Description
Crispy, tender air fryer hot honey chicken thighs coated in a sweet and spicy glaze that perfectly balances heat and honey sweetness, making for an irresistible dinner that cooks up quickly in just over half an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (6 to 8 ounces each)
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Glaze
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
- 2 to 3 tablespoons hot sauce
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry thoroughly using paper towels. Drizzle olive oil over the chicken and rub to coat all sides evenly, which helps the seasoning stick and the skin crisp up.
- Season the chicken: In a small bowl, combine kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Sprinkle this seasoning blend evenly on both sides of the chicken thighs for flavorful crust.
- Air fry the chicken: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Place the chicken thighs skin side up in the air fryer basket, ensuring they aren’t overcrowded. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes total, rotating the basket halfway through the cooking time but avoid flipping the pieces, until the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F, ideally between 175°F and 185°F for maximum tenderness.
- Make the glaze: While the chicken is cooking, whisk together honey, melted butter, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl until well combined to create a tangy and spicy glaze.
- Glaze the chicken: Brush the glaze liberally over the cooked chicken thighs. Return them to the air fryer for 1 to 2 minutes to tack up the glaze, creating a sticky, caramelized coating. Note that you might not use all the glaze at this stage.
- Rest and serve: Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 3 to 5 minutes. Serve hot with the remaining glaze on the side as a delicious dipping sauce for extra flavor.
Notes
- Make sure to pat the chicken dry well to achieve extra crispy skin.
- Cooking times may vary slightly depending on the size of the chicken thighs and your air fryer model.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked safely and remains juicy.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce in the glaze to control the spice level to your preference.
- This recipe works great with other cuts like drumsticks or boneless thighs, but cooking times may differ.
