Chicken · American
Sticky Air Fryer Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs
Juicy boneless chicken thighs get a tangy Dijon-honey glaze that caramelises fast in the air fryer for an easy weeknight dinner.
These air fryer honey mustard chicken thighs are built for weeknight dinners: quick to prep, glossy at the edges and still juicy inside. Dijon brings sharpness, honey gives a sticky finish, and a little vinegar keeps the glaze bright instead of overly sweet.
Ingredients
Instructions
Air fryer:190°C / 374°F
Pat the chicken thighs dry with kitchen paper and trim any large pockets of excess fat. If any thighs are much thicker than the others, open them out slightly so they cook evenly.
In a bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard, honey, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, garlic, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper and chilli flakes.
Spoon 2 tablespoons of the honey mustard glaze into a small clean bowl and set it aside for finishing. Add the chicken to the remaining glaze and turn until well coated.
Preheat the air fryer to 190°C for 3 minutes. Lightly oil the basket if your air fryer tends to stick.
Arrange the thighs in a single layer, smooth side down, leaving a little space between pieces. Cook in batches if needed rather than stacking.
Air fry for 7 minutes, then flip the thighs. Brush with the clean reserved glaze and air fry for another 6–8 minutes, until sticky at the edges and the thickest part reaches at least 74°C/165°F.
Rest the chicken for 3–5 minutes before slicing or serving. Spoon over any juices from the resting plate and finish with parsley if using.
Tips & tricks
- Use a clean reserved portion of glaze for finishing; do not brush cooked chicken with marinade that touched raw poultry unless it has been boiled thoroughly.
- Honey can darken quickly, so keep the temperature at 190°C and add the final glaze after flipping rather than coating with extra from the start.
- Serve with rice, roasted potatoes, green beans, salad or tucked into wraps with crunchy lettuce.
- For larger or very thick thighs, add 2–3 minutes and check the internal temperature with a thermometer.
Air fryer cooking guides
Exact times & temperatures for the ingredients in this recipe.
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