Air Fryer Teriyaki Pineapple Chicken Skewers

Today I want to share one of my favorite air fryer recipes – these air fryer teriyaki pineapple chicken skewers. They are juicy, flavorful, and so easy to put together on a weeknight.

The combination of sweet pineapple and savory teriyaki sauce with tender chicken thighs is honestly hard to beat. Every bite has that perfect balance of sweet and salty.

The air fryer does an amazing job here. It gets the chicken nice and cooked through while giving the pineapple those caramelized edges that make everything taste even better.

You only need a handful of ingredients and about 30 minutes from start to finish. Most of that time is just letting the chicken marinate.

Serve them over some steamed rice and you have a complete meal that the whole family will enjoy. Let me show you how to make them.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Sweet and Savory in Every Bite – The combo of teriyaki-glazed chicken and juicy caramelized pineapple gives you that perfect sweet-and-savory balance that makes you want to keep eating skewer after skewer.

The Air Fryer Caramelizes the Pineapple Perfectly – One of the best things about using an air fryer here is how it gives the pineapple chunks those beautiful golden, caramelized edges. You get that slightly charred sweetness without needing a grill or dealing with smoke.

Chicken Thighs Stay Super Juicy – Unlike chicken breast, boneless skinless thighs hold up amazingly well in the air fryer. They stay tender and juicy on the inside while getting a nice glaze on the outside from the teriyaki marinade.

Ready in Under 30 Minutes – From marinating to plating, you can have these skewers done in about 30 minutes. The air fryer only needs 12 to 14 minutes to cook them through, so dinner comes together really fast on busy weeknights.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 cup Fresh Pineapple, cut into 1-inch chunks
• 1/3 cup Teriyaki Sauce
• 1 tbsp Sesame Oil
• 1 Garlic Clove, minced
• 1/2 tsp Ground Ginger
• Wooden Skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
• Sesame Seeds, for garnish
• Sliced Green Onions, for garnish

How to Make

Step 1

In a bowl, whisk together teriyaki sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and ground ginger. Add the chicken cubes and toss to coat. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes.

Step 2

Thread the marinated chicken and pineapple chunks alternately onto the soaked wooden skewers.

Step 3

Preheat the air fryer to 380°F (195°C). Place the skewers in a single layer in the basket.

Step 4

Air fry for 12 to 14 minutes, turning once halfway through, until the chicken is cooked through and the pineapple has caramelized edges.

Step 5

Brush with a little extra teriyaki sauce, then garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve over steamed rice.

Tips

Soak Your Skewers Long Enough

The recipe says to soak the wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes, and you really do need the full 30 minutes. If you skip this or only soak them for a few minutes, the exposed ends of the skewers will burn and smoke in the air fryer.

A good trick is to soak them first thing before you even start prepping your ingredients. That way they are ready to go by the time you need them.

If you want to skip this step entirely, use metal skewers instead. They work great in the air fryer and you never have to worry about them burning.

Cut the Chicken and Pineapple the Same Size

This matters more than you might think. If your chicken cubes are way bigger than your pineapple chunks, the chicken will take longer to cook and the pineapple will turn to mush before the chicken is done.

Aim for about 1-inch pieces for both. It doesn’t have to be exact, but keeping them close in size means everything cooks evenly and finishes at the same time.

For the pineapple, use fresh pineapple and cut it firm so the chunks hold their shape on the skewer. Canned pineapple is too soft and tends to fall apart during cooking.

Give the Marinade Enough Time

15 minutes is the minimum, but if you have more time, let the chicken sit in the marinade for 30 minutes to an hour. The longer it sits, the deeper the teriyaki flavor gets into the meat.

Just don’t go past 2 hours. The teriyaki sauce has salt and sugar in it, and if the chicken sits in it too long, the texture starts to change and it can get a bit mushy on the outside.

If you want to save time on a busy night, you can marinate the chicken in a zip-lock bag in the fridge the night before. Just pull it out about 10 minutes before you are ready to thread the skewers so it is not ice cold going into the air fryer.

Related Recipes

• Air Fryer Crispy Sesame Chicken
• Air Fryer Korean BBQ Beef Bowls
• Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Skewers
• Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs
• Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know when the chicken is fully cooked?

The safest way is to use an instant-read meat thermometer – the chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). If you don’t have a thermometer, cut into one of the larger pieces and make sure there’s no pink inside.

With 1-inch cubes at 380°F, the 12 to 14 minute cook time in the recipe is usually spot on, but every air fryer runs a little differently so it’s always good to check.