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Air Fryer Chicken Thighs make for a quick and simple weeknight meal. Seasoned with a simple yet super flavorful rub made of pantry-staple spices and herbs. Air fried until perfectly done. Resulting in juicy tender chicken on the inside and crispy skin on the outside.
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
These Air fryer Chicken Thighs are the perfect meal to make for just about any occasion. These have quickly become my go-to weeknight meal when I’m on a pinch of time. They are so easy and quick to make. The best part, the whole family loves them.
These chicken thighs are seasoned with a simple, yet super flavorful rub that is made out of pantry-staple spices and herbs. Perfectly cooked in the air fryer resulting in tender juicy chicken on the inside and crispy skin on the outside. These will quickly become your go-to chicken thigh recipe your whole family will love too.
Ingredients needed to make Air Fryer Chicken Thighs:
- Chicken thighs– Bone-in and skin-on
- Olive oil– Fat makes chicken tender.
- Spices and Herbs– Garlic powder, onion powder, pink sea salt, black pepper, paprika, dried oregano, dried thyme.
Equipment needed to make Air Fryer Chicken Thighs:
- Large Mixing Bowl– You need a large bowl to prep your thighs in.
- Small Mixing Bowl– To mix spices and herbs in. This will make a sort-of, type of rub for your chicken thighs.
- Air Fryer– Deepening on how big your air fryer is and how many baskets it has; you may be able to cook all 4 thighs at the same time or in batches. My air fryer has 2 baskets so I am able to fit 2 thighs in each basket. They cook through just fine this way.
How to make Air Fryer Chicken Thighs:
- Step 1– Pat chicken thighs dry and place in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and rub thighs making sure they’re well coated with oil.
- Step 2– In a small mixing bowl, combine garlic powder, onion powder, pink sea salt, black pepper, paprika, dried oregano, and dried thyme. Mix together then sprinkle over thighs. Rub in making sure thighs are well coated with spices and herbs.
- Step 3– Place chicken thighs in air fryer basket skin side down. Make sure to leave room between each thigh. Cook in batches if you have too. My air fryer has two baskets so I cook 2 thighs in each basket at the sane time.
- Step 4– Set air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook thighs for 12 minutes. Flip over and air fry for for another 8 minutes.
- Step 5– Remove chicken thighs from air fryer and serve while still warm. Enjoy!
Tips and Substitutions:
- Rub spices and herb blend well into thighs– You want to spread it around evenly throughout thighs and get under the skin. Make sure most of the seasoning doesn’t stay over the skin. Your thighs could end up over seasoned on the outside of the skin and under-seasoned inside.
- Place chicken thighs in air fryer skin side down first– Having the skin cook first will start to render fat without browning the skin too much.
- Don’t overcrowd your chicken in air fryer basket– This will prevent air from circulating as chicken cooks. Which will prevent chicken from cooking evenly.
- Switch up your seasonings to play around with the flavors– Substitute oregano and thyme for Italian seasoning; use smoked paprika instead of regular paprika for a more smokey flavor; add turmeric for more color; drizzle some fresh lime juice, etc.
- Substitute for olive oil– Avocado oil, coconut oil, or butter can all be used as substitutes.
- Use meat thermometer to make sure thighs are done– Depending on how big your chicken thighs are cooking time may vary. Use a meat thermometer to make sure thighs have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
What to serve Air Fryer Chicken Thighs with:
- Oven Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes (With Herbed Butter)
- Garlic Butter Sautéed Mushrooms
- Easy Homemade Spanish Rice
- Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
- Honey-Ginger Roasted Carrots
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs seasoning variations:
- Use Italian seasoning– Instead of using dried oregano and thyme, use about a tablespoon of Italian seasoning for an even more herby flavor.
- Add some turmeric– Adds a nice color to chicken.
- Use smoked paprika– Instead of regular paprika, for a more smokey flavor.
- Add some barbecue sauce at the end– Smother those juicy chicken thighs with some barbecue sauce to bring them to a whole other level.
- Sprinkle in some chili powder and cumin– For a nice Mexican flare.
- Finish them with some teriyaki sauce– For that nice Asian inspiration.
- Drizzle some fresh lime juice– Will elevate all the flavor.
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs FAQ’s:
How long do you cook thighs in an air fryer?
Place chicken thighs skin down in air fryer basket and air fry for 12 minutes. Flip over and air fry for another 8 minutes. This will result in tender juicy chicken thighs on the inside and crispy skin on the outside.
What temperature should you cook chicken thighs on and how?
Cook chicken thighs at 400 degrees Fahrenheit in the air fryer. This will cook chicken through for less time reassuring it won’t be overcooked. The result will be tender juicy chicken on the inside and crispy skin on the outside.
What is the perfect temperature for chicken thighs?
Chicken is fully cooked once inside temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a meat thermometer to measure inside temperature of chicken.
Meal Prepping it:
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are great for meal prepping. They are quick and easy to make and can be kept in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. You can make a batch or two and have several meals for ready-to-go lunches or dinners.
How to store Air Fryer Chicken Thighs:
Place cooked air fryer chicken thighs in an airtight container to keep fresh. Keep chicken thighs refrigerated for up to 4-5 days.
Freezing Air Fryer Chicken Thighs:
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs freeze well. Place cooked chicken thighs in a freezer bag and zip tightly. Make sure an excess air is taken-out. Keep chicken thighs frozen for 3-4 months.
Did you like this Air Fryer Chicken Thighs recipe? You may also like these other air fryer recipes:
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Home Fries
- Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Cod
- Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings
Looking for more chicken recipes? Check these out:
- Baked BBQ Chicken Breasts
- Instant Pot Roasted Whole Chicken
- Orange Rosemary Chicken
- Balsamic Chicken with Herbed Roasted Potatoes
- Honey-Mustard Chicken and Potatoes
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs make for a quick and simple weeknight meal. Seasoned with a simple yet super flavorful rub made of pantry-staple spices and herbs. Air fried until perfectly done. Resulting in juicy tender chicken on the inside and crispy skin on the outside.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs (skin and bone-in)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp pink sea salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
Instructions
-
Pat chicken thighs dry and place in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and rub thighs making sure they're well coated with oil.
-
In a small mixing bowl, combine garlic powder, onion powder, pink sea salt, black pepper, paprika, dried oregano, and dried thyme. Mix together then sprinkle over thighs. Rub in making sure thighs are well coated with spices and herbs.
-
Place chicken thighs in air fryer basket skin side down. Make sure to leave room between each thigh. Cook in batches if you have too. My air fryer has two baskets so I cook 2 thighs in each basket at the sane time.
-
Set air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook thighs for 12 minutes. Flip over and air fry for for another 8 minutes.
-
Remove chicken thighs from air fryer and serve while still warm. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Tips and Substitutions:
-
- Rub spices and herb blend well into thighs– You want to spread it around evenly throughout thighs and get under the skin. Make sure most of the seasoning doesn’t stay over the skin. Your thighs could end up over seasoned on the outside of the skin and under-seasoned inside.
- Place chicken thighs in air fryer skin side down first– Having the skin cook first will start to render fat without browning the skin too much.
- Don’t overcrowd your chicken in air fryer basket– This will prevent air from circulating as chicken cooks. Which will prevent chicken from cooking evenly.
- Switch up your seasonings to play around with the flavors– Substitute oregano and thyme for Italian seasoning; use smoked paprika instead of regular paprika for a more smokey flavor; add turmeric for more color; drizzle some fresh lime juice, etc.
- Substitute for olive oil– Avocado oil, coconut oil, or butter can all be used as substitutes.
- Use meat thermometer to make sure thighs are done– Depending on how big your chicken thighs are cooking time may vary. Use a meat thermometer to make sure thighs have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
*Number of total servings in estimated. Actual number of servings may vary depending on your own personal preference in portion sizes.
**Nutritional values shown are general guidelines for 1 serving using the ingredients listed above. These numbers do not reflect and may vary depending on substitutions, additions and/or different brands and/or other ingredients that may be used.
**Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and sponsored content. All the opinions are my own and I only recommend products I use in my own home with my own family.
