Easy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs (Crispy + Juicy)
These Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are so crispy, tender and easy to make in under 30 minutes so they’re perfect for busy weeknights. The whole family will love these crispy air fryer chicken thighs served up with your favorite side dishes or salad.
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Love crispy chicken but want to cut down on the oil and fat with fried chicken? You’ve got to try these Air Fryer Chicken Thighs for a guilt-free and delicious meal. The family won’t even miss deep fried chicken when they try the crispy skin and tender meat on these thighs. Plus, it’s a simple recipe you can save and add it to your weekly meal plan.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Healthier option: They’re a healthier option because the chicken thighs are not breaded or deep fried. The air fryer helps to cook the chicken to give it the crispiest skin.
- Air fryer: Cooking these chicken thighs in the air fryer will crisp up the skin of the chicken while the inside stays juicy and tender. It’s one of the reasons why I love using air frying. With minimal oil, the heating element in the air fryer blows hot air on the chicken to cook it quickly and make it crispy. No more deep frying, no more oil splatters, no more mess. It’s such an easy way to cook and faster too. In addition, you it’s more hands-off because you don’t need to watch it cook over a stove. You can prep side dishes or do other meal prep while the chicken thighs are cooking.
- Minimal prep work: All you need to do is mix the ingredients together and then place them on the air fryer basket for a quick cook.
- Customize the seasoning: I’ve got a delicious suggestion for seasoning with smoked paprika, Cajun seasoning, and Italian seasoning but you could use your favorite seasoning blends to customize the flavor to suit your family’s taste.
About the Ingredients
This easy recipe is just 5 ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen.
- Chicken thighs: Opt for bone-in chicken thighs with the skin for extra flavor.
- Cooking oil: Use a cooking oil with a higher smoke point to air fry the chicken like avocado oil or olive oil.
- Seasoning: Use a combination of Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, and smoked paprika. Add salt and pepper to taste, especially if Cajun seasoning doesn’t have salt already added.
Step by Step Directions
These are the best air fryer chicken thighs and so easy to make. Just be sure to watch the cooking times as it can vary depending on the size of your chicken thighs.
- Add the chicken thighs to a large bowl or a plastic freezer bag.
- Add the oil and spices and mix well. If using a freezer bag, seal it and shake well to mix the ingredients together.
- Let the chicken marinate for 3-5 minutes.
- Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket with the skin side up, and cook at 400° for 15 minutes. The chicken skin should be a golden brown. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees F.
- Remove from air fryer basket, and let rest for 5 minutes.
Substitutions and Variations
- Chicken: Use boneless skin-on chicken thighs, chicken legs, chicken drumsticks, chicken wings, or even chicken breasts. The juiciest chicken will be the thighs followed by the legs (which include the thigh and drumstick), drumsticks, and wings. Dark meat will tend to be juicer than white meat. While you could use boneless skinless chicken thighs, you won’t get the crispy skin as you would with skin-on thighs. Be sure to adjust the cooking time as chicken drumsticks and wings will like take less time than thicker cut so chicken thighs.
- Seasoning: Use just salt and pepper along with oil with these chicken thighs for a delicious, basic recipe. Or you could substitute other spices like lemon pepper, Greek seasoning blend, BBQ rub, garlic powder, onion powder, and other seasoning like minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, etc. Personally, I prefer garlic powder over minced garlic as the latter can burn while cooking.
- Oil: Use cooking spray (like coconut oil or avocado oil cooking sprays) to coat chicken thighs and then toss with spices before placing in the air fryer basket.
Serving Ideas
Pair these Air Fryer Chicken Thighs with your favorite sides such as:
- Tater tots
- Baked potatoes
- Baked or smashed sweet potatoes
- Mac and cheese
- Salads
- Oven roasted vegetables
- Brussels sprouts
- Green beans
- Tortillas to make tacos or burritos
Storage
Store any leftover chicken in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, place the chicken in an air fryer for 3-4 minutes to heat up, or heat up in a skillet over low-medium heat.
FAQs
Can I use frozen chicken chicken thighs?
Yes, just be sure you thaw them thoroughly first so you can use the seasoning and marinade before cooking the chicken.
Do I need to flip the chicken halfway through the cook time?
No, this recipe does not require you to flip the chicken. Be sure to place the chicken in the air fryer basket skin side up so the skin will get crispy. If you flip it, the skin won’t get as crispy.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
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Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Equipment
- 1 plastic freezer bag or large mixing bowl
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 5 chicken thighs skin on and bone in
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp creole seasoning
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Add the chicken thighs to a large bowl or a plastic freezer bag.
- Add the oil and spices and mix well. If using a freezer bag, seal it and shake well to mix the ingredients together.
- Let the chicken marinate for 3-5 minutes.
- Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket with the skin side up, and cook at 400° for 15 minutes.
- When done, the chicken skin should be a golden brown. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees F.
- Remove from air fryer basket, and let rest for 3-5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Chicken:Â Use boneless skin-on chicken thighs, chicken legs, chicken drumsticks, chicken wings, or even chicken breasts. The juiciest chicken will be the thighs followed by the legs (which include the thigh and drumstick), drumsticks, and wings. Dark meat will tend to be juicer than white meat. While you could use boneless skinless chicken thighs, you won’t get the crispy skin as you would with skin-on thighs. Be sure to adjust the cooking time as chicken drumsticks and wings will like take less time than thicker cut so chicken thighs.Â
- Seasoning: Use just salt and pepper along with oil with these chicken thighs for a delicious, basic recipe. Or you could substitute other spices like lemon pepper, Greek seasoning blend, BBQ rub, garlic powder, onion powder, and other seasoning like minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, etc. Personally, I prefer garlic powder over minced garlic as the latter can burn while cooking.Â
- Oil:Â Use cooking spray (like coconut oil or avocado oil cooking sprays) to coat chicken thighs and then toss with spices before placing in the air fryer basket.Â
