This delicious yet simple air fryer chicken thighs recipe will quickly become a favorite go-to dish in your home. It takes little to no time to prepare and is ready in just 30 minutes!
I'm always up for easy meals my whole family can enjoy. Being on a low carb diet, sometimes I prefer not to cook two meals since my family doesn't eat low carb.
These juicy chicken thighs fit the bill perfectly! In just 30 minutes, dinner is served with a side of veggies like these easy air fryer broccoli!
And if you prefer to use an instant pot, try this Instant pot chicken thighs recipe with an easy, delicious sauce!
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Equipment Used
For this recipe, all you need are an air fryer to fry the chicken thighs in, a large bowl to mix the ingredients in, and a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meat.
Using an air fryer cooks the chicken quickly and evenly and requires minimal prep and cleanup. I use it for a few of my favorite chicken recipes, such as my Air Fryer Turkey Wings and Air Fryer Chicken Wings.
If you're in the market for a new air fryer, definitely check out this Ninja Air Fryer!
Ingredients Used
This simple recipe requires just 3 ingredients:
- 4 chicken thighs: I use skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs for this recipe, but feel free to use boneless skinless thighs instead. I prefer skin-in because the skin helps keep moisture in, so the chicken doesn't dry out after frying. Also, Who doesn't love crispy chicken thighs?
- Homemade chicken seasoning: I use my homemade chicken seasoning, which is made with simple pantry ingredients. It is versatile and really imparts a great flavor. to the chicken thighs. This homemade chicken seasoning blend is a mix of peppers, aromatics, and herbs, including garlic powder, smoked paprika, dried parsley, black pepper, salt, and a few others.
- Olive oil or olive oil spray: These help the spices stick to the chicken.
How To Make This Recipe
It is so easy to make this air fryer chicken thighs recipe!
- First, preheat the air fryer to 390F and spray using a cooking spray.
- Then, thoroughly rinse the raw chicken thighs under running water and then pat the chicken dry with paper towels.Rub or spray the chicken thighs with olive oil.
- In a small bowl, add all the spices and mix them together. Rub the chicken thighs all over with the homemade chicken seasoning. Alternatively, put the seasoning blend and the chicken pieces in a plastic resealable bag. Give a few good shakes to mix it up.
- Place chicken thighs in the air fryer basket, skin side down, in a single layer. Do not stack them so that they air fry evenly. Air fry the chicken thighs for 15 mins, then flip them over and air fry for another 10 minutes.
- Leave it for an extra 5 minutes if you want extra crispy skin on your chicken thighs.
- Use an instant read thermometer to ensure it has reached an internal temperature of 165F because that's when it would be safe to eat.
- Let the juicy air fryer chicken thighs cool down for a few minutes before serving.
Storing and Reheating
Storing your crispy air fryer chicken thighs leftovers is so easy. Just put them in an airtight container, and they would keep well in the fridge for four to five days.
If you want to store them for longer, you can freeze them for a few months in an airtight container. Freeze the thighs on a sheet for a few hours, then take them and put them in an airtight container in the freezer.
To reheat frozen chicken thighs, first let them thaw enough to be separated, then preheat your air fryer to 350F. Next, arrange the leftover thighs in the air fryer basket in a single later and air fry for five minutes. After that, increase the temperature to 400 degrees F and let it crisp up for another five minutes.
What can I eat this recipe with?
This chicken thigh recipe is excellent as a standalone dish when paired with your favorite sauce. Some great options are buffalo sauce, BBQ sauce, or African pepper sauce. You can also drizzle some keto gravy on it.
Enjoy this air fryer bone-in chicken thighs recipe with an easy side dish like coleslaw or veggies like broccoli.
Tips on making this recipe
- The actual time needed to air fry the chicken thighs would depend on their sizes, the capacity of your air fryer, and if the thighs are bone-in or not. To be absolutely sure of doneness, make sure the internal temperature reaches 165F.
- You can skip most of the peppers in your chicken seasoning mix if you're not a fan of spicy food.
Frequently asked questions
Generally, it takes about 25 to 30 minutes to cook bone-in chicken thighs in an air fryer. However, air fryers have different power ranges where some have way more powerful fans than others.
The size of the chicken thighs would also affect the cooking time. If the chicken thighs are big, they will take a bit longer than if they were small. These and other factors would determine how long it actually takes.
Bone-in chicken thighs generally take longer to cook than boneless chicken thighs. This is because bone-in chicken thighs absorb more heat than boneless thighs.
It also takes more time for the hot air in the air fryer to circulate and fully crisp up chicken pieces with the skin on. Boneless skinless chicken thighs cook the fastest.
When comparing some kitchen appliances, a stovetop, an oven, and an air fryer, for example, chicken cooks faster in an air fryer. This is because an air fryer has a heating mechanism and a fan. It cooks by circulating hot air around to quickly cook the ingredients. So yes, the rapid circulation helps cook chicken and other ingredients faster.
Next time, try these delicious air fryer chicken recipes!
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings
Frozen Chicken Wings in Ninja Foodi
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or olive oil spray
- 4 tablespoon chicken seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 390F.
- Rub or spray the chicken thighs with olive oil.
- Rub the chicken thighs all over with the homemade chicken seasoning.
- Air fry the chicken thighs for 15 mins.
- Flip it over and air fry for 10-15 minutes.
- Use a thermometer to make sure it has reached an internal temperature of 165F.
- Let the chicken thighs cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- The actual time needed to air fry the chicken thighs would depend on their sizes, the capacity of your air fryer, and if the thighs are bone-in or not. To be absolutely sure of doneness, make sure the internal temperature reaches 165F.
- You can skip most of the peppers in your chicken seasoning mix if you're not a fan of spicy food.
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