• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Goodness Avenue logo

  • About
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dish
    • Sides
    • Salads
    • Snacks
    • Dessert
  • Lifestyle
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
Home » Recipes » Main Dish » Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken (Sugar-Free)

Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken (Sugar-Free)

Feb 20, 2023 · Leave a Comment

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Teriyaki Chicken in the air fryer is an absolutely delicious dinner ready in under 30 minutes. Made with an easy homemade sugar free teriyaki sauce, it is so much better than takeout!

Air fried teriyaki chicken pieces on a plate with sesame seeds sprinkled on top.

This air fryer teriyaki chicken is such a delicious and easy weeknight dinner recipe to make! We marinate chicken tenderloins in homemade teriyaki sauce for maximum flavour and is so much better than take out! Typically teriyaki sauce is quite high in sugar so we use monk fruit sweetener in place of sugar but you can easily use coconut sugar, brown sugar or honey if you prefer.

The chicken is then air fried so less oil is used and there’s no mess on the stove top. That’s a big win for me! Plus I love that you can serve it with anything you want. I personally love to pair it with basmati rice and stir fried veggies.

Teriyaki chicken in a bowl with veggies and rice.

What is teriyaki?

Teriyaki is a cooking technique used in Japanese cuisine in which foods are grilled with a glaze of soy sauce, mirin (rice vinegar), and sugar. Here in the western world, it’s a poplar takeout dish where the chicken is often fried and tossed with the sweet, tangy and sticky teriyaki sauce.

Ingredients you’ll need

It’s easy to make air fryer chicken teriyaki at home. All you need is to gather these ingredients and whisk together the sauce and cook the chicken.

  • Chicken: I used chicken tenderloins but you can also use sliced chicken breast or thighs if you prefer.
  • Soy sauce: you can use a low-sodium soy sauce to reduce the salt content. Try using tamari or coconut aminos if you want a gluten-free alternative to regular soy sauce.
  • Rice vinegar: or substitute with white vinegar in a pinch.
  • Sweetener: I used granulated monk fruit sweetener but brown sugar, coconut sugar or honey also work
  • Tapioca flour or arrowroot flour: to thicken the sauce. You can also use corn flour.
  • Garlic powder + ginger powder
  • Sesame oil
Ingredients shown to make teriyaki chicken.

How To Make Teriyaki Chicken In Air Fryer

Make sauce: Whisk together soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, garlic, sweetener, tapioca flour and sesame oil until all is dissolved.

Teriyaki sauce being whisked in a bowl.
Raw chicken tenderloins in a bowl with teriyaki sauce and tongs.

Marinate chicken: Toss chicken tenderloins with 1/4 cup of the teriyaki sauce and let marinade for about 30 minutes, if possible.

Thicken sauce: In a small saucepan, heat the remaining sauce and bring to a boil over low heat. Cook for about 2 minutes and then remove from heat (it will thicken as it cools).

Teriyaki Sauce in a saucepan with a white whisk.

Air fry: Place the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket and air fry at 200C/ 400F. Cook for 7 minutes, brush with sauce, turn over, brush with more sauce and continue cooking for an additional 6 to 7 minutes. Finish with another coating of sauce. Garnish with sesame seeds and enjoy.

Marinated chicken pieces in air fryer basket.
Cooked chicken pieces in air fryer basket.

Tips and substitutions

  • Cut chicken in to even sized pieces.
  • Line your air fryer basket with parchment paper for easy clean up.
  • Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Place chicken in a single layer or cook in batches if needed.
  • Type of chicken: I’ve used chicken tenderloins here but you can also use sliced chicken breast or chicken thighs for a juicier and more flavourful teriyaki chicken.
  • Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat.
  • Use coconut aminos in place of soy sauce for a soy free teriyaki sauce.
Cooked air fryer chicken tenders on a plate with a small saucepan of teriyaki sauce on the side.

What to serve air fried teriyaki chicken with

  • I like to serve this chicken with basmati rice and stir fried veggies. 
  • You can also serve it with cauliflower rice or noodles.
  • Enjoy with my sesame carrot & cucumber salad
  • Serve with steamed or air-fried vegetables.

How To Store

  • Refrigerate leftover teriyaki chicken in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
  • Reheat the chicken in the microwave until warm.
  • To freeze: place the cooked and glazed chicken pieces in a zip lock bag and freeze for 3 months.
  • Defrost overnight in the fridge and air fry chicken until warm. 
Close up shot of air fryer teriyaki chicken pieces on a plate with sesame seeds sprinkled on top.

Recipe FAQ

Can I use chicken breasts instead?

Yes! You can use chicken breast or chicken thighs instead. Adjust cooking times as need.

Does teriyaki sauce taste sweet?

Teriyaki sauce tastes savoury, sweet and salty, all in a perfect blend, making it an ideal marinade for your meat and fish.

Is this a healthy recipe?

My teriyaki sauce is healthier version of the classic. It has no added sugar and the chicken is air fried instead so minimal oil is required.

Air fried teriyaki chicken pieces on a plate with sesame seeds sprinkled on top.

Other dinner recipes to try

Teriyaki Salmon with Soba Noodles + Broccolini

Pineapple Tofu Stir Fry

15-Minute Peanut Chickpea Stir Fry

If you try this air fryer chicken recipe or have a question, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Air fried teriyaki chicken pieces on a plate with sesame seeds sprinkled on top.

Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken

  • Author: Caitlin Rule
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 4
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Air fry
  • Cuisine: Asian inspired
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

Teriyaki chicken in the air fryer is an absolutely delicious dinner ready in under 30 minutes. Made with an easy homemade sugar-free teriyaki sauce, it is so much better than takeout!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lb (680g) chicken tenderloins or chicken breast
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce or Tamari
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons granulated monk fruit or brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon tapioca or arrowroot flour
  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
  • Sesame seeds, to garnish

Instructions

  1. Teriyaki sauce: Whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, sweetener, tapioca flour and sesame oil until all is dissolved.
  2. Marinate chicken: Toss chicken tenderloins with 1/4 cup of the teriyaki sauce and let marinade for about 30 minutes, if possible.
  3. Thicken sauce: In a small saucepan, heat the remaining sauce with 3 tablespoons of water and bring to a boil over low heat. Cook for about 2 minutes and then remove from heat (it will thicken as it cools).
  4. Air fry: Place the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket and air fry at 200C/400F. Cook for 8 minutes, brush with sauce, turn over, brush with more sauce and continue cooking for an additional 6 to 7 minutes. Finish with another coating of sauce.
  5. Garnish with sesame seeds and enjoy.

Notes

  • Use coconut aminos for a soy free alternative.*
  • Line your air fryer basket with parchment paper for easy clean up.*
  • Refrigerate leftover teriyaki chicken in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
  • Freeze leftovers in a zip lock bag and freeze for 3 months.

Keywords: teriyaki, air fryer, chicken, chicken tenders, healthy

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @goodnessavenue on Instagram and hashtag it #goodnessavenue

More from my site

  • Roasted Carrot and Swede SoupRoasted Carrot and Swede Soup
  • Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes with Herb TahiniAir Fryer Fingerling Potatoes with Herb Tahini
  • Crustless Salmon & Spinach QuicheCrustless Salmon & Spinach Quiche
  • Crispy Blackened Tofu Tacos with Creamy SlawCrispy Blackened Tofu Tacos with Creamy Slaw
  • Kale, Pumpkin and feta FrittataKale, Pumpkin and feta Frittata
  • Air Fryer Potato CroquettesAir Fryer Potato Croquettes

Main Dish, Recipes

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

.

Welcome to Goodness Avenue! I'm an accredited nutritionist (BHSc) sharing simple veggie loaded recipes to help you add more goodness into your everyday life! More About Me →

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Healthy baking ideas

Close up side shot of the cheesecakes.

Mini Protein Cheesecakes

Side shot of strawberry jam thumbprint cookies on a plate.

Strawberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies

Cut up brownies with salt sprinkled on top.

Flourless Peanut Butter Banana Brownies

Cut up banana pumpkin bread loaf.

Vegan Pumpkin Banana Bread

COPYRIGHT © 2022 · GOODNESS AVENUE