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Cooked air fryer chicken thighs in the air fryer basket.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Learn how to make super crispy chicken thighs by using your air fryer! Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are quick, easy and tasty, with minimal oil.
5 from 5 votes
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Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: air fryer chicken thighs
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 32 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 278kcal
Author: Kate | You Say Potatoes

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.
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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.
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
Chii Seasoning

Nutrition

Calories: 278kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 87mg | Potassium: 232mg | Vitamin A: 88IU | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg

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.