This Air Fryer Sticky Ginger Chicken delivers restaurant-quality Asian flavors in just 28 minutes. With a mere 268 calories and a whopping 49g of protein per serving, it’s a guilt-free way to satisfy your weeknight dinner cravings.
The air fryer creates that perfect sticky-sweet exterior while keeping the chicken incredibly juicy inside. Plus, the natural zing of ginger adds both flavor and health benefits to this lean, protein-packed dish. Perfect for meal prep or a quick family dinner when time is tight.
Ingredients For Air Fryer Sticky Ginger Chicken
- Chicken Breasts: 4 pieces, ensure they’re similar in size for even cooking
- Soy Sauce: 3 tablespoons, can substitute with coconut aminos for a gluten-free option
- Garlic: 1 teaspoon minced, fresh is preferred for best flavor
- Fresh Ginger: 1 tablespoon diced, provides zesty Asian-inspired flavor
Cooking Instructions
- Prepare Marinade: Combine soy sauce, minced garlic, and diced ginger in a bowl until well mixed
- Marinate Chicken: Place chicken in a ziplock bag with marinade mixture, seal well and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (overnight for best results)
- Prepare Air Fryer: Remove marinated chicken from bag and arrange in air fryer basket without overcrowding
- Air Fry: Cook at 350°F (176°C) for 16-18 minutes, flip chicken halfway through for even cooking
- Check Doneness: Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is fully cooked, then serve warm
Air Fryer Tips
For the best ginger chicken, place your chicken pieces with a little space between them in the air fryer basket. This helps the hot air move around freely, giving you that lovely golden outside. If your chicken breasts are really thick, try giving them a gentle press to even them out – this helps them cook more evenly!
Make It Your Own
This basic marinade is super flexible! Try adding a tablespoon of honey for a sweet touch, or spice things up with some red pepper flakes. If you don’t have fresh ginger, you can use 1 teaspoon of ground ginger instead. Want to make it gluten-free? Just swap the soy sauce for coconut aminos or tamari.
Storage Tips
Once cooled, pop your cooked chicken in an airtight container – it’ll stay good in the fridge for up to 4 days. This makes it perfect for meal prep! You can also freeze the cooked chicken for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat, just warm it up in the microwave or air fryer until it’s heated through.
Serving Ideas
This chicken tastes amazing sliced over fluffy rice with steamed veggies on the side. You can also cut it up and add it to a fresh salad, or wrap it in lettuce leaves for a light lunch. Want to jazz it up? Sprinkle some sesame seeds and chopped green onions on top before serving!
Air Fryer Sticky Ginger Chicken
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Mixing Bowl
- Ziplock Bag
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 4 whole chicken breasts
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger diced
Instructions
- Mix the soy sauce, minced garlic, and fresh ginger in a bowl.
- Combine chicken breasts and garlic and ginger sauce in a gallon-sized ziplock bag. Marinate in refrigerator at least 1 hour, preferably overnight.
- After marinating, remove chicken from bag and place into air fryer basket or onto air fryer tray.
- Set air fryer to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C) for 16 to 18 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking. Watch chicken carefully and use a meat thermometer to check doneness. When done, divide among plates or meal prep storage containers. Serve warm and enjoy!
