Honey-Mustard Air-Fryer Chicken

Why it works

Drying the chicken lets the surface brown, and the air fryer's fast hot air crisps the edges while the thighs stay juicy. Glazing in two stages builds a sticky coating without burning the honey early.

Associated with

American home cooking

Honey mustard is a familiar American dip and dressing. The countertop air fryer, a small fan-forced convection oven, made quick crisp chicken thigh dishes like this common in recent years.

Skill level

Easy

One bowl and one basket; the main skill is checking every thigh with a thermometer.

You'll practice: Pat meat dry so it browns, Mix a glaze, Air fry in a single layer, Turn and glaze partway through, Check doneness with a food thermometer

Allergens

Allergens: see each line below. Check the oil spray label for soy and the Dijon mustard label for sulfites.

Check the oil spray label: some sprays contain soy lecithin. Check the Dijon mustard label for sulfites.

Diets

Vegetarian: Doesn't fit as writtenPescatarian: Doesn't fit as writtenVegan: Doesn't fit as writtenDairy: See the allergen linesEgg: See the allergen linesGluten: See the allergen lines

Occasions

• Everyday dinners · everyday dish

  A quick weeknight main course; we found no holiday or event tied to it. It does not fit Lenten abstinence days because chicken counts as meat.

Course: main-dish · Time: 15-to-30-minutes

Food safety

• Do not rinse raw chicken; pat it dry with paper towels and wash your hands afterward.
• Keep the second half of the glaze in its own bowl and use a clean spoon or brush, so nothing that touched raw chicken goes into it; the glazed chicken then finishes cooking to 165 °F (74 °C).
• Check the thickest part of every thigh with a food thermometer: 165 °F (74 °C).
• Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and reheat to 165 °F (74 °C).

We make no statement about cross-contact in your kitchen or in packaged ingredients. Check the mustard and oil spray labels.

Swap notes

• boneless, skinless chicken thighs · vegan

  Works with changes

  Use: extra-firm tofu slabs, same weight, with maple syrup in place of the honey

  What changes: Air fry until browned, about 12 to 15 minutes; no meat doneness temperature applies.; No meat; a softer, different texture.

  Not a swap: Keeping the honey, which vegans avoid.

• boneless, skinless chicken thighs · catholic.abstinence

  Works with changes

  Use: salmon or cod fillets, same weight

  What changes: Cook fish until it is opaque and flakes easily with a fork, or reaches 145 °F (63 °C); usually 8 to 12 minutes.; Flakier and quicker to cook.

  Not a swap: Chicken broth or other meat-based glaze ingredients.

• boneless, skinless chicken thighs · halal.general

  Works with changes

  Use: halal-certified chicken thighs, with a halal-certified or wine-free Dijon-style mustard

  What changes: No change to the method.

  Not a swap: An ordinary Dijon mustard made with white wine, where your school avoids wine vinegar.

• boneless, skinless chicken thighs · kosher.mainstream

  Works with changes

  Use: kosher chicken thighs, with certified spices and mustard

  What changes: No change to the method; no dairy is listed.

  Not a swap: Butter or other dairy added to the glaze.

• onion powder

  Works with changes

  Use: garlic-infused oil in place of the onion and garlic powder, and maple syrup in place of the honey

  What changes: Less savory and less pungent.

  Not a swap: Garlic salt or onion salt, which still contain the fructans.

• onion powder · buddhist.five_pungent

  Works with changes

  Use: more smoked paprika in place of the onion and garlic powder

  What changes: Less savory.

  Not a swap: Spice blends that list onion or garlic.

• salt

  Works with changes

  Use: half the salt

  What changes: Less salty; the mustard still seasons the glaze.

  Not a swap: Salt-injected (enhanced) chicken, which adds sodium back.

These notes don't change the amounts, allergens or nutrition shown for this recipe.