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The Best Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Wings Recipe

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Get your taste buds ready for the ultimate umami explosion with these Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Wings! Bonus: It’s so easy to make.

Air fryer teriyaki chicken wings with carrots and celery sticks.

If you’re a fan of finger-licking-good chicken wings, then you have to try the irresistible flavor combination of teriyaki sauce and crispy, juicy wings.

Teriyaki chicken are a popular dish in Japanese cuisine, but have gained a huge following worldwide due to their delectable taste and easy-to-make recipe.

The perfect teriyaki chicken wings have a crispy skin on the outside and are tender and juicy on the inside, with a sweet and savory glaze that’s packed with umami flavors. 

And that’s exactly what I’m going to teach you in this Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Wings recipe.

Air fryer teriyaki chicken wings recipe bite shot with carrots and celery sticks.

With the rise of air fryers, it’s never been easier to make the perfect batch of teriyaki chicken wings at home – without the need for deep frying or oil splatters.

Whether you’re looking for a party appetizer or a delicious weeknight dinner, these wings are sure to satisfy your cravings.

Air Fryer Teriyaki Wings Ingredients

Ingredients for teriyaki chicken wings

You can find the exact measurements of the recipe ingredients and customize the serving size in the recipe card after the detailed step-by-step instructions section.

For this insanely-tasty teriyaki chicken wing recipe, you’ll need:

  • Chicken wings 
  • Soy sauce
  • Pineapple juice
  • Ketchup
  • Rice wine vinegar
  • Brown sugar
  • Garlic
  • Ginger
  • Pepper

Fresh garlic and ginger are essential to this recipe! They add great flavor and zing, and bring complexity to the sauce.

Fun fact: You could make this exact recipe with any cut of chicken! The air frying time will increase depending on the size of the chicken pieces you’re cooking, but feel free to make this recipe with bone-in thighs or drumsticks!

Just remember to always check that the internal temperature of your chicken is at least 165ºF (74°C) or higher.

Recipe Video

YouTube video

How to Make Teriyaki Wings in the Air Fryer?

Making teriyaki wings in the air fryer is as simple as the wings are delicious! In just about 25 minutes, you can make hot, fresh chicken teriyaki wings that blow any takeout dish out of the park!

Step 1: Prepare your wings.

Thawed chicken wings

If working with frozen wings, be sure to first defrost the wings overnight in the refrigerator or in a bowl of cold water changed every 30 minutes. 

Also, when we refer to chicken wings, we are referring to wings that have already been separated into drums and flats. If your wings are whole, carefully cut them into 3 segments at the joints, discarding the tip of the wingette. 

Add the wings to a large bowl and thoroughly pat dry with paper towels.

If you want, you can lightly season the wingettes and drumettes with high heat cooking oil, salt, and pepper. This step is optional because we’re incorporating most of the flavors when we make the teriyaki sauce.

Step 2: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C).

Preating Instant Pot Vortex Plus Air Fryer to 400°F (204°C).

If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheating option, you can set the temperature to 400ºF (204ºC) and then let it cook for 5 minutes without food.

You may also skip this step by adding 4-5 minutes to your cooking time or until you achieve your desired finish.

💡 Pro Tip: For a more tender and juicy wings, please don’t skip this step. Based on our test cooking any type of meat for a longer period, makes it dry.

Step 3: Air fry the chicken wings for 20-25 minutes.

Cooking teriyaki chicken wings in air fryer

When the air fryer is preheated, add the clean, dry wings in a single layer and air fry until crisp and cooked-through, about 20-25 minutes, flipping once halfway.

💡 Pro Tip: For more crispy teriyaki wings, cook all the way through for 25 minutes or until the wings are golden brown. Coating the chicken with high heat cooking oil before air frying will also boost its flavor and crunchiness.

I used a 6-quart air fryer to test this recipe. Cooking time and temperature may vary depending on your air fryer and the number of servings you are making. For optimal results, begin with the lower end of the suggested cooking time.

Step 4: Prepare the teriyaki sauce.

Making teriyaki sauce in a saucepan.

While the wings are cooking, prepare the sauce.

In a small saucepan over low heat, add the remaining ingredients: soy sauce, pineapple juice, ketchup, rice vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, pepper. Cook the mixture, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 15-20 minutes.

Step 5: Coat the air fried chicken wings with teriyaki sauce.

Coating air fried chicken wings with teriyaki sauce.

When the wings are totally cooked and golden, and the internal temperature of the largest wing is at least 165ºF, transfer the hot wings to a clean bowl.

Pour the teriyaki sauce over the wings and toss to coat all the wings. Allow the wings to sit in the bowl for 1-2 minutes so that the sauce can really adhere to the wings before transferring them to a plate.

Step 6: Serve and enjoy your air fried teriyaki chicken wings.

Air fried teriyaki chicken wings with carrots and celery sticks.

Transfer your saucy air fryer teriyaki wings to a plate and top with toasted sesame seeds and scallions. Serve and enjoy! 

For a tasty and quick dinner, throw frozen broccoli in the microwave and make some rice while the chicken is in the air fryer.

The combo of the saucy chicken, steamy rice, and fresh broccoli makes for a perfectly-balanced and delicious dinner, done in the time that the chicken is in the air fryer!

Enjoy your tasty, quick and easy air fried teriyaki wings!

Freezing & Storage

If using garnishes like scallions or sesame seeds, only garnish the wings that you expect to eat. The wings are easier to reheat without something like chopped scallions that could wilt and turn dark green/brown.

Freezing: Once the wings have cooled completely, add to an airtight container or freezer-safe zip-top bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, defrost in the refrigerator overnight and then follow the instructions below.

Fridge: When the wings have cooled completely, add them to an airtight container or zip-top bag and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Reheating: The fastest way to reheat the wings without the sauce burning is in the microwave, for 1-2 minutes (depending on the number of wings). To air fry them, set the air fryer to 370ºF and add the wings in a single layer. Air fry until heated-through, but watch carefully that the sauce doesn’t start to burn.

Frequently Asked Questions

To air fry teriyaki chicken wings, start by thawing your frozen chicken wings. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204°C) and cook the chicken wings for 20-25 minutes until they are golden brown and crispy. While the chicken wings are cooking, prepare the teriyaki sauce. Finally, coat the chicken wings with the teriyaki sauce and serve.

prep time10 minutes
cooking time25 minutes
total cooking time35 minutes

The Best Ever Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Wings

courseMain Course
cuisineAmerican, Japanese
Get your taste buds ready for the ultimate umami explosion with these Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Wings! Bonus: It's so easy to make. 🤩 Fry it, to believe it!
Teriyaki Chicken Wings in Air Fryer
5 from 4 votes
number of servings2

This ingredients checklist is interactive; you can use it as your grocery list.

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound chicken wings 10-12 pieces

Teriyaki Sauce

  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons  pineapple juice
  • 2 tablespoon s ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • ¼ inch-piece fresh ginger grated
  • teaspoon pepper ground

Instructions
 

  • Get your chicken wings ready. If you're using frozen ones, thaw them overnight. Then, pat the wings dry with paper towels. Optionally, you can season them lightly with cooking oil, salt and pepper for a crispier and tastier result.
    Thawed chicken wings
  • Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C).
    Preating Instant Pot Vortex Plus Air Fryer to 400°F (204°C).
  • Once preheated, place the wingettes and drumettes in the air fryer and cook them for 20-25 minutes, flipping them halfway for even cooking. Cook until they are golden brown and crispy, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) or higher.
    Cooking teriyaki chicken wings in air fryer
  • While the chicken wings are air frying, prepare the teriyaki sauce. In a saucepan, combine soy sauce, pineapple juice, sugar, ketchup, rice wine vinegar, garlic cloves, ginger, and pepper. Simmer the mixture for 15-20 minutes until it thickens.
    Making teriyaki sauce in a saucepan.
  • Coat the air fried chicken wings with the teriyaki sauce, tossing them until they are fully covered.
    Coating air fried chicken wings with teriyaki sauce.
  • Finally, serve your crispy air fryer teriyaki chicken wings! Sprinkle some toasted sesame seeds on top and enjoy!
    Air fried teriyaki chicken wings with carrots and celery sticks.

Recipe Video

YouTube video

Notes

  • For optimal results, it is recommended to use fresh chicken wings.
  • The best way to thaw your chicken wings is to leave them in the refrigerator overnight. Another effective method for thawing wings is to place them in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes. It typically takes 2-4 hours for the wings to fully defrost.
  • We do not recommend defrosting them in the microwave as it may dry out the meat and potentially make it unsafe to eat.
  • If you air fry wings directly from frozen, it will have a dry texture and require a longer cooking time (additional 3-5 minutes).
  • If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheating option, you can set the temperature to 400°F (204°C) and then let it cook for 5 minutes.
  • Preheating your air fryer and thawing your chicken wings properly will yield juicier results. Based on our tests, the longer you cook your chicken wings, the drier they will become.
  • It’s not ideal to wash your chicken wings as it may contaminate your kitchen.
  • Chicken wings are considered as white meat and should be cooked to a temperature of 165°F or 74°C or higher.
  • For a little extra crispness, toss with 1-2 tsp of high-heat cooking oil, such as canola or vegetable oil before air frying your wings.
  • It’s ideal to add the honey garlic sauce after air frying. It can get burnt at high heat, and may even produce smoke.
  • If you want your wings to be stickier and a little saucier, start by making the sauce in a medium saucepan rather than a small one. Then, once the wings reach 160°F, transfer them to the medium saucepan and continue cooking there.
  • I used a 6-quart Instant Pot Vortex Plus to test the teriyaki chicken wings air fryer recipe. Cooking time and temperature may vary depending on your air fryer and the number of servings being prepared. For best results, start with the lower end of the suggested cooking time.

Nutrition

Calories: 359kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 1850mg | Potassium: 340mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 259IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg
Keywords: air fryer recipes, chicken recipes, teriyaki chicken wings in air fryer

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