Hawaiian and Japanese-inspired sweet and savory soy-glazed air-fried chicken wings with a kick of heat from chili red pepper flakes balanced with the health-boosting sweetness of date syrup served with fresh mixed greens, tomatoes, and a quick homemade carrot ginger dressing, making this an incredible air fryer teriyaki chicken wing meal.
Table of Contents
Jump to:
- A Party for Two to Infinity!
- Healthier Without the Compromise
- Ingredients
- Instructions
- How to Stack Whole Chicken Wings?
- Substitutions
- Dairy Free
- Variations
- Equipment
- Storage
- Cooking Tip
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Air Fryer Recipes
- Poultry Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
- Have a Comment or Question?
A Party for Two to Infinity!
Experience the ultimate convenience with the Easy Healthier Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Wings recipe – a quick and easy recipe perfect for a stress-free weeknight dinner or a spontaneous romantic dinner for two.
These crispy wings, glazed with a sweet and savory soy-infused sticky teriyaki sauce, are a crowd favorite for game day parties and a delightful option for those cozy wing nights at home.
Healthier Without the Compromise
Use low-sodium and low-glycemic ingredients to achieve the perfect balance of healthier, juicy wings with crispy skin. Whether you're looking for a quick dinner option or planning an intimate meal, these wings, with a hint of chili pepper flakes for a kick, will impress.
Serve with mixed greens and Japanese-style carrot ginger dressing for a well-rounded, flavor-packed dining experience. Elevate your culinary game with my easy and delicious recipes that check all the boxes for a memorable and satisfying meal.
Other Quick and Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Spicy Peanut Chicken Wings with Mushroom Jollof Fonio Pilaf
- Loaded Plantain Fried with Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs and Spicy Slaw
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast with Hot Honey Glazed Vegetables
- Best Air Fryer Honey Dijon Mustard Chicken Rice Bowl
Ingredients
Prepare the Chicken
Begin by patting dry the whole chicken wings with a paper towel after preheating the air fryer. Then, toss them with kosher salt, ground black pepper, and avocado oil.
Place them in the air fryer in a single layer and make the sauce by whisking together ginger paste, garlic paste, red pepper chili flakes, low-sodium soy sauce, date syrup, and rice wine vinegar. Set it aside.
Make the Salad
Then, make the dressing in the food processor with carrots, ginger paste, honey, toasted sesame oil, kosher salt, avocado oil, and Greek yogurt. Once the chicken wings are cooked, baste it with the sauce and place it back into the air fryer basket.
Then, reduce the rest of the sauce in a frying pan and toss with the chicken wings. Plate them with mixed greens, sliced Campari tomatoes, and the carrot ginger dressing.
See the air fryer teriyaki chicken recipe recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Follow the instructions and cooking tips below using the step-by-step picture guide.
Ensure to pat dry the chicken wings with a paper towel to allow the oil and seasoning to adhere and create crispy chicken wings.
To prevent cross-contamination, clean the bowl before making the sauce.
Blend the carrots first to chop them into fine pieces to make a smoothie dressing.
Adding the Greek yogurt last prevents it from being mixed too much.
Baste the chicken wings at least three times for an even coat before placing them back in the air fryer.
Tucking the tips of the chicken wings under the other wings prevents the tips from burning.
Since the sauce has date syrup, it will become a glaze when reduced.
Keep an eye out not to burn the sugars.
Be careful when tossing the hot wings with the hot sauce; you can toss using a bowl, a pair of tongs, or a large spoon.
This two-step process seasons the wings' skin with the sauce and creates a thick coating since you cannot air fryer sauced wings for more than five minutes without burning them.
Busy Folks - Become a better home cook with cooking tips to help you cook more efficiently on Cook's Notebook tab. In addition, some related detailed steps can be found there. Like eating chicken, learn other ways to prep them with recipes.
How to Stack Whole Chicken Wings?
Presentation matters for a dinner for two or just for you. Follow the image guidelines below.
First, lay the flatter side of the wing horizontally close to the salad.
Second, place the next wing in the opposite direction for contrast and stability.
Third, place the last wing with the flat side up for a great skin presentation.
Photo Source: Crispy Air Fryer Honey Jerk Rubbed Chicken Wings
Substitutions
Dairy Free
- This teriyaki chicken wing recipe is already dairy-free.
Gluten-Free
- Low-Sodium Soy Sauce - Use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari. Tamari is a gluten-free fermented soy-based sauce with a richer, deeper flavor, often used in Japanese cuisine and enjoyed for its umami punch. Another alternative is coconut aminos, a coconut-based low-sodium sauce with no soy compared to the original.
Vegetarian
- To be honest, I believe it will be hard to turn this recipe into a vegetarian one; if you are interested in a plant-based version of a Teriyaki meal, I suggest checking out Catherine's Plant-Based: 15 Minute Teriyaki Tofu. Why this recipe? Because she makes a full, balanced meal out of it using simple ingredients. In addition, you can still serve my dressing along with it. Note: My salad dressing is vegetarian, not vegan, because of the use of Greek Yogurt and honey.
Convenience
- Avocado Oil - This neutral, healthy oil was chosen since it has a high smoke point; you can use vegetable oil or canola as a substitute.
- Garlic Paste and Ginger Paste - You can substitute with store-bought mixed garlic and ginger paste. Another option is to grate the fresh garlic and ginger to prevent it from burning quickly when cooking at a high temperature in the air fryer.
- Date Syrup - This is a low-glycemic dark syrup with rich, deep flavors to compensate for some of the characteristics of the mirin and sake. If you have it, replace it with the latter or use brown sugar.
- Campari Tomatoes - These tomatoes are chosen for their balance of sweetness to acidity. However, you can replace them with grape or cherry tomatoes.
Change Heat Level - Modify the air fryer teriyaki chicken wing recipe's heat level to your liking, and learn more about the Scoville Scale and Chili Pairings.
Variations
- Garnishes - If you are serving these wings alone, I suggest garnishing them with thinly sliced green onions or white sesame seeds for a pop of color.
- Chicken Thighs - Follow the recipe as usual. The only difference will be the air fryer cooking times; thighs usually take 18 to 22 minutes to cook fully.
Equipment
- Air Fryer - This is used to cook the chicken wings faster than the typical oven to avoid deep frying. I use the 4-quart Ninja AG301 Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Electric Grill to develop my air fryer recipes. For the oven, I suggest baking on a baking sheet tray with a rack at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to 45 minutes with an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit; depending on the size of the wings, it can take up to 60 minutes.
- Paper Towels - Helps remove excess moisture to create a crispy texture when air frying.
- Whisk - Used to mix the ingredients.
- Mixing Bowl - This is for mixing the sauce and seasoning and later to coat the wings.
- Food Processor - For making the dressing. If you do not have a food processor, you can use a box grater to grate the carrots, ginger, and garlic. In the tutorial video, I used the KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper, which comes with a drizzle basin to add the oil in slowly to emulsify and thicken homemade dressings.
- Non-Stick Frying Pan - Used to reduce the homemade teriyaki sauce; I used the All-Clad HA1 Hard Anodized 12-inch Nonstick Fry Pan for this recipe. However, you can use a small saucepan.
Kitchen Must Haves - Find other tools I use here.
Storage
- Refrigerator - To store in the fridge, you can place the chicken wings in a shallow 2-inch container to cool down quickly. Then, store it in an airtight container along with the dressing and salad. As a result, the meal will last up to three days.
- Freezer - Follow the refrigeration process mentioned above for the chicken wings. Then, place it in the freezer in a labeled, airtight container or freezer resealable bag.
Air Tight Food Containers - I use Glass Food Storage Containers with a plastic clipping lid to store food. For example, I always suggest glass storage containers since you can microwave them and hold food without staining the container, and the glass keeps them at a more stable temperature, which keeps the food fresher longer.
Cooking Tip
Sugar Burns - The best results for golden brown and delicious wings made using sugar in the sauce is knowing when to use it and for how long. I suggest cooking the wings first, then tossing them in the sugar-based sauce to finish in the air fryer for a couple of minutes to prevent them from burning.
In addition, the same goes for reducing sugar-based sauces. Always keep an eye and an extra eye when it begins to create slow bubbles when simmering; that means it is on that thin line between being a delicious, sticky, yummy sauce to crystallizing and burning.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no difference; it's just a shorter way of saying it because the alcohol in rice, the wine, is fermented, resulting in what you know as vinegar.
The Hawaiian sauce has a Japanese name for the cooking method, and the basic ingredients in teriyaki sauce are soy sauce, mirin, and sake; some may add other sugars, ginger, garlic, or thicker sauces such as cornstarch.
Soy Sauce is not gluten-free due to the use of wheat as a flavor enhancer to create its deep, complex flavors. However, now you can find gluten-free soy sauce, an alternative label to tamari; both switch out wheat for rice and are soy-based products.
Air Fryer Recipes
Looking for other quick and easy air fryer recipes like this? Try these:
- Jerk Fajita Trio: 3 Must-Try Recipes for a Spicy Weeknight Cook-Up
- Air Fryer Chicken and Pork Belly Tacos | Easy & Crispy
- Air Fryer Jerk Shrimp Fajitas | Easy Caribbean in 20 Minutes
- Beituti Chicken Shawarma Rice Bowl | Quick and Easy
Poultry Recipes
Looking for other chicken recipes like this? Try these:
- Finger-Licking Chicken Wing Recipes You’ll Crave All Year
- Easy Sheet Pan Jerk Chicken Fajitas | Oven-Roasted Yum
- Quick Spicy Potstickers | Chili Momo Tibetan Style
- Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma | Quick with Beituti
📖 Recipe
Easy Air Fryer Sticky Date Teriyaki Chicken Wings
Ingredients
Teriyaki Chicken Wings
- 1 pound whole chicken wings
- salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- ½ tablespoon garlic paste
- ½ tablespoon ginger paste
- ½ teaspoon red pepper chili flakes
- 3 tablespoons of low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons date syrup
- 1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar or sake
Honey Yogurt Carrot Ginger Dressing and Salad
- 1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
- 1 medium carrot
- 1 tablespoon of ginger paste
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- ½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon cup avocado oil
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- 3 cups mixed greens
- 3 Campari tomatoes
Equipment
Instructions
- Save time in the kitchen: Read the instructions thoroughly, then gather and prep all your ingredients before cooking! Learn Prepping Tips.
- Set the Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and the cooking time to 17 minutes.
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat dry the chicken wings with paper towels and toss in a mixing bowl with salt, pepper, and oil. Then, place the wings in the air fryer, tuck the tips under the other chicken wing to prevent burning, and cook to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Make the Sauce: Clean the bowl and tongs. Whisk together ginger paste, garlic paste, red pepper chili flakes, low-sodium soy sauce, date syrup, and rice vinegar in the bowl and set aside.
- Prepare the Dressing: While the chicken cooks, peel and cut the carrot into small chunks. Next, add them to a food processor with ginger, honey, toasted sesame oil, salt, and oil and blend into a paste. Then, add the Greek yogurt and blend until incorporated and set aside.
- Baste the Chicken: Place the cooked chicken wings straight into the mixing bowl with the sauce. Then preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit again with the cooking timer set to 4 minutes. And baste the chicken wings with the sauce in the bowl while the air fryer reheats.
- Finish the Chicken: Place the chicken wings back into the air fryer with tips tucked under the other chicken wing and air fry while reserving the remaining sauce in the bowl.
- Finish the Sauce: In a cold, non-stick frying pan, add the remaining sauce and reduce on medium heat. Clean the bowl. Add the cooked chicken to the bowl and toss with the finished sauce.
- Finish the Prep: While the sauce reduces, slice the tomatoes and set them aside.
- Serve: Bunch up the mixed greens in the center of the plate. Next, stack the chicken wings on half of the salad. Then, add the sliced tomatoes to the salad. Finally, drizzle the dressing over the mixed greens salad.
- Tip: For presentation, add some tomato slices after drizzling on the dressing since the dressing is thick.
Video
Nutrition
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