Air Fryer Sticky Ginger Chicken

By: Air Fryer Eats Team

Updated: September 5, 2024

Air Fryer Sticky Ginger Chicken is just four ingredients! This simple recipe is packed with flavor from the homemade Asian-inspired marinade!

Overhead shot of ginger chicken with green beans on a white plate

Recipe Overview

This Air Fryer Sticky Ginger Chicken is just 4 ingredients and is ready in less than 20 minutes!

When I know we’re going to be busy the next night, I throw this chicken and simple Asian marinade of soy sauce, fresh ginger, and garlic together and into a bag and dinner is half made!

This recipe is GREAT for meal prep! Try it with my Air Fryer Green Beans for a quick but delicious meal all week!

Overhead shot of sticky ginger chicken in an air fryer basket

How to make it

Only four ingredients in this recipe โ€” including the chicken! This marinade is great on all cuts of chicken too, so feel free to use it on thighs, wings, or legs!

If you’re using bone-in chicken breasts, extend the cooking time. Use a meat thermometer!

Steps to make air fryer sticky ginger chicken
  1. Start with your chicken breasts. Make sure to clean them thoroughly before marinating.
  2. Mix together the soy sauce, minced garlic, and fresh ginger. This is your marinade!
  3. Put the chicken and marinade in a ziplock bag for at least an hour. I prefer overnight to give the chicken the best flavor!
  4. After marinating, put your chicken breasts in the air fryer basket โ€” or on an air fryer tray โ€” and cook for 16 to 18 minutes at 350 degrees F (or 176 degrees C!), depending on the size of your chicken breasts. Be sure to keep an eye on your chicken breasts during cooking and use a meat thermometer! Chicken is safe once it reaches 165 degrees F.
  5. Halfway through cooking, flip the chicken to evenly brown it.
  6. After cooking, divide chicken breasts evenly among your plates or food prep containers! I like to garnish mine with a little crushed red pepper. Serve warm and enjoy!

How to Marinade the Chicken

Marinating chicken is a great and easy way to bring new and exciting flavors to an otherwise great but somewhat bland protein.

When marinating chicken, or any meat, you want to make sure the marinade is covering the meat and has as few air bubbles as possible.

Marinades are usually best when done at least one hour to let the liquid permeate the meat, but most recommend marinating overnight for best results.

Don’t let your food marinate too long, though. After about 48 hours, it may be best to cook it or trash it.

Tips for making ahead of time

Chicken is safe for up to 4 days in the fridge, so this is easy to prep Sunday and eat through Thursday. When I meal prep this recipe, I like to slice my chicken before putting it in the containers.

This helps when I reheat my chicken for faster and more even reheating โ€” especially in the microwave!

For a side, I usually have Air Fryer Green Beans or a simple side salad with a ginger vinaigrette.

Ginger chicken and green beans garnished with crushed red pepper flakes on a white plate

Other Delicious Asian-Inspired Recipes

If you love Asian-inspired recipes, we have a few that you need to check out.

Check out our Asian Pasta Salad โ€” perfect for meal prep!, Air Fryer Fried Rice, General Tso Tofu, Vegetarian Summer Rolls, Instant Pot Ramen and Tofu Fried Rice

Air Fryer Sticky Ginger Chicken

A quick and easy Asian-inspired recipe! Goes great with green beans and rice.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time18 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 268kcal

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl
  • Ziplock bag for marinating

Ingredients

  • 4 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!

Notes

Pro Tip: This recipe can be made in the air fryer unit with a basket or the air fryer oven. If you are using the air fryer oven, use the middle rack and select the “Air Fry” function.

Nutrition

Calories: 268kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 1017mg | Potassium: 865mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 68IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg
TRY AD FREE!

Overhead shot of green beans and sticky ginger chicken with overlay text

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