BEST Air-fryer Chicken Thighs!
Cooking chicken thighs in the air fryer is currently my (healthy) obsession and, honestly, the best thing! These bone in chicken thighs in the Air Fryer are crispy on the outside and yet very juicy on the inside. Air fryer thighs are packed with flavors, easy to cook, and ready in 30 minutes or less. The best part is that you can serve air fryer chicken thighs with just about any main side dish. Relatively, they pair so well with fried rice, cabbage, roasted veggies, salads, and literally any dish as a choice of protein.
Furthermore, they make dinner time and meal prep so easy! So, friend, if you have some chicken thighs somewhere in your fridge or freezer, pull them out; let’s make crispy and juicy chicken thighs in the air fryer! This chicken thigh air fryer recipe is here to stay; I have already made it a mountain of times.🙌🏾
$ads={1}
Why You will Love these Air Fryer Chicken Thighs:
- Pantry ingredients; yep! All you may require to season these air fryer chicken thighs are the spices and herbs you may already have in your pantry. Any chicken seasoning would work, so do not fret over it!
- Easy to make; air fryer thighs are very easy to make. Listen, anyone can make these, even if you are a beginner chef!
- Keto and Gluten-free! These air fryer thighs are amazingly keto and gluten-free. If you like low-carb recipes, this works perfectly well. On the other hand, if you eat gluten-free, this recipe is perfect!
- Chicken thighs cook quicker in the air fryer! Typically, they are ready in 30 minutes or less.
- They make less mess! Usually, whenever I make chicken thighs in the oven, I would need a baking tray and a wire rack. Plus, about 50 minutes to an hour. YIKES! On the positive side with my air fryer, I just need the air fryer basket and 30 minutes. It is way easier to clean my air fryer basket than my baking tray and wire rack. Winning!
- Healthier than deep-fried chicken thighs! Air fryer chicken thighs are absolutely healthier than deep fried thighs. It is no longer news that cooking foods in the air fryer save time, money, and calories.
INGREDIENTS FOR AIR FRYER THIGHS:
- Big Chicken thighs (bone in and skin on)
- Salt
- Black pepper (or white pepper)
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Dry thyme
- Paprika
- “Slap ya mama” Cajun Seasoning (no sponsored)!
- Maggi; crushed (or Knorr seasoning)
- EVOO (Extra virgin olive oil)
- Lemon
HOW TO MAKE BONE-IN AIR FRYER CHICKEN THIGHS:
- Wash the chicken thighs very well using ½ of one lemon (juiced). Pat dry with paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible.
- Add seasonings and olive oil to the thighs, wear gloves, and rub the dry rub on every part of the chicken thigh using your hands. Cover and allow the thighs to marinate for 2 hours or cook immediately if in a hurry.
- Preheat the Air Fryer to 400, place chicken skin up, flip/turn after 10 minutes, and cook for another 5 minutes. Then reduce the heat to 350, and cook for another 10 – 15 minutes. I cooked these big thighs for a total of 27 minutes.
- *Please note that cooking time may vary due to the chicken size of your chicken thigh or the type of air fryer. I have big chicken thighs, and they cooked at a good time. Equally, I have the Instant Pot Air Fryer, which works very well! Your best bet for cooking meat in the Air Fryer is to use a meat thermometer.
Tips For Making Crispy and Yet Juicy Air Fryer Thighs:
Pat chicken dry. Before seasoning the chicken thighs, please ensure to pat dry the thighs very well. Use paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible!
Start cooking at a high temperature, (I typically start at 400). Please note that air fryers do differ. But typically, starting at a higher temperature helps the meat crisp up.
Use oil. Some people may argue that these thighs have skin on them, so why add the oil. Well, why not? Uniquely, rubbing olive to the thigh creates shine and crispness that makes them appear “fried.”
Flip the chicken halfway! Usually, I flip them every 7 – 10 minutes. Fortunately, the air fryer reminds you to turn the food with the un-missable beeping sound!
Start cooking with the skin up. I know many air fryer thigh recipes call for you to start cooking with the skin down; I do the opposite and start cooking with the skin up. For one thing, I need the skin to “fry’ and crisp as much as possible. This is because I still want a “fried” thigh beyond the skin.
Recipe Note: pay attention to the thighs while cooking and do what works for you. Check your chicken thighs after 7 minutes, and decide if you want to reduce the heat or flip to the other side. Most importantly, have a meat thermometer on hand to ensure you do not overcook the chicken thighs!
FAQs
Use a food thermometer, and insert it into the thickest part of the chicken thigh, and if it reads 165, your chicken is ready.
Yes, you can surely use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. However, the cooking time will change. Boneless skinless thighs could be ready within 15 minutes. Please use a meat thermometer to check that it cooked through! While we are here, make sure to check out my boneless chicken thigh coconut soup! YUM
Overall, a dry rub seems better than marinades when cooking chicken thighs in the air fryer. Any chicken seasoning would work. As I did, you can make your own rub or simply use Cajun seasoning. Be aware that most seasoning has sodium, so go light on the salt.
YES. Air fryer chicken thighs are absolutely healthier than deep fried thighs. It is no longer news that cooking foods in the air fryer save time, money, and calories.
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE:
Ingredients
- 4 Big chicken thighs (bone in and skin on)
- ¼ teaspoon salt or less
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onions powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dry thyme
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- ½ – 1 teaspoon “Slap ya mama” Cajun Seasoning by Walker and sons
- 1 Maggi; crushed (or 1 teaspoon Knorr seasoning)
- 1 tablespoon EVOO (Extra virgin olive oil)
- 1 lemon
Instructions
- Wash the chicken thighs very well using ½ of one lemon (juiced). Pat dry with paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible.
- Add seasonings and olive oil to the thighs, wear gloves, and rub the dry rub on every part of the chicken thigh using your hands. Cover and allow the thighs to marinate for 2 hours or cook immediately if in a hurry.
- Preheat the Air Fryer to 400, place chicken skin up, flip/turn after 10 minutes, and cook for another 5 minutes. Then reduce the heat to 350, and cook for another 10 – 15 minutes. I cooked these big thighs for a total of 27 minutes.
-
*Please note that cooking time can vary due to the chicken size of your
chicken thigh or the type of air fryer. I have big chicken thighs, and
they cooked at a good time. Equally, I have the Instant Pot Air Fryer,
which works very well! Your best bet for cooking meat in the Air Fryer
is to use a meat thermometer.