Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

4.7
(166)

These tasty air fryer chicken thighs have juicy meat and crispy skin; you will love this quick chicken recipe that is ready for the table in less than 30 minutes!

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portrait shot crispy chicken thigh with mashed potato and green bean sides
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Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Servings:
4

If you've never made chicken thighs in the air fryer, you need this top-rated air fryer chicken thigh recipe in your life ASAP. The results are irresistible thighs that are tender and juicy on the inside, but nice and crispy on the outside.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Ingredients

A dinner plate with mashed potatoes, green beans, and crispy chicken
Allrecipes

These are the easy-to-find ingredients you'll need to make this air-fried chicken thighs recipe:

· Chicken thighs: You'll need four skin-on, boneless chicken thighs.
· Olive oil: Olive oil locks in moisture and gives the spices something to adhere to.
· Spices and seasonings: These air-fried chicken thighs are seasoned with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

chicken thighs from the air fryer
blessedwife22

Once you make chicken thighs in the air fryer, you'll never go back to the oven again. You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let's go over the basics:

How to Make Chicken Thighs In the Air Fryer Step-By-Step

Here's a very brief overview of what you can expect when you make air fryer chicken thighs:

1. Pat the thighs dry and brush the skins with olive oil.
2. Make the spice blend and sprinkle it all over the thighs.
3. Cook in the preheated air fryer until the skin is brown and the juices run clear.

How Long to Cook Chicken Thighs In the Air Fryer

Boneless chicken thighs should be fully cooked after about 18 minutes in an air fryer preheated to 400 degrees F. Make sure you check the internal temperature before you serve — an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 165 degrees F.

How to Serve Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

a top-down view of a large bowl of creamy, buttery, basic mashed potatoes
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Since your air fryer will be occupied, try pairing the chicken thighs with one of these simple side dishes that come together quickly in the oven or on the stove:

· Oven-Roasted Asparagus
· Basic Mashed Potatoes
· Sautéed Green Beans

Explore our entire collection of Side Dish Recipes.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Storage

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs on a white plate
lisa.reighley

Store the cooked chicken thighs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

If you plan to freeze the chicken, place the cooled thighs in a freezer bag and squeeze out the excess air. Wrap the bag in foil. Freeze for up to three months.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"Oh my, these were so good," raves grammyt7204g. "The skin was crispy and the meat inside was so tender and cooked perfectly, I will definitely make these again!"

"Delicious," according to Mary Wilson. "I forgot the olive oil and once I realized it, I used canola cooking spray and sprayed the skin. Still came out crispy and yummy! Will make it again."

"I omitted the black pepper and added a generous seasoning of lemon pepper," says Christina M. Miskam. "I love lemon garlic chicken. This came out juicy, delicious, and I added 3 minutes per side because my chicken thighs were huge. Came out perfect!"

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

  • 4 skin-on, boneless chicken thighs

  • 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

  • ¾ teaspoon garlic powder

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients and preheat an air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

    all ingredients gathered in various bowls

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Pat chicken thighs dry with a paper towel and brush skins with olive oil. Place chicken thighs, skin-side down, in a single layer on a plate.

    chicken thighs being brushed with olive oil

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Sprinkle 1/2 of the seasoning mixture evenly over thighs. Turn thighs over and evenly sprinkle with remaining seasoning. Arrange thighs, skin-side up, in a single layer in the air fryer basket.

    thighs seasoned and arranged in an air fryer basket

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Cook in the preheated air fryer until thighs are brown and the juices run clear, about 18 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

    thighs after cooking in the air fryer

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Serve and enjoy!

    air-fried chicken thigh with mashed potato and green beans on the side

    Allrecipes

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

213 Calories
14g Fat
1g Carbs
19g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 213
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 14g 18%
Saturated Fat 4g 18%
Cholesterol 71mg 24%
Sodium 355mg 15%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 19g 39%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 12mg 1%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 192mg 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.