Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Wellplated Com

Of the dozens (hundreds?) of recipes I’ve tested the last several months, air fryer chicken thighs are the first to earn the highest honor awarded in our household:

Ben fervently declared that he’d love for me to cook “exactly this” every week, forever.

He even went so far as to call this the best chicken he’d ever had. Between Baked Chicken Thighs, Pan-Fried Chicken Breast, and all of these healthy chicken recipes, that’s quite a statement. I know he means it too, because, while he gets jazzed about other proteins like Air Fryer Salmon or Air Fryer Pork Chops, chicken rarely causes a heart flutter. (Unless it’s Air Fryer Chicken Wings, but let’s be real—that’s more about the Buffalo sauce.) On the diner’s end, these juicy thighs have everything going for them.

The meat is juicier than you ever thought chicken could be.The seasoning tastes lightly smoky and complex, an ideal profile for chicken.The skin is so shatteringly crispy, even those who usually don’t eat chicken skin (me), will find themselves nibbling crunchy pieces.

But that’s not the end of the story. From the cook’s perspective (that’s me and you), it’s hard to find an easier recipe, let alone one that’s this easy AND this fast.

Bone-in chicken thighs cook in 16 to 20 minutes in the air fryer at 400 degrees F.You don’t need to spend time marinating the chicken thighs before air frying.The rub is made from common spices you likely already have in your pantry, like paprika and garlic powder.

How to Make Crispy, Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

For this recipe, you can use bone-in or boneless chicken thighs (I’ve included times for both), but I highly recommend using bone-in, skin-on for this recipe.

As with this Baked Bone-In Chicken Breast, the skin locks in moisture, so you don’t need to spend time brining the meat for excellent results, the way you would with Air Fryer Chicken Breast.The bone flavors the meat from within and makes it harder to overcook the chicken.Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are a bargain compared to boneless.Chicken thighs are healthy! They don’t deserve the bad rap they sometimes get. Prepared the right way (like in the air fryer), they are an excellent, lean source of protein and contain important nutrients like zinc and iron.

The Ingredients

Chicken Thighs. Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are ideal for the air fryer. The meat stays tender and juicy during cooking, and the skin becomes crackly and crispy. Paprika + Smoked Paprika. The combination of paprika and smoked paprika provides the perfect balance of sweetness and smokiness. Garlic Powder. For a touch of addictive garlicky flavor. Salt + Pepper. Classic, can’t-miss flavor additions. Olive Oil. Helps the spice mixture adhere to the chicken thighs and the skin to crisp. No cooking spray needed.

The Directions

More Ways to Season Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe

Parmesan Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Add 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese to your spice mixture. (I’ll have this with Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad, please.)Spicy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Add 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper to the spice mixture. Brown Sugar Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Add 2 teaspoons of brown sugar to the spice mixture. (For a BBQ-like finish, serve the thighs with my scrumptious Barbecue Sauce or any bbq sauce.)Italian Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Add 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning to the spice mixture. Curry Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Add 2 teaspoons curry powder to the spice mixture. (This would be delish with Turmeric Rice.)Garlic Butter Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Omit the smoked paprika, add an extra teaspoon of garlic powder, and swap the olive oil for melted butter. (Perfect for pairing with Garlic Pasta.)Lemon Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Add zest of 1 lemon to the spice mixture. (Try this with Pasta al Limone or Lemon Rice. YUM!)

Storage Tips

To Store. Refrigerate chicken in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To Reheat. Gently rewarm leftovers in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the air fryer.To Freeze. Freeze thighs in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Air Fryer. The air fryer I own and love!Instant Read Thermometer. I cannot recommend this tool enough. It’s the most foolproof way to ensure your meat is cooked through. Measuring Spoons. A must-have tool for measuring spices.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Video

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Good Budget Option. This instant read thermometer costs less than $15 and will save your dinner.Best Option. This one is well-worth the price tag if you cook often. It reads results immediately and is dead accurate. (Plus, the colors are fun.)

That said, the chicken’s temperature will continue to rise as it rests. Resting meat is necessary for juicy results. I prefer to pull my chicken thighs out of the air fryer at 155 to 160 degrees F and let them rest for 5 to 10 minutes, allowing the carryover cooking to finish the job. I have never had an issue with undercooked chicken.