Garlic Honey Ninja Foodi Chicken Thighs

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If you want a super easy, super flavorful easy Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Oven recipe, learn how to make sweet, flavorful garlic honey Ninja Foodi chicken thighs in 60 minutes total, serving 4 people.

• Learn how to make juicy, garlic-honey glazed boneless skinless chicken thighs in your Ninja Foodi, from start to finish.
• Get a complete ingredient list so you can gather everything before you start cooking.
• Discover practical tips for getting tender, evenly cooked chicken thighs in the Ninja Foodi every time.
• Explore variations and substitutions to adapt the garlic honey flavor to your taste or what’s already in your pantry.

I recently did a comparison of the cheapest meats to serve to my daycare kids for an article called dirt cheap daycare meals. We are all feeling the pinch of everything being more expensive, so I wanted to cost out protein sources to help other providers and chicken thighs were on the list of the cheapest. So that made me think.

I wanted to come up with more ways to use them and these garlic honey chicken thighs were one of my ideas. They would be perfect for a whole sheet pan meal as well. And for more easy frugal family dinner ideas, check this out. I love simple dinner ideas!

Here’s a dump and forget crock pot chicken thigh recipe too! lemon garlic chicken thighs are delicious, tender and easy! Or you can make Oven chicken and rice casserole with thighs.

Kids love these and for more kid-friendly chicken recipes, click here.

Ninja foodi chicken thighs

And what easier way to cook up some healthy chicken thighs than tossing them in the air fryer? I love my Ninja Foodi. I use it every day. It’s so simple, it doesn’t heat up my kitchen like the oven does and EVERYTHING I cook in it tastes better than when I cook in the oven. EVERYTHING! The thing is amazing and I can’t believe it either.

Thighs are my favorite meat. They are so flavorful and juicy, far better than chicken breast. I like cooking them with the bones and skin because you get a crispy outside and juicy inside and the bone gives the meat a lot of flavor. If you hate thighs, you are welcome to use chicken breast or anything else that makes you happy. I think these would make great wings too

Chicken thighs Ninja foodi

What can you serve with chicken thighs? I love making a side vegetable that is cooked on another rack of the Ninja Foodi oven. Then everything is cooking at once, and you don’t have to clean something else or have some other big ole mess. It’s so convenient.

Check out these air fryer vegetable recipes. Or you could whip up a salad with some homemade ranch dressing, or citrus-balsamic. Or how about a marinated salad like this cucumber salad, cucumber tomato salad, or elote? Marinated salads are my favorite.

For more ideas for chicken in the air fryer, check out this list including air fryer chicken strips without breading, or these air fryer chicken breasts. And the best ever air fryer wings! So good!

Frozen chicken thighs in air fryer

I know we all forget to thaw our meat for dinner sometimes. Have you ever wondered the best way to add seasoning when you cook frozen chicken thighs in the air fryer? It’s probably even easier than you think! Can you get flavor into the meat when you start with it frozen? Can it get done in the center? Good news: with these frozen chicken thighs in air fryer recipe, you can do it!

Air fryer chicken thighs boneless

If you want to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs, that’s perfectly fine! It will still work. But you won’t have to cook them quite as long. There is less mass there to cook without the bones and skin.

And I would add a little more oil to the outside to make sure they stay moist. The skin naturally bastes them as they cook, so remember that. Check your thighs for the temperature at about 20 minutes if they are boneless and skinless.

How Long to Cook Chicken Thighs in Ninja Foodi

Cooking time depends on whether the chicken thighs are bone-in or boneless, their size, and the specific Ninja Foodi model. Oven-style air fryers may also cook a little differently depending on which rack position you use.

For this recipe, preheat the Ninja Foodi to 375°F and arrange the thighs in a single layer with space between them. Brush the honey-garlic sauce on near the end so the honey caramelizes without burning.

Type of chicken thigh	Temperature	Initial cooking time	Time after adding sauce	Approximate total
Bone-in, skin-on thighs	375°F	35–45 minutes	5 minutes	40–50 minutes
Bone-in, skinless thighs	375°F	30–40 minutes	5 minutes	35–45 minutes
Boneless, skinless thighs	375°F	18–22 minutes	3–5 minutes	21–27 minutes
Small boneless thighs	375°F	15–18 minutes	3–5 minutes	18–23 minutes

Begin checking early because smaller thighs may cook more quickly. Large bone-in thighs may need the full 50 minutes.

Chicken is safely cooked when the thickest portion reaches at least 165°F. Insert the thermometer without touching the bone. Although 165°F is the safe minimum, dark meat often becomes more tender when cooked a little higher, around 175°F to 185°F. FoodSafety.gov

If the skin needs more browning, cook the thighs for another two or three minutes while watching carefully. Honey can change from beautifully caramelized to burned very quickly.

Ninja Foodi Chicken Thigh Sheet Pan Meal

Your oven-style Ninja Foodi makes it easy to cook chicken and vegetables at the same time. Place the chicken on its little sheet tray or roasting rack and prepare the vegetables on a second tray.

Keep vegetables on the rack above the raw chicken so poultry juices cannot drip onto vegetables that may finish cooking first. Leave room around both the chicken and vegetables for hot air to circulate.

Vegetables that cook well with chicken thighs

Vegetable	Preparation	Approximate time at 375°F
Baby potatoes	Halved or quartered	25–35 minutes
Carrots	Cut into ½-inch pieces	20–25 minutes
Brussels sprouts	Halved	16–22 minutes
Broccoli florets	Similar-sized pieces	10–14 minutes
Green beans	Trimmed	10–15 minutes
Cauliflower florets	Similar-sized pieces	14–18 minutes
Zucchini	Thick half-moons	8–12 minutes
Asparagus	Trimmed	7–10 minutes

Start potatoes or carrots when the chicken goes into the Ninja Foodi. Add quicker-cooking vegetables during the final portion of the cooking time.

For example, if the chicken needs 40 minutes, begin the chicken and potatoes together. Add broccoli or green beans when approximately 12 minutes remain. Brush the chicken with honey-garlic sauce during the final five minutes.

Toss vegetables with a small amount of olive oil, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. Rotate the trays halfway through if one rack browns faster than the other. Check each food separately and remove anything that finishes early.

Tips, Variations, and Substitutions

• Dry the chicken first. Patting the skin dry helps it become crisp instead of soft or rubbery.
• Do not crowd the tray. Leave space between the thighs so the hot air can circulate around them.
• Cook similarly sized pieces together. One unusually small thigh may finish long before the largest one.
• Wait to add the honey sauce. Honey burns easily, so cook the seasoned chicken first and apply the glaze near the end.
• Use a rack over the sheet tray. The rack allows hot air to move beneath the chicken while the tray catches drips.
• For boneless thighs: Begin checking them much earlier. They contain less mass and usually finish in about half the time required for large bone-in thighs.
• For extra garlic flavor: Add another minced garlic clove to the sauce. Watch the garlic carefully because small pieces can become bitter when burned.
• For a less-sweet sauce: Reduce the honey by one tablespoon and add another tablespoon of water.
• For a sweeter glaze: Add one additional tablespoon of honey, but apply it only during the last few minutes.
• For a gluten-free version: Use gluten-free tamari in place of regular soy sauce.
• For a soy-free version: Use coconut aminos or another soy-free savory seasoning. Because coconut aminos are sweeter than soy sauce, reduce the honey slightly if desired.
• For a dairy-free version: Replace the melted butter with olive oil or a dairy-free butter substitute.
• For a different sweetener: Maple syrup can replace the honey, although the flavor will be different and the sauce may not become quite as sticky.
• For extra color: Add smoked paprika or regular paprika to the dry seasoning. Avoid putting large amounts of paprika directly into the honey sauce because it can scorch.

Serving Suggestions

Garlic honey chicken thighs have a sweet, savory sauce that pairs well with simple vegetables and mild side dishes.

Try serving them with:

• Mashed potatoes or roasted baby potatoes
• Steamed or air-fried green beans
• Roasted broccoli or cauliflower
• Buttered rice
• Macaroni and cheese
• A simple garden salad
• Cucumber and tomato salad
• Corn on the cob
• Roasted carrots
• Dinner rolls
• Coleslaw
• Sauteed zucchini

Spoon some of the garlic-honey sauce over rice or mashed potatoes, but only use sauce that has been cooked separately or brought to a safe temperature. Never serve a marinade that has been in contact with raw chicken unless it has been thoroughly cooked.

For an easy complete meal, cook potatoes or carrots on the second rack while the chicken cooks. Add a quick vegetable such as broccoli or green beans toward the end.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

Store leftover chicken thighs in a covered, shallow container in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking. Properly refrigerated cooked chicken can be kept for three to four days. Reheat leftovers to 165°F. FoodSafety.gov

For longer storage, freeze the cooked thighs for up to three months for the best flavor and texture. Wrap individual portions or place them in freezer-safe containers with a little sauce to help prevent them from drying out.

Reheat chicken thighs in the Ninja Foodi at 350°F until hot, usually about 5 to 8 minutes. Covering them loosely for the first few minutes can help retain moisture. Uncover them at the end to restore some crispness to the skin.

Can you make honey garlic chicken ahead?

Yes. You can mix the honey-garlic sauce up to three days ahead and refrigerate it in a covered container. Gently warm it or allow it to soften before brushing it onto the chicken.

You can also season the uncooked thighs one day ahead. Place them in a covered container on the lowest refrigerator shelf. For the crispiest skin, wait to coat them with oil until shortly before cooking.

If you want to prepare the entire meal ahead, cook the chicken, cool it promptly, and refrigerate it for up to three to four days. The skin will be crispest when the chicken is freshly cooked, but reheating it in the Ninja Foodi produces a better texture than microwaving it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do you cook chicken thighs in a Ninja Foodi?

Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs generally take approximately 40 to 50 minutes at 375°F in an oven-style Ninja Foodi, including the final five minutes with the honey-garlic sauce. Boneless, skinless thighs usually take approximately 21 to 27 minutes, including glazing time.

These times are estimates. Begin checking early and cook until the thickest part reaches at least 165°F.

What temperature should I use for chicken thighs in a Ninja Foodi?

Cook these garlic honey chicken thighs at 375°F. This temperature cooks the meat through while giving the skin time to brown and crisp. Applying the honey-garlic glaze near the end helps prevent the sugars from burning.

Can you make honey garlic chicken ahead?

Yes. Mix the sauce up to three days ahead, or season the chicken and refrigerate it for up to one day before cooking. You can also cook the chicken in advance and refrigerate it for three to four days, although freshly cooked chicken will have the crispiest skin.

Do I need to flip chicken thighs in the Ninja Foodi?

Flipping is not always necessary in an oven-style Ninja Foodi, especially when the chicken is elevated on a wire rack. If your model browns unevenly, rotate the tray halfway through cooking rather than turning every thigh over.

Should chicken thighs be cooked skin-side up or down?

Arrange bone-in thighs skin-side up. This exposes the skin to the circulating heat so it can brown and crisp. Keeping the skin facing up also prevents the honey glaze from sticking to the rack.

Can I cook frozen chicken thighs in the Ninja Foodi?

You can cook frozen thighs, but the seasoning and sauce will not adhere as evenly, and the cooking time will be longer. For this recipe, thawed chicken produces more consistent results and better caramelization. Always verify that the center reaches at least 165°F.

Why is my honey garlic sauce burning?

The sauce probably went onto the chicken too early or the tray was positioned too close to the upper heating element. Add the glaze during the final three to five minutes and watch it closely as it caramelizes.