Best 15 minute air fryer teriyaki chicken that’s packed with flavor, super easy to make, and is sure to be your new favorite meal. These crispy and tender bite-sized chicken breast pieces are gluten free and coated in a healthy homemade teriyaki sauce with no added refined sugars.
The best healthy air fryer teriyaki chicken recipe
Teriyaki chicken is one of my favorite comfort meals. Anyone else? It is simply delicious! That is why I am so excited to share my healthy take on the traditional Asian recipe. If you are in the mod, I also love this air fryer orange chicken too.
Air fryer teriyaki chicken is tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, and gluten-free. It is then coated in a sticky, homemade teriyaki glaze made from fresh oranges, soy sauce, ginger, and honey. It is sweet but still healthy!
Also, one of the best parts about this recipe is that you don’t need to marinate the chicken prior to cooking.
Many traditional teriyaki chicken recipes ask you to marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes before cooking. I simply do not have time for that, so if you make this air fried teriyaki chicken, you will be in and out of the kitchen in 15 minutes.
I cannot wait to hear what you think of this family favorite teriyaki chicken recipe!
What to serve with teriyaki chicken
Teriyaki chicken is best served on a bed of white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice, with a side of steamed or roasted vegetables. I love sticky white rice; it’s delicious. You can also serve teriyaki chicken with some of these dishes:
Ingredients
You only need a few, simple ingredients for this healthy air fryer teriyaki chicken recipe. From chicken to soy sauce, you probably have most of the ingredients in your pantry already. Here is a list of ingredients so you have every prepared:
- Chicken Breast: First up, cut up 1 pound of lean skinless, and boneless chicken breasts in 1-inch bite-size pieces. When air-fried, they are juicy and tender.
- Arrowroot Starch: Since there is NO flour in this recipe, we use arrowroot starch to make the chicken nice a crisp. This is a great healthy cooking trick! You will also use arrowroot starch to thicken the homemade teriyaki sauce.
- Soy Sauce: Next up, 1/4 cup of low-sodium soy sauce or tamari (if you are gluten-free) to make the base of the homemade healthy teriyaki sauce.
- Fresh Orange Juice: Grab one large orange. We need 1/4 cup of fresh orange juice to naturally sweeten this teriyaki sauce.
- Rice Vinegar: 1 Tablespoon of rice vinegar adds a little acidity to this teriyaki sauce and makes it taste authentic.
- Honey: Based on your desired sweetness level, add in 2 or 3 Tablespoons of honey.
- Sesame Oil: You just need 1/2 a teaspoon of sesame oil, but boy does it add a ton of flavor. This is a must for this teriyaki sauce!
- Fresh Ginger: Grate up 1 teaspoon of fresh ginger for an authentic taste.
- Garlic: Finally, you will need 2 large garlic cloves for a great flavor.
Kitchen tools you’ll need
There are two parts to this easy dinner recipe. First, air frying the chicken, and, second, make the homemade teriyaki sauce. Here are the kitchen utensils and tools you’ll need:
- Air Fryer
- Sauce Pot
- Spatula
- Tongs
- Measuring Cups: 1/2 teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, 1 Tablesoon, and 1/4 cup.
How to make easy air fryer teriyaki chicken
This air fried teriyaki chicken is so easy to make since you don’t need to marinate the chicken. We will start by preparing and air frying the bite-sized chicken breast bites, followed by making the sugar-free teriyaki sauce, and finally, we will mix everything together.
You will be in and out of the kitchen in 15 minutes. Here are detailed step-by-step instructions for any level cook:
Step 1:
First, preheat your air fryer to 360°F. Lightly grease it with non-stick spray.
Step 2:
Next, in a large mixing bowl, toss the bite-sized pieces of chicken with arrowroot starch.
Step 3:
Once the air fryer is heated, spray with cooking spray and add the chicken to the basket. Make sure the pieces are spaced out and NOT overlapping. If your air fryer is small, do this in two batches.
Step 4:
Air fry for 8 – 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature has reached 165°F.
Step 5:
While the chicken is cooking, dissolve the arrowroot starch in the cold water and set it to the side. Heat a small saucepan over medium-high heat and add the low sodium soy sauce, fresh orange juice, white wine vinegar, honey, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic. Bring sauce to a quick boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and whisk in the arrowroot starch water. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, making sure to continually whisk until the sauce has thickened. Carefully taste the sauce and adjust seasonings to your liking.
Step 6:
Add the cooked chicken nuggets into the pot with the teriyaki sauce. Gently toss to coat and remove from heat.
Serve warm on a bed of rice and a side of your favorite roasted and steamed vegetables.
Ingredient substitution suggestions
I love this teriyaki chicken as is, but if you want to customize them to your preferences, be my guest! Here is a list of my recommended ingredient substitutions to help you out:
- Rice Vinegar: You can use white wine vinegar instead. The flavor will not change!
- Fresh Ginger: If you do not have fresh ginger, you can you 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger powder.
- Fresh Orange Juice: You can substitute fresh orange juice with store-bought orange juice.
- Arrowroot Starch: Cornstarch and tapioca starch will both work in place of the arrowroot starch.
- Chicken Breast: You can also use bite-sized pieces of chicken thigh. Reduce the air frying time by 2 minutes until the center of the chicken reached 165°F.
- Honey: You can use maple syrup, coconut sugar, or light brown sugar in place of the honey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don’t I need to marinate the chicken before air frying?
You do not need to marinate the chicken, because we coat it in a sticky and flavorful teriyaki sauce after we air fry the chicken bites. This recipe is easy and only takes 15 minutes!
Is teriyaki chicken gluten free?
Not all teriyaki chicken is gluten-free, but this recipe is because we do not use any flour. Instead, we toss the chicken breast bites in arrowroot starch which makes them crispy while still being 100% gluten-free.
Can I use chicken thigh?
Yes, you can use chicken thigh instead of chicken breast. To do this, reduce the air frying time by 2 minutes until the center of the chicken reached 165°F.
Can I double the recipe?
Yes, you can double this recipe for meal prep or larger family dinners! Just make sure your chicken bites are not piled on top of each other when air fryer. You may need to cook them in two batches.
Is it low calorie?
Yes, this air fryer teriyaki chicken is low-calorie compared to other recipes. This is because we are using fresher and simpler ingredients, there are no refined sugars, and we are using lean chicken breast.
How to store and reheat leftovers:
Store leftovers in individual airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave for 60 – 90 seconds until warm.
If you loved this recipe, try these next!
- Air Fryer Orange Chicken
- Teriyaki Salmon Buddha Bowl
- Air Fryer Tilapia
- Healthy Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs
Did you make this recipe?
If you make this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it down below. Also, don’t forget to tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram and use the hashtag #healthfulblondie so I can see your delicious creation and share it with my followers!
Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken:
- 1 pound chicken breast, skinless and boneless, cut into 1-inch bite-size pieces
- 2 Tbsp arrowroot starch
Teriyaki Sauce:
- 1 Tbsp arrowroot starch
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce, use tamari is gluten-free
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice, juice from 1 orange
- 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 – 3 Tbsp honey, based on your desired sweetness level
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp fresh grated ginger, very fine
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 360°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss the bite-sized pieces of chicken with arrowroot starch.
- Once the air fryer is heated, spray with cooking spray and add the chicken to the basket. Make sure the pieces are spaced out and NOT overlapping. If your air fryer is small, do this in two batches.
- Air fry for 8 – 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature has reached 165°F.
- While the chicken is cooking, dissolve the arrowroot starch in the cold water and set it to the side.
- Heat a small saucepan over medium-high heat and add the low sodium soy sauce, fresh orange juice, white wine vinegar, honey, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic. Bring sauce to a quick boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and whisk in the arrowroot starch water. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, making sure to continually whisk until the sauce has thickened. Carefully taste the sauce and adjust seasonings to your liking.
- Add the cooked chicken nuggets into the pot with the teriyaki sauce. Gently toss to coat and remove from heat.
- Serve warm on a bed of rice and a side of your favorite roasted and steamed vegetables.
Notes
Nutrition
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Hadley says
So delicious! A really easy to follow and simple recipe that I will make again. No complaints , just good.
Christine says
Great recipe! Just so delicous.
Tommy says
Made this dish tonight and it was so good !! Super easy to follow the recipe and flavor was amazing. Felt good after, so definitely trying another recipe 🤩
Erin says
My favorite air fryer recipe! The chicken is so juicy and the sauce is delish