Homemade teriyaki sauce is additive and preservative free
• Makes great leftovers!
• Low carb option to traditional breaded chicken
• Easy clean up, no mess of traditional frying
• Good base recipe, serve with rice, noodles, or veggies

Grocery store list & substitutions:

• Boneless skinless chicken thighs, could substitute boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken tenders
• Kosher salt
• Fresh cracked black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Soy sauce, could substitute low sodium soy sauce, coconut amino, or tamari
• Brown sugar
• Honey
• Minced garlic
• Cornstarch
• Substitute store-bought teriyaki sauce or gluten-free teriyaki sauce

Quick Steps:

1. Cube and season chicken
2. Skewer on wood or metal skewers
3. Air fry until tender
4. Brush with teriyaki sauce

Serving Ideas for the teriyaki chicken kabobs:

• Serve skewered chicken family style on a platter with steamed white rice and veggies for a complete meal
• Serve with sautéed red onion and bell peppers
• Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds
• Serve remaining teriyaki sauce alongside for dipping

If you like this Easy Teriyaki Chicken Skewers in the Air Fryer, you’ll love these other easy recipes…

Easy Instant Pot Teriyaki Meatballs Recipe

Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Recipe

Air Fryer Sweet And Sour Chicken Recipe

Crispiest Air Fryer Chicken Katsu Recipe

The Best Ground Beef Taquitos in the Air Fryer

Tools I used for this air fryer teriyaki chicken recipe:

• Instant 6 qt. Air Fryer – Sleek and functional, the perfect size for 2-3 people.
• Shallow Bowls – Perfect for serving rice bowls.
• Tongs – A must kitchen utensil, perfect for transferring the chicken.
• USA Pan Half Sheet Pan – my go-to sheet pans, these are truly non-stick and clean up nicely.

Pro Tips & tricks:

• Spread chicken out evenly in the air fryer basket so nothing gets soggy.
• If you plan to air fry a lot of chicken (if you are multiplying this recipe), preheat your oven to 250 degrees F. and have a sheet pan ready. After each batch of chicken transfer to the sheet pan and keep warm in the oven until ready to eat.
• Enjoy immediately for best texture!
• Double the sauce recipe if you want extra teriyaki sauce for dipping

What to serve air fryer teriyaki chicken with?

Serve this easy teriyaki chicken with Failproof Long Grain Rice in the Instant Pot, Perfect Brown Rice (without a rice cooker), or Perfect Steamed Rice (without a rice cooker). You could also serve over noodles, with stir fried veggies, or with a simple salad.

Can I use metal skewers in the air fryer?

Yes! Similar to a conventional oven, metal is safe in the air fryer. Use any metal skewer that will fit in your air fryer or use wooden skewers. If using wood, allow to soak for 30-60 minutes before using so they don’t char.

What temperature do you cook raw chicken in the air fryer?

I always cook my chicken at 400 degrees. It cooks quick, saving time and ensure it gets crispy. Starting with less cooking time and adding more as needed ensures the chicken doesn’t over cook and get tough.

What is homemade teriyaki sauce made out of?

Homemade teriyaki sauce is so simple to make and you probably have all the ingredients in your pantry. Save money and avoid additives/preservatives by making your own. Consisting of soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, garlic, water, and cornstarch this sauces thickens up great and has nice flavor. Perfect for this delicious teriyaki chicken.

Perfect for a weeknight dinner this simple recipe will be a winner for the whole family!

Instructions for the air fryer teriyaki chicken skewers:

For the flavorful homemade teriyaki sauce:

• In a medium saucepan, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, garlic, and water. Heat over medium-high heat until the mixture starts to bubble. Reduce heat to medium-low, add in the cornstarch, whisking well to dissolve, and allow to simmer 5-10 minutes, stirring often until thick and reduced. If the sauce is to thick, thin with a little water.

For the chicken:

• Add cubed chicken thighs to a large bowl, season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Mix to combine. Skewer chicken pieces onto wood or metal skewers and set aside.
• Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes*. Once preheated, place skewers into the air fryer basket in a single layer*. Air fry for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Chicken is done when it has an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, use an digital meat thermometer if needed.
• Brush skewers with teriyaki sauce. Serve over steamed rice with remaining sauce for dipping. Leftover chicken will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Notes:

*Cooking time may depend on the size of the chicken.

*Chicken needs to cook in a single layer in order to get crispy. If needed, cook in batches and keep warm in a 250 degree oven.

Did you make this recipe?

I would love to see it! Take a picture and post to Instagram with the tag @theheartylife and the hashtag #theheartylife – You can also leave me a question or comment below! If you’ve tried this recipe, feel free to give it a star rating on the recipe above.