Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Name: Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 23 min
Ingredients: 1.5 lbs bone in, skin on chicken thighs (about 5-6 thighs); 1 teaspoon olive oil; 1 Tablespoon homemade chicken seasoning

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Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are a game changer for quick weeknight dinners! All it takes is 20 minutes to get irresistibly crispy skin and juicy, tender chicken. If you’re on the fence about getting an air fryer (I was too!), this air fried chicken recipe might change your mind.

Magical Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Air fried chicken thighs on a white plate with a blue rim.

Table of Contents

I never thought I’d be sharing air fryer recipes on NeighborFood. I tend to give any new “fad” appliance the side eye (it took me years to finally invest in a food processor!), and I doubted that the air fryer would really be worth my money or my counter space.

Well, I have to happily (and somewhat begrudgingly) confess that I was wrong. This air fryer has earned its spot on my counter top and in my heart.

The air fryer is incredibly versatile and makes short work of so many different foods! We use it for:

Reheating leftovers– Pizza! French fries! Panko chicken! The air fryer brings leftovers back to life.
Cooking frozen foods– Mozzarella sticks (including homemade Wonton Mozzarella Sticks), chicken nuggets, egg rolls–they all come out crisped and golden!
Making Air Fryer Hot Dogs (this result is reason enough by itself to justify the existence of the appliance).
Making Air Fryer Donuts! The easiest breakfast treat that kids can make themselves!
Roasting vegetables– Do you love life changing Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower? Me too. The air fryer does the job in even less time!
Cooking the juiciest, most delicious Air Fryer Chicken Thighs!

Our Air Fryer Chicken Thigh recipe features: crispy skin, tender and juicy meat, and the perfect amount of seasoning. This recipe takes only five minutes to prep and can be on your table in less than 30 minutes. It’s an easy weeknight dinner that pairs well with all kinds of veggie and potato sides!

Key Ingredients

Bone in, skin on chicken thighs, a measuring spoon of chicken seasoning, and bowl of olive oil.

Bone in chicken thighs– This recipe was specifically designed with bone in, skin on chicken thighs in mind. Air frying is the perfect way to get the most out of this affordable cut of meat. Drumsticks are a good substitute that will still give you that irresistible crackly crust.
Chicken seasoning– We love this homemade chicken seasoning that you can whip up in less than five minutes. It’s a nice blend of herby, smoky, and salty. If you’re in a big hurry, just sprinkle the chicken generously with Kosher salt, black pepper. Add a little smoked paprika, garlic powder, and/or dried basil if you’ve got it on hand!
Olive oil– A tiny bit of oil is all you need to help the seasoning stick and crisp up the skin!

How to Make Crispy Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer

Seasoned skin on bone in chicken thighs in a casserole dish.

Step 1: Prep chicken. Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel, then brush with olive oil. Rub the seasoning over all sides of the meat.

Four seasoned chicken thighs in an air fryer basket.

Step 2: Air fry chicken. Place the chicken in the air fryer in a single layer. Fry for 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken and fry an additional 7-9 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat reads 165 degrees.

A note about air fryers. Our first air fryer was this 4 quart Ninja, which is what you see pictured here. It worked great, and we loved it, but we felt limited by the capacity. We upgraded to this Cuisinart toaster oven/air fryer combo, and have loved it even more! We can now make 6-7 chicken thighs at once instead of 4.

Storage and Make Ahead Instructions

Store leftover chicken thighs in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat leftovers in, you guessed it, the air fryer!
You can season the chicken up to 8 hours in advance and store it, covered in the fridge, until, you’re ready to cook.

Game Changing Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

I am not kidding when I tell you this air fryer chicken recipe has changed the dinner game for me.

I used to always buy a rotisserie chicken from the store when I was making things like 30 Minute Chicken Noodle Soup or Cranberry Chicken Salad. Now, I take 5 minutes to put these chicken thighs in the air fryer, and they’re done by the time the other ingredients are prepped. Game. Changing.

I also LOVE that I can just throw 1 or 2 chicken thighs in the air fryer for lunch without heating up the oven or making a huge mess. I can eat them plain, or cut them up and use them in Chicken Apple Bacon Kale Salads, Chicken Tortilla Soup, Springtime Avocado Toasts.

Bone in chicken thigh seasoned and air fried, on a blue rimmed white plate.

Side Dishes for Air Fried Chicken

We love serving air fryer chicken thighs with Garlic Green Beans and a slice of Amish White Bread or Easy Drop Biscuits with butter and jam. It’s also fabulous with Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes! Put those appliances to use!

In the fall, it’s perfect with Brown Sugar Cinnamon Slow Cooker Apple Sauce and Roasted Carrots and Parsnips.

In winter, try it with comforting Cheesy Potatoes or Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes alongside Sauteed Spinach and Onions.

In summer, pair air fried chicken with Spicy Asian Zucchini, Cucumber Tomato Salad, or an Easy Garden Salad.

Seasoned air fryer chicken thighs on a blue rimmed plate with a knife and fork.

FAQs

What temperature should I fry chicken in the air fryer?

I’ve found 375 degrees to deliver the best combination of crispy skin and juicy, tender meat. This temperature allows the meat to cook thoroughly without the skin burning.

Can you stack chicken in an air fryer?

Unfortunately, you can’t stack chicken in an air fryer with consistent results. Air fryers work by circulating hot air around the food, so you need space on all sides of the meat in order for it to crisp properly. Most air fryers will hold 4-6 chicken thighs, meaning you may have to do it in two batches for a larger family.

How much oil do you put in an air fryer?

One of the selling points of the air fryer is how little oil you need to get crisp food. I’ve found most recipes benefit from a small amount of oil, but not much. In this recipe, we use about a teaspoon of olive oil on the chicken–just enough to get the seasoning to stick and really help crisp the skin! You can also use cooking spray instead of olive oil if you prefer.

Can I use boneless skinless thighs in the air fryer?

Yes! You can use skinless thighs if you prefer, but you won’t get the crispy skin, which is the best part! If you use boneless thighs, reduce the cooking time by a few minutes.

Do I need to preheat the air fryer?

My air fryer does not require any preheating, but I always recommend you read your manual for model-specific instructions.

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