Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Legs Recipe

These sweet, tangy, air fryer teriyaki chicken legs are so tender the meat practically falls off the bone! So simple to make, these are a perfect addition to your game night spread.

The sweetness of brown sugar and gorgeous umami notes of mirin are the stars of the sticky marinade for these air fryer teriyaki chicken legs. Combined with the beautifully crispy skin and moist, tender meat, you couldn’t ask for a more delicious appetizer!

Caramelized to perfection in the air fryer, the mahogany brown coating on these teriyaki chicken drumsticks steals the show! Air frying means a perfectly crisp outside and succulent middle because it retains the meat’s natural juices.

With a simple marinade and quick cooking time, this teriyaki chicken legs recipe is perfect for hosts who want to impress without spending the whole night in the kitchen!

What is in Teriyaki Chicken legs?

**Find the full list of ingredients along with the recipe instructions at the end of this post**

Low-sodium soy sauce or 50% less sodium tamari. Using low-sodium tamari or soy sauce for your teriyaki chicken legs means less salt in your meal - choose tamari if you want this recipe to be gluten-free.

Mirin. Mirin is a rice wine often used in Korean and Japanese recipes. It has a slightly sweet flavor which is terrific for Teriyaki. If you don’t have mirin, you can substitute it for dry white wine or rice vinegar, although you will need to counteract the sourness by adding extra sugar.

Sesame oil. Sesame oil will help tenderize your chicken legs while adding a delicate nutty flavor to your marinade. You can substitute this for olive oil if you don’t have any, or perilla or walnut oil for another oil with a nutty taste.

Light brown sugar. The molasses in brown sugar gives it a richer flavor than white sugar. Dark brown sugar has a deep flavor that is quite strong, so I’ve suggested light brown sugar for this recipe. However, you could substitute for white or dark brown sugar.

Other Ingredients

Minced ginger. Spicy and slightly sweet ginger adds freshness to your marinade! You can substitute ground ginger if you don’t have it fresh.

Garlic. Adds an earthy depth to your marinade. It’s good for you too! Garlic may help boost the immune system and lower blood pressure. If you don’t have fresh garlic, then use ground garlic instead.

Chicken drumsticks. Choose chicken drumsticks with a good amount of skin, as the crispy teriyaki-infused skin is the best part of air fryer teriyaki chicken drumsticks!

Sesame seeds and green onion (optional). I’d recommend adding this garnish; it adds a crunch and crunchy freshness that sets off the teriyaki flavor wonderfully.

How to make teriyaki chicken drumsticks in air fryer

Make the marinade: Combine soy sauce, mirin, sesame oil, sugar, ginger, and garlic in a medium bowl. 

Marinade the chicken: Place the chicken drumsticks in a large bowl or ziplock bag, add the teriyaki marinade, and toss to coat. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.

Air Fry: Discard the marinade and place the teriyaki marinated chicken drumsticks in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook to 380ºF for 12 minutes on each side or until an instant meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part registers 165ºF.

Serve: Remove from the basket and brush the chicken with teriyaki sauce if using. Sprinkle it with green onion and sesame seeds. Serve and enjoy! 

Recipe Tips

• Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and the freezer for up to 3 months.
• Reheat leftovers in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes, turning halfway through.
• Always check the sodium in store-bought teriyaki sauce and choose the one with less sodium.

How long to air fry teriyaki chicken

Air fry teriyaki drumsticks for around 12 minutes on each side at a temperature of 380°F. The exact timing will depend on your air fryer model and the size of your drumsticks, so always use a meat thermometer to check for a safe internal temperature of 165°F.

What to serve with teriyaki chicken drumsticks

This teriyaki chicken drumsticks recipe perfectly serves as part of an unforgettable game day spread! So bring it out alongside these buffalo cauliflower bites, golden brown breaded chicken tenders, and succulent bacon wrapped shrimp, and watch how quickly everyone clears their plates!

How to store teriyaki drumsticks

This rarely happens, but if you somehow have leftover air fryer teriyaki chicken legs, you can store them in the fridge or freezer. They make a great quick lunch, perfect for those long days when you need a pick-me-up at lunchtime!

Move them into an airtight container or Ziptop bag within 2 hours of cooking (this minimizes the risk of bacteria) and then store them. You can keep them in the fridge for 3 to 4 days and 2 to 6 months in the freezer.

How to reheat teriyaki chicken legs in air fryer

To reheat teriyaki chicken in air fryer, preheat your fryer to 375°F, and lay the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for around 4 minutes, and make sure you turn halfway through.

Use a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the meat (ensuring you don’t touch the bone) to check for a safe internal temperature of 165°F.

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