Air fryer chicken recipes are a great way to quickly get a good dinner on the table with little cleanup. These chicken thighs make the perfect main dish accompanied by sides for an easy family meal. If you’re looking for more tasty chicken thigh recipes, try my chicken fricassée, chicken stew, or chicken and waffles recipes.
What You Need to Make This Recipe
Chicken Thighs – choose bone-in chicken thighs with the skin on for the best flavor. You will need 4 chicken thighs or about 2 pounds of chicken. Olive Oil – opt for extra virgin olive oil if possible, as it helps give a crisp finish to the chicken thighs and adds a delicious buttery taste. Spices – you will need a mix of garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, black pepper, paprika, and dried oregano. For the best flavor, always use spices that haven’t past their expiration date!
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel.
- In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and oregano.
- Use a basting brush to brush both sides of the chicken thighs with olive oil.
- Sprinkle the chicken thighs all over on both sides with the spice mixture.
- Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket, with the skin side down.
- Cook for 20 minutes. Flip the thighs and increase the heat of the air fryer to 400°F. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes more or until the skin is browned and crispy and the internal temperature of the chicken thighs is 165°F. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
Use a meat thermometer. It can be tricky to know exactly when the chicken thighs are thoroughly cooked without measuring the internal temperature with a meat thermometer, especially if the thighs are different sizes. My smaller chicken thighs reached 165ºF at 8 minutes, and the larger ones needed an extra 2 minutes of cooking time to cook through. Check the temperature of all chicken thighs before serving, adding additional time as needed. Allow cooked chicken to rest. Once the chicken is cooked, let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. This will allow the juices in the chicken pieces time to settle for extra flavorful and tender thighs. Make them extra crispy. If your air fryer model requires preheating, be sure to preheat it to the recommended temperature before putting the chicken thighs in the air fryer. This will prevent the chicken from drying out while the air fryer is climbing to the correct temperature. Immediate hot air seals the outside and gets the skin crispier for the juiciest chicken! Also, don’t skip flipping and cooking the chicken thighs skin-side up in the air fryer at a higher temperature at the end of the recipe – this finish makes the skin ultra crispy! Mix up the spices. This air fryer cooking method makes the chicken thighs delicious with minimal seasonings. Simply use salt and pepper if you don’t want to add all of the spices. It is an extremely versatile recipe – you can also use your favorite premade spice blend! Repurpose leftovers. Leftover chicken thighs make a delicious addition to soups, sandwiches, salads, or wraps! Pull the cooked chicken off of the bone and add the tasty pieces to whatever dishes you desire.
If you’ve tried this Air Fryer Chicken Thighs recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
