Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Tender, juicy chicken thighs are a quick and easy dinner recipe! These Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are coated with olive oil and then tossed with a blend of seasonings before they are cooked. This gives them a delicious flavor and crispy skin!

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Juicy chicken thighs with crispy seasoned skin is a quick and easy dinner recipe you can make in your air fryer! You guys know how much I love air fryer recipes – you can use it for so many things and you get that crispy texture without having to fry anything. It really is the best! And these air fryer chicken thighs are so delicious we have them in our dinner rotation on a regular basis.

Just like my air fryer fried chicken, pork chops and chicken legs, these crispy-skinned thighs come out perfectly cooked every time. Plus, they only take 30 minutes to make start to finish.

Seasoned with a homemade seasoning mix made with smoked paprika and chili powder, they have tons of flavor! If you’ve been wanting to try a new chicken recipe you are going to love this one! Don’t have an air fryer? Make my baked chicken thighs instead!

Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

• This air fryer chicken thighs recipe is a much healthier option for dinner. You can get the same delicious and crispy skin as fried, without all of the extra fat content.
• Air fryer chicken thighs make almost no mess, so cleanup is really easy. Just clean the mixing bowls you used and wash the air fryer. That’s it!
• Since chicken stores and reheats well, these chicken thighs are a wonderful meal prep recipe. Make a double batch and store them to reheat throughout the week.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

• Chicken Thighs – We used bone-in chicken thighs, but you can use boneless. Boneless chicken thighs will cook faster so be sure to watch the cooking time.
• Olive Oil – Any type of oil will work, but it should have a high heat point, so we used olive oil. It helps make the best crispy chicken thighs.
• Seasoning – To make a tasty chicken rub, we used a mixture of sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder and onion powder. You can use your favorite chicken rub if you prefer.

How to Cook Chicken Thighs in An Air Fryer

At what temperature should I air fryer chicken thighs?

Air fry chicken thighs at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for a juicy, tender chicken thigh that has a crispy skin.

How long do you air fryer chicken thighs?

Technically, chicken is done done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit and the juices run clear.

However, I actually prefer to cook my chicken thighs until they are 185 to 190 degrees F. That way, you won’t have any of those blood spots near the bone. Thighs have plenty of fat so they won’t dry out if you cook them a little longer.

How to Store Leftover Chicken Thighs

Allow chicken thighs to cool, then place in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to four days.

To reheat air fryer chicken thighs, place them in the air fryer for 6-8 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Flip them halfway through cooking time.

What to Serve with this Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe

Oh, the possibilities are endless! It’s what I love best about this dish – you can pair them with so many side dishes. Here are some of my favorites:

• During the summer, I love to make potato salad to go with them. My bacon ranch potato salad is one of my family’s favorites or try my classic potato salad!
• Add a healthy veggie side dish like a mix of roasted vegetables, cooked asparagus, or roasted cauliflower.
• During the winter when we’re craving something hearty I’ll make broccoli casserole, baked potatoes or cheesy garlic noodles!

Seriously, though, they go with almost anything so check out all of my side dish recipes for even more ideas!

Can I use chicken breasts for this air fryer thighs recipe?

I don’t recommend using boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe because you won’t get the crispy skin! They will also dry out more and not be as juicy as thighs.

You could use bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts but they are a lot bigger so you would have to cook them in batches. The cooking time will vary too. So I personally just recommend sticking to bone-in chicken thighs.

Can I cook these chicken thighs in the oven?

If you don’t have an air fryer, you can cook these delicious chicken thighs in the oven. Use the same temperature, 400 degrees Fahrenheit, but they will take longer to cook than the air fryer. I haven’t tested them this way, so I can’t give you a time estimate.

The skin may not get as crispy as the air fryer, but they’ll still turn out tasty!

Can I use boneless chicken thighs in the air fryer?

Yes, you can use boneless chicken thighs instead of bone-in chicken thighs. Just keep in mind that they will cook faster than the bone-in version.

Can you put raw chicken in the air fryer?

Yes, you can put raw chicken in the air fryer. Cooking chicken in the air fryer is the perfect way to get tender, juicy chicken!

Whatever you do, you have to try these easy air fryer chicken thighs! Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside – they are so delicious, just like our air fried chicken legs! Might I suggest that you make them this week? You won’t regret it!

More Easy Recipes You’ll Love!

• Recipe for Soft Sugar Cookies
• Doritos Catalina Taco Salad
• Chicken Drumsticks Dinner
• Mud Cup
• Hamburger Velveeta Dip
• Boil Frozen Corn on the Cob

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!

 

4.93 from 40 votes

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs (Bone In Skin On)

Crispy, tender and juicy chicken thighs that are seasoned and made in an Air Fryer!

Prep:10 minutes mins

Cook:18 minutes mins

Total:28 minutes mins

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Ingredients

• ▢ 4 skin-on bone-in chicken thighs
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon olive oil

Rub

• ▢ ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon chili powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon onion powder

Instructions

• Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In a small bowl combine all the rub ingredients.
• Pat chicken thighs dry with a paper towel and brush the skin-side of each piece with olive oil. Place chicken thighs skin-side down in a single layer on a plate.
• Sprinkle rub mixture evenly over the chicken thighs. Turn the thighs over and evenly sprinkle remaining seasoning mixture on top. Place chicken thighs in the air fryer basket in a single layer, skin-side up.
• Cook in an air fryer 18-22 minutes or until the juices run clean and the center reads 185-190 degrees Fahrenheit.

Tips

• Technically the internal temperature needs to be 165 degrees F, but I find that there are no bloody spots around the bones if you cook it a little longer and the chicken falls off the bone tender and juicy.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 351kcal (18%), Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 24g (48%), Fat: 28g (43%), Saturated Fat: 7g (44%), Cholesterol: 142mg (47%), Sodium: 404mg (18%), Potassium: 296mg (8%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 1g (1%), Vitamin A: 261IU (5%), Calcium: 12mg (1%), Iron: 1mg (6%)

© Julie's Eats & Treats ®

We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.