Perfectly seasoned and cooked to juicy perfection, air fryer chicken thighs have minimal prep time. With the air fryer’s convenience, they will also be ready in no time. Plus, this is a versatile dish – ideal for quick weeknight meals or a delicious addition to salads, wraps, or sandwiches!
Watch how to air fry chicken thighs
Ingredients
Here is what you need for chicken thighs in the air fryer.
Chicken thighs: I use bone-in and skin-on. If you use boneless, you need to reduce the cooking time. If using frozen, you’ll need to cook them longer. Olive oil: Or another neutral cooking oil. It will allow the seasoning to adhere to the chicken. Seasoning: You can adapt this to your taste, but I use lemon pepper seasoning (or just lemon juice and black pepper), salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, and red chili powder.
How to make chicken thighs in air fryer
Prepare the Air Fryer: If needed, preheat the air fryer to 400ºF/200ºC. Also, spray the basket with cooking spray. Season the chicken: First, pat dry the thighs with a paper towel and remove any extra skin if preferred. Then, cover the chicken with the spices and oil and rub well to coat it completely. Air fry the chicken: Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket, skin side down. Cook for 25 minutes at 400ºF/200ºC. After the first 15 minutes, flip the chicken and cook for about 10 minutes more. If you want very crispy skin, cook the chicken for a few minutes extra. The exact cooking time could vary based on the size of the thighs. It’s best to check for doneness using a meat thermometer. Once fully cooked, the internal temperature at the thickest part should be 165ºF/74ºC. If using frozen chicken thighs: You can use the same method, placing the frozen thighs, seasoned, in the air fryer. They should take around 30 minutes to cook and you can double-check their internal temperature before serving.
Sides for chicken thighs
The options are almost endless but here are my favorite side dishes for crispy air fryer chicken thighs:
Potatoes, either baked or mashed. Nice with rice – I love Jasmine and egg fried rice. Veggies galore – try it with my roasted green beans, Mediterranean roasted vegetables, or spiced corn ribs. They are also great with green salads or added to sandwiches.
More air fryer chicken recipes
Chicken Breast Chicken Drumsticks Chicken Wings Whole Chicken
If you try this air fryer chicken thighs recipe, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
