These air fryer chicken thighs are absolutely crispy on the outside and perfectly juicy inside. Simple and ready in under 30 minutes, enjoy succulent chicken thighs seasoned with an easy mix of seasonings. Great for meal prep, versatile, and loaded with flavor.
If you are looking for a quick way to cook some delicious chicken thighs for dinner, this air fryer chicken thighs recipe is for you. These chicken thighs get truly crispy, while the meat is tender and juicy. It’s a mess-free recipe bursting with flavor.
- Why Are You Going To Love This Air Fryer Chicken Recipe
- What Is An Air Fryer?
- Ingredients And Substitutions
- How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- How Long to Cook Chicken Thigs in the Air Fryer?
- Tips and Variations
- Serving Suggestions
- How To Store
- Looking for More Chicken Recipes? Try these:
- Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
I’d love to mention the crispy skin again because it’s the best part of this recipe. Cooking bone-in thighs means super moist meat. The air fryer speeds the cooking process a lot!
These air fryer chicken thighs are ideal for anyone who follows a keto gluten-free Paleo diet. However, they are so tasty and loved by everyone!
This recipe is absolutely delicious. I think it is perfect for anyone who wants to cook something tasty, fast and easy, but especially healthy, with ingredients at hand.
Why Are You Going To Love This Air Fryer Chicken Recipe
- It’s an extremely easy and quick recipe.
- The skin is crispy, and the meat is super juicy!
- Perfect for tons of side dishes.
- You can make it ahead.
- You will need only five ingredients.
- Chicken Thigs cook faster in an Air Fryer.
What Is An Air Fryer?
If you’re unfamiliar with an air fryer, here’s a quick summary of what it is and how it works. They use heated air for cooking the food from all sides, similar to a convection oven. Preheat the machine and place your ingredients in the “fryer” basket.
Remember that most air fryer recipes only call for a small amount of oil. For a quarter of the cost of deep-frying, you can get a gorgeous, crispy coating and terrific flavor using an air fryer. Furthermore, browning in the air fryer is more consistent than browning in the oven, especially if the item is flipped or turned halfway through cooking.
Ingredients And Substitutions
Only a few ingredients are needed to create these delicious chicken thighs perfect for any occasion.
- Chicken Thighs – this recipe requires skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs. If you prefer using skinless, boneless chicken thighs, you may want to reduce the cooking time to prevent overcooking.
- Smoked Paprika – this ingredient gives color to the dish and an intense smoky taste. It can be replaced with chili powder for some extra kick.
- Garlic & Onion Powder- you can substitute the garlic powder with freshly minced garlic for even more flavor.
- Oregano- dried one is the best, and you replace it with your favorite dried herbs.
- Salt & Pepper – to taste, you can also use your favorite seasonings like dried herbs.
- Olive oil- helps the seasonings stick to the chicken while making the skin extra crispy.
How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
It has never been easier to prepare dinner in such a short time with few ingredients and an extremely delicious result. Here is everything you have to do:
Start by preheating your air fryer for five minutes. If yours doesn’t have this function, let it run empty for about 5 minutes.
Prepare the chicken thighs- Pat dry the chicken using a clean kitchen towel to remove as much moisture as possible. This is important if you want crispy chicken thighs.
Place the chicken thighs into a large bowl and add the oil. Season with all the spices and mix until each chicken thigh is well covered with seasonings.
Cook in the Air Fryer- Place the chicken thighs with the skin side down and cook them for 10 minutes, then flip the thighs and cook for another 10-12 minutes.
Remove them from the air fryer, then serve them with your favorite side dish.
How Long to Cook Chicken Thigs in the Air Fryer?
The cooking time varies greatly depending on the size of your chicken thighs. I usually cook bone-in chicken thighs at 400° F for about 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Boneless chicken thighs cook faster in about 12-15 minutes. There’s no need to flip them.
Chicken thighs are ready when the internal temperature of the chicken is 165ºF. They should look crispy on the outside and the juices clear.
Tips and Variations
- Make sure that you don’t overcook your chicken thighs. You want to end up with some juicy and crispy chicken thighs, not dried ones.
- If you’re worried about your chicken sticking to the air fryer basket, spray it with oil before putting it in. This will help create a non-stick surface and make cleanup easier.
- Add an extra kick to your chicken thighs by sprinkling some red pepper chili flakes before cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket, and cook them in a single layer. Leave enough space between each thigh, allowing air to circulate evenly.
- Once the chicken thighs are cooked, allow them to rest for a few minutes before serving.
Serving Suggestions
These chicken thighs are perfect as they are, but if you want to make a complete meal, you can serve them along with your favorite side dish. Here are some great ideas:
- Make some cauliflower mashed potatoes.
- You can serve them with your favorite salad.
- Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus
How To Store
- Fridge: Leftover chicken thighs should be tightly wrapped and refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: these chicken thighs can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. Just wrap them in two pieces of plastic wrap or aluminum foil, freeze them, or keep them in freezer-safe containers.
Looking for More Chicken Recipes? Try these:
- Juicy Air Fryer Naked Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce
- Juicy Air Fryer Whole Chicken
- Cream Cheese Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast – {Low Carb, Keto}
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Description
Ingredients
- 5-6 chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt or more to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F/200°C for 5 minutes. Then, spray the basket with non-stick cooking spray.
- Pat dry the chicken using clean paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible.
- Place the chicken thighs in a large bowl, drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle the spices. Mix well to evenly coat the chicken.
- Air fry the chicken skin side down, for 10 minutes, then flip on the other side and cook for another 10 minutes. Cook for 4-5 more minutes or until the skin is super crispy or until the internal temperature is 165°F.
Video
Notes
How do we calculate the nutrition info?
These nutrition facts listed are determined using nutrition information from the USDA Food Database. Our nutrition facts are accurate, but if you are using different products, please make your calculations. Net carb count is calculated by subtracting both fiber and sugar alcohols because they don’t raise blood sugar.
It all looks so good and I can’t wait to try it in my new Airfryer