Description
Crispy and flavorful Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken Thighs combine perfectly seasoned, juicy chicken with a sweet and spicy glaze. This quick and easy recipe uses bone-in, skin-on thighs cooked to tender perfection in the air fryer, then finished with a sticky hot honey butter glaze for a deliciously addictive meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (6 to 8 ounces each)
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Hot Honey Glaze
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
- 2 to 3 tablespoons hot sauce
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry thoroughly with paper towels to ensure crispy skin. Drizzle them with olive oil and rub well to coat all sides evenly.
- Season the chicken: In a small bowl, mix together kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Sprinkle the seasoning mix evenly over both sides of each chicken thigh.
- Preheat and cook in air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Place the chicken thighs skin side up in the basket. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes, rotating the basket halfway through the cooking time (do not flip the chicken). Ensure the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F (74°C), ideally between 175°F to 185°F (79°C to 85°C) for best tenderness.
- Make the hot honey glaze: While the chicken cooks, combine honey, melted butter, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth and well combined.
- Glaze and finish cooking: After the initial cooking time, brush the hot honey glaze generously over the chicken thighs. Return them to the air fryer for an additional 1 to 2 minutes to tack up the glaze. Note that not all glaze will be used here.
- Rest and serve: Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 3 to 5 minutes. Serve the thighs with the remaining glaze on the side as a dipping sauce for extra flavor.
Notes
- Patting the chicken dry is essential for crispy skin in the air fryer.
- Do not flip the chicken during cooking; rotating the basket instead helps cook evenly while preserving skin texture.
- Check internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure safe and optimal doneness.
- You can adjust hot sauce quantity in the glaze to control the spice level.
- Resting the chicken after cooking allows juices to redistribute for juicier meat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
