Description
This Air Fryer Chicken Thighs recipe delivers perfectly crispy skin with juicy, tender meat inside. Using simple pantry spices and olive oil, these bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are seasoned to perfection and cooked quickly in the air fryer for a healthy, hassle-free dinner that’s bursting with flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Thighs
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
Seasoning Mix
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 380°F (193°C) and allow it to preheat for 3–5 minutes to ensure even cooking and crispy skin.
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry thoroughly with paper towels to remove excess moisture, which helps the skin crisp up during cooking.
- Make the Spice Paste: In a small bowl, combine olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until it forms a paste.
- Season the Chicken: Rub the seasoning paste all over each chicken thigh, making sure to get the mixture under the skin for maximum flavor infusion.
- Cook the Chicken: Place the chicken thighs skin-side down in a single layer inside the air fryer basket. Cook for 12 minutes, then flip the thighs and continue cooking for an additional 10–12 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the skin is crispy.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 5 minutes to redistribute juices before serving, ensuring tender and flavorful bites.
Notes
- You can substitute with boneless chicken thighs—reduce total cook time to approximately 14–16 minutes.
- For enhanced flavor, marinate the chicken thighs for a few hours before cooking.
- Serve alongside roasted vegetables or a fresh side salad for a balanced meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 24 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 thigh
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 290mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
