Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
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Air fryer chicken thighs are juicy and delicious and perfectly seasoned for a yummy and easy weeknight meal.
We love this air fryer chicken thigh recipe for a quick way to make some amazingly tender and juicy chicken for the whole family to enjoy! Make these with parmesan roasted potatoes and Hostess cupcakes or strawberry cake mix cookies for dessert!
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Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
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Why you’ll love this recipe!
📌 Ready in less than 30 minutes.
📌 Versatile! Make these with any side dish for an easy meal.
📌 Economical! Chicken thighs are traditionally a cheaper cut of meat for when you’re feeding the whole family on a budget.
📌 The dark meat of the chicken remains juicy while the outside skin gets crispy!
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Ingredients
- Chicken – Skin on chicken thighs.
- Oil – Olive oil.
- Seasonings – Salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried Italian seasoning, ground black pepper.
How do you make chicken thighs in the air fryer? (step-by-step directions)
⭐ First, preheat the air fryer. Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel and place them into a bowl.
⭐ Next, add the olive oil and seasonings and toss to coat the chicken thighs.
⭐ Then, place the chicken thighs skin side down in the preheated air fryer. Cook chicken thighs, flipping halfway through.
⭐ Finally, remove chicken thighs from the air fryer when they are cooked completely. Let rest and serve.
Preparation
Can air fryer chicken thighs be made ahead of time?
Yes, you can make these a day or two in advance and reheat. I would recommend reheating either in the oven or in the air fryer to keep the outside skin nice and crispy.
What kind of chicken works best for air fryer chicken thighs?
Obviously this is a chicken thigh recipe so you can use either bone-in chicken thighs or boneless chicken thighs. We prefer skin on because the air fryer gives the skin the perfect crisp! This recipe could also be used with boneless skinless chicken breasts or even drumsticks.
Can I make air fryer chicken thighs in the oven?
Yes, place the chicken on a foil lined baking tray and bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temp of 165 degrees. If desired, you can place the chicken under the broiler for a minute or two to brown and crisp the outside a bit.
Storage and leftovers
How long will air fryer chicken thighs last?
Leftovers will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days. Store in an airtight container for best results.
How do you reheat air fryer chicken thighs?
We recommend reheating in the air fryer at the same temp you cooked them initially. Cook for 4-6 minutes or until crispy and warmed to your liking. They can also be reheated in the toaster oven or microwave.
Can I freeze air fryer chicken thighs?
Yes, for best results, let them cool completely, chill them in the fridge for a few hours, wrap in parchment and place in a freezer safe, airtight container for 3-6 months. Defrost in the refrigerator and reheat in the air fryer.
Tips and tricks
✅ All air fryers heat differently. For best results, only heat the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees for the juiciest chicken!
✅ These are gluten free as written but please always double check your ingredients.
✅ Add cayenne or red pepper flakes to the seasoning mix for a little extra heat!
✅ Make sure to pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel. This will give you a nice crispy skin!
✅ Play around with the seasoning mixture and add or remove ingredients to your liking.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe?
Yes, you can substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe. However, keep in mind that the skin adds crispiness and flavor, so you may need to adjust the cooking time slightly.
What can I use as a substitute for olive oil?
If you don’t have olive oil on hand or prefer a different oil, you can use avocado oil, vegetable oil, or even melted butter as a substitute.
Do I need to flip the chicken thighs during cooking?
Yes, flipping the chicken thighs halfway through the cooking time ensures even cooking and helps achieve crispy skin on both sides.
What should I do if my air fryer doesn’t have a preheat function?
If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat function, you can still achieve great results. Simply turn on the air fryer to the specified cooking temperature and let it run for a couple of minutes before adding the chicken thighs.
Can I marinate the chicken thighs before cooking?
Yes, you can marinate the chicken thighs in your favorite marinade before cooking. However, ensure that you pat them dry before seasoning and air frying to prevent excess moisture.
What to enjoy with air fryer chicken thighs (serving suggestions)
These are such an easy weeknight meal that is incredibly juicy and flavorful. We like serving them with salt potatoes or air fryer sweet potatoes fries, and cool whip candy or chocolate chip cookie bars for dessert.
More delicious chicken thigh recipes
- 40 clove garlic chicken
- Hawaiian chicken
- Smoked chicken thighs
- Italian dressing chicken
- Peanut butter chicken
- Honey garlic chicken
- Honey mustard chicken
- Honey sriracha chicken
- BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe
- Teriyaki chicken
- See all our chicken thigh recipes!
Other great dishes to make in the air fryer
- Air fryer garlic parmesan chicken
- Air fryer BBQ chicken tacos
- Air fryer bagels
- Air fryer potatoes
- Air fryer fried pickles
- Air fryer french toast
- Air fryer chicken wings
- Air fryer mozzarella sticks
- Tofu in the air fryer
- See all our easy air fryer recipes!
Tools we love
- Digital air fryer – We have (pictured) this Cosori 5.8 quart air fryer. It’s great!
- Kitchen tongs – Every kitchen needs a good pair of tongs.
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How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 370℉.
- Pat dry the chicken thighs with a paper towel and put in a bowl. Add the olive oil and seasonings, and toss to coat the chicken thighs.
- Place the chicken thighs skin side down in the preheated air fryer. Cook at 370℉ for 12 minutes. Flip the thighs, then cook for an additional 7 to 10 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°.
- Allow to rest a few minutes before enjoying.
Notes
Nutrition
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I love that quick and easy doesn’t mean that I have to skimp on flavor. This recipe is FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You really can’t beat chicken thighs in the air fryer. They’re always so juicy, and the skin is just perfect. These were really good!
It’s incredibly delicious! I made this last night and my family really loved it!
I made this last night for dinner and it was delicious! I love quick and easy meal like this! Perfect for busy weeknights!
This was a 10/10! I usually don’t like chicken thighs, but the flavor was amazing and the skin crisped up perfectly. Heaven in my mouth! I’ll be making this again for sure.
Sooooo easy and sooooo yummy! Thank you for sharing!
This recipe is in our monthly rotation. Everyone loves it! And I love that it doesn’t take a lot of time on a busy weeknight.