Make the crispiest air fryer chicken thighs made with a delicious chicken seasoning. These pair perfectly with any dinner side and are ready in no time!
Favorite Air Fryer Chicken Thigh Recipe!
Looking for a super simple dinner idea that’s tender on the inside and nice and crispy on the outside? Look no further than air fryer chicken thighs.
We are huge fans of chicken thighs in general at Fit Foodie Finds because a little bit of dark meat can do the soul good. Chicken thighs typically come out so much juicier than chicken breasts and they really are tasty.
Now, if you are used to whipping up baked chicken thighs or grilled chicken thighs to get them nice and crispy, the air fryer is going to change your life. When I say these are so crispy, I mean it!
Why Make This Recipe
So Crispy: Make the crispiest chicken thighs you’ve ever had without sacrificing and the juiciness of the meat.
7 Ingredients: you only need 7 ingredients to make this delicious meal.
Ready in 30 minutes: have perfectly cooked thighs ready in 30 minutes!
What You Need
Chicken thighs (bone-in): for this recipe, we’re using bone-in thighs. We love how juicy the insides come out with bone-in thighs. Feel free to use boneless skinless chicken thighs if that is your jam. We recommend lowering the cooking time by a few minutes on each side to prevent over-cooking.
Olive oil: olive oil is used to make sure these chicken thighs come out nice and crispy. Feel free to swap for a different oil.
Spices: the spice combination in this recipe is so delicious. We’re using salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, thyme, and brown sugar.
chicken seasoning ideas!
If you have any of our homemade seasonings on hand, feel free to use around 1-2 tablespoons in place of the listed spices.
Top Tips for Perfectly Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Thighs
Pat the chicken dry
Removing as much moisture as possible from the chicken thighs is important. This will really help them crisp up nicely in the air fryer.
Don’t skip the oil
Ultimately oil helps make the skin on your chicken thighs very crispy. Don’t skip it!
Make sure to flip
By flipping your chicken thighs after 10 minutes, you’ll ensure that both sides get nice and browned and that it cooks evenly.
Use a dry rub over a marinade
While you can make air fryer chicken thighs with a marinade, using a dry rub is going to make sure the outsides get nice and crisp.
FAQ
Set your air fryer to 400ºF and cook your chicken thighs for 16 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Yes, you can cook raw chicken in the air fryer. It’s one of the best ways to get it nice and crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
Chicken thighs will take around 16-20 minutes depending on the size of the thigh. Make sure to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temp for doneness.
How long to air fry chicken thighs?
Cook chicken thighs in air fryer for 20 minutes at 400ºF, flipping halfway through.
Can I use boneless chicken thighs in the air fryer?
Yes! You can absolutely use boneless skinless chicken thighs for this recipe. We recommend lowering cook time to 16-18 minutes, depending on how thick your chicken thighs are.
Can I marinate my thighs instead?
Marinated chicken thighs in the air fryer are delicious and can absolutely be done instead of a dry rub. Just note that they likely will not come out with a super crispy skin due to the added moisture.
How do I know when my chicken thighs are fully cooked?
The best way to know if your chicken thighs are fully cooked is to use a meat thermometer. Make sure that the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken is 165ºF.
Serving Suggestions
Complete your meal with some of our favorite easy side dishes.
Storage
Once your chicken thighs have cooled, transfer them into an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-5 days.
Photography: photos taken in this post are by Erin from The Wooden Skillet.