Learn how to make super crispy chicken thighs by using your air fryer! Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are a quick, easy, and tasty way to use those bone in, skin on thighs. Add some sides and you have a perfect dinner the whole family will love.
The air fryer is a kitchen appliance that cooks by circulating hot air around the food. It's perfect for cooking chicken because it doesn't use any oil, so the air-baked chicken thighs end up being covered in an extra crispy skin without all of the calories from frying.
Chicken thighs are one of the best proteins to make in the air fryer for many reasons. Not only do the chicken thighs cook fast, but they stay tender on the inside and crispy on the outside and can be seasoned in a variety of different ways.
Simply coat your chicken thighs with your favorite seasonings. Then add them to a preheated air fryer where you’ll cook them until juicy and tender on the inside. The skin will get crispy from the circulating air making them a great texture.
Serve air fryer chicken thighs on a weeknight with your favorite side dish, or use for meal prep during a busy work week!
This recipe was inspired by my Honey & Garlic Boneless Chicken Thighs. It goes perfectly with Texas Roadhouse Seasoned Rice and Buttered Cabbage.
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Why Make This Recipe
Even though the skin is crispy, the air fryer does not use excessive amounts of oil to cook the chicken.
This method for cooking chicken thighs takes just 30 minutes from start to finish.
You can pair chicken thighs with side dishes, or use the meat for chicken salads, soups, and stews.
Chicken thighs can be seasoned in a variety of different ways to fit the flavor profile of whichever meal you make.
Ingredients
- Chicken Thighs - You’ll need bone-on, skin-on chicken thighs for this recipe. This cut of meat is budget-friendly and easy to cook in the air fryer.
- Oil - you only need a tiny bit of oil for this air fryer method!
- Seasonings - Chicken thighs can be seasoned and flavored in a variety of different ways. Check below for a list of my favorite ways to season air fryer chicken thighs.
- Nonstick Cooking Spray - Use nonstick cooking spray to coat the air fryer basket to keep the chicken from sticking.
Tools:
Air Fryer - There are many options out there to choose from when it comes to an air fryer. All work similarly but come in different sizes. Choose one that will cook enough food for your family with minimal batch cooking.
Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full quantities.
Instructions
Wondering how to make this air fryer chicken recipe? It's easy!
Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then, scroll down for the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.
Prepare the air fryer: Preheat the air fryer for 3-5 minutes at 375F while you prepare the chicken thighs.
Prepare the chicken thighs: Trim off any excess skin or fat from the chicken thighs and discard. Use a paper towel to dry the chicken thighs of any excess moisture.
Season the chicken thighs: Add the chicken thighs to a large Ziploc bag or container with your desired seasonings.
Coat the chicken: Shake the bag to evenly coat the chicken with seasonings.
Air fry the chicken thighs: Coat the air fryer basket with a light layer of nonstick spray. Add the chicken thighs skin side down to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 10 minutes, then flip over with tongs.
Cook for an additional 15 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken thighs reaches 165F in the thickest part.
Remove and serve: Remove from the air fryer with tongs. Let them rest for 5 minutes before serving while warm.
Cook's Tips
To keep the meat as tender as possible, let the chicken rest on the counter for 10 minutes before cooking in the air fryer. This will help the meat from getting too tough.
Normally, the air fryer does not need to be preheated. However, when cooking raw meat, it's helpful to warm up the heating element before cooking the chicken thighs for even cooking.
Add the nonstick spray just before adding the chicken thighs. Adding it beforehand can make it burn and stick to the air fryer basket.
The chicken thighs should be in a single even layer when cooked. If your air fryer basket is too small, cook them in batches.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with your favorite side dishes, such as Sesame Green Beans, Microwave Acorn Squash, Microwave Baked Potatoes or Roasted Beets.
Use the meat from the cooked chicken thighs to make Classic Chicken Salad.
Air-fried chicken thighs can be cut up and used inside your favorite pasta dish for more protein.
Serve alongside Roasted Broccoli and your favorite grain for a well-rounded meal.
Cut up the meat and use it in a vegetable stir fry.
Mix the cold meat with mayonnaise and use in a chicken salad sandwich.
Seasonings
There are so many ways to flavor chicken thighs. Check out this list of my favorite seasonings that you can use to make air fryer chicken thighs.
- Lemon pepper
- Cajun
- Old Bay Seasoning
- Hickory BBQ
- Garlic & Parmesan
- Korean
- Taco Seasoning
- Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
- Dry Buffalo Seasoning
- Italian Seasoning
- Greek Seasoning
- Fresh Herbs
- Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder
- Poultry Seasoning
- Chili Seasoning
Storage & Freezing
Storing: Cooked and cooled air-fried chicken thighs can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the air fryer for best results.
Freezing: Any leftover cooked chicken thighs can be stored in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag once wrapped in plastic wrap. Freeze for 3-4 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating and serving.
FAQs
While this does help with clean up, the foil will block the flow of air on the bottom of the chicken keeping it from cooking properly. Therefore foil is not recommended.
Yes, you can use a similar method to cook chicken breasts. However, chicken breasts will need to cook at a slightly lower temperature and for longer to keep from drying out. Always use a kitchen thermometer to check if the chicken is safe to consume.
While most recipes don’t require the air fryer to preheat, cooking protein raw protein is the exception. Preheating the air fryer helps keep the chicken at a safe temperature to cook evenly.
Food Safety Tips
- Before cooking, wash your hands and countertops.
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food that has touched raw meat.
- Always wash your hands after touching raw meat.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Keep those pot/pan handles turned in away from the front of the stove.
- When cooking at high temperatures, use oils with a high smoking point, to avoid harmful compounds.
- Ensure you have good ventilation when cooking on gas.
- Put foods in the fridge or freezer within 2 hours of cooking. Reduce this to within 1 hour if it is 90 degrees or hotter outside.
- Safely thaw food in the fridge, under cold running water, or in the microwave.
- To ensure food is cooked through, it's best to use a food thermometer. Be aware that you can’t always tell by looking.
Cook to safe temperatures:
- Beef, Pork, Lamb: 145 °F
- Fish: 145 °F
- Ground Beef, Ground Pork, Ground Lamb: 160 °F
- Turkey, Chicken, Duck: 165 °F
More air fryer recipes
We hope that you love this tasty chicken thighs in air fryer recipe! Be sure to also check out these other air fryer dishes too!
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs ideally bone-in, skin-on
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Seasoning ideas (optional) - use approx 1 tablespoon
- Lemon pepper
- Cajun
- Old Bay Seasoning
- Hickory BBQ
- Garlic & Parmesan
- Korean
- Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for a few minutes.
- Meanwhile, trim any excess fat or skin away from the chicken thighs and discard.
- Add the chicken to a large ziploc bag along with the oil and any spices or seasonings you’re using, and shake to coat.
- Spray the bowl of the air fryer with non-stick cooking spray.
- Place the chicken thighs into the air fryer, skin side down, and cook for 10 minutes.
- Using tongs, turn the chicken thighs over and cook for a further 15 minutes. Check to see if they need to be cooked for longer or if you’d like them to be crispier.
- Note: To check that they’re done, a meat thermometer should read at least 165F.
Notes
- To keep the meat as tender as possible, let the chicken rest on the counter for 10 minutes before cooking in the air fryer. This will help the meat from getting too tough.
- Normally, the air fryer does not need to be preheated. However, when cooking raw meat, it's helpful to warm up the heating element before cooking the chicken thighs for even cooking.
- Add the nonstick spray just before adding the chicken thighs. Adding it beforehand can make it burn and stick to the air fryer basket.
- The chicken thighs should be in a single even layer when cooked.
- If your air fryer basket is too small, cook them in batches.
There are so many ways to flavor chicken thighs. Check out this list of my favorite seasonings that you can use to make air fryer chicken thighs. Lemon pepper
Cajun
Old Bay Seasoning
Hickory BBQ
Garlic & Parmesan
Korean
Taco Seasoning
Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
Dry Buffalo Seasoning
Italian Seasoning
Greek Seasoning
Fresh Herbs
Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder
Poultry Seasoning
Chii Seasoning
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Hanna
These chicken thighs are perfect! The skin looks is crispy!
Natalie
This was a super simple family dinner and we had them with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli. The meat was perfectly cooked and flavorful!