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Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Homemade air fryer chicken thighs

Looking for easy weeknight dinner ideas? Try this air fryer chicken thighs recipe. With quick preparation and only 7 basic ingredients, this is the perfect dinner for busy families.

Crispy air fryer chicken thighs on the plate

This air fryer chicken thighs recipe is one of the easiest ways to prepare a delicious weeknight dinner without having to be standing by the stove for ages. Serve these juicy chicken thighs with anything you like.

I have included some easy side recipes in the FAQ’s section, in case you need some inspiration.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe Ingredients

How to make chicken thighs in air fryer

You will need:

  • Chicken thighs – bone in, skinless (or skin on)
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Paprika
  • Ginger
  • Garlic powder
  • Oil in spray – this is not needed with skin-on thighs

Equipment and tools:

  • Air fryer
  • Small bowl & dessert spoon (or fork, knife…) – for mixing the spice rub

There are barely 3 steps to this recipe. First, mix all the seasoning in a small bowl. Then, coat each piece of chicken evenly with the mix (both sides). You should use all the seasoning for 4 thighs.

Air fryer chicken thighs are then cooked for 15-20 minutes. I also spray them with oil and turn them over halfway through the cooking time. The best temperature is 400°F (200°C).

If you are not sure that your airfryer chicken thighs are done (or any air fryer chicken recipes), I recommend using a food thermometer. Stick it in and if it reads 165°F (75°C) you can take them out and serve.

Seasoned Chicken Thighs for Air Frying

Can you stack chicken thighs in an air fryer?

Unfortunately, you can’t. The important thing to remember when cooking in an air fryer is that the food you put it should have room around it so that the air can circulate and cook it evenly.

For this reason, you might need to cook your dinner/snack or appetizers in 2 or more batches when you have a large crowd to feed.

A 5.8-quart (5.5-liter) air fryer is able to cook 4-5 chicken thighs (when making these chicken thighs in air fyer I used 4 pieces but, could have fitted one more) or 3-4 chicken breasts, dependent on their size.

Crispy Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer

Frequently asked questions:

How long does it take to cook chicken thighs in an air fryer?

Cooking time will depend on the type of your air fryer as well as chicken thighs (larger will take longer than smaller).

Count with about 20 minutes (if you want to have a crispy skin, cook for longer).

Do you have to flip chicken in air fryer?

That depends. You don’t need to flip if it has skin on (make sure to cook it skin-side up) but if it doesn’t, then I do recommend turning it over around half-way through the cooking process.

What to make with chicken thighs?

I like serving these air fryer chicken thighs with wedge salad and parmesan roasted potatoes.

But you can serve them with anything you like: rice, orzo salad, barley risotto,…

Expert tips

  • Like I’ve already mentioned, it’s important that the air fryer is not overcrowded with food so it can cook evenly.
  • I always pre-heat my air-fryer for 2 minutes by setting the time and temperature manually. You may have a model that does the preheating by pressing a button or maybe it’s not required. Always read the manual for the best cooking results.
  • Seasoning – this is a simple recipe for air fryer chicken thighs using only a few ingredients. For this reason, I do not recommend omitting any of the ingredients.

If you are looking for air fryer dessert recipes, I have one for you: air fryer hand pies.

I also like ham & jalapeno air fryer pinwheels that are made with puff pastry so if you are planning on entertaining at home, you could give it a go. We love those!

Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

More chicken recipes you might like:

  • Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs
  • Sticky Hoisin Chicken Wings
  • Instant Pot Chicken Chasseur
  • Crispy Chicken Tenders

Watch how to make it

Best Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
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4.92 from 25 votes

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Looking for easy weeknight dinner ideas? Try this air fryer chicken thighs recipe. With quick preparation and only 7 basic ingredients, this is the perfect dinner for busy families.
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time20 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 130
Author: Julia

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 2 teaspoons Garlic Powder
  • 2 teaspoons Paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon Ground Ginger
  • 4 Chicken Thighs , skinless, bone in, see note 3
  • Oil in Spray
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Instructions 

  • In a small bowl, combine the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika and ginger. Rub this onto each chicken thigh on both sides.
  • Place the chicken thighs into a pre-heated air fryer, spray with cooking oil and cook at 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes, then turn them over and cook for a further 5 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C).
  • Serve with a side of your choice.

Video

Notes

  1. This recipe was developed for a 5.8 quart (5.5 liter) air fryer.
  2. Always make sure the chicken is cooked through (the food thermometer has to read 165°F/75°C) and always check the thickest piece.
  3. I used 4 chicken thighs that weighed 1.5 pounds (680 grams) in total.
  4. The cooking time may vary slightly. This will depend on the size of the thighs as well as on the air fryer (different brands may have slightly different cooking times).
  5. For more information on this recipe as well as tips about air fryers or if in doubt, I recommend reading the full post.
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Air Fryer Recipes
Nutrition Facts
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Amount per Serving
Calories
130
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
4
g
6
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Cholesterol
 
97
mg
32
%
Sodium
 
674
mg
29
%
Potassium
 
295
mg
8
%
Carbohydrates
 
2
g
1
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
20
g
40
%
Vitamin A
 
591
IU
12
%
Calcium
 
12
mg
1
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
** As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Tried this recipe?Follow @happyfoodstube and tag #happyfoodstube
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Comments

  1. Demeter says

    28/09/2019 at 16:23

    These look fantastic! I keep hearing such great things about these air fryers. I really need to get one.5 stars

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      30/09/2019 at 08:10

      Thanks, Demeter! :)

      Reply
  2. Sylvie says

    28/09/2019 at 16:46

    This chicken looks so crispy and delicious! Love the spice mix you used here5 stars

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      30/09/2019 at 08:10

      Thank you, Sylvie!

      Reply
  3. Heidy L. McCallum says

    28/09/2019 at 16:58

    This recipe for air fryer chicken thighs looks and sounds amazing. The breading looks so crunchy and I love a good crunchy breading. Will come back to let you know ow it turned out.5 stars

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      30/09/2019 at 08:09

      Thanks Heidy!

      Reply
  4. Tisha says

    28/09/2019 at 18:08

    I really need to get an airfryer! This chicken looks so good, we eat chicken pretty much everyday in my house :)5 stars

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      30/09/2019 at 08:09

      You really do! :)

      Reply
  5. Jennie says

    28/09/2019 at 19:00

    I love a nice extra crispy “fried” chicken. This recipe looks great, and I need to make it!5 stars

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      30/09/2019 at 08:09

      That’s good to hear!

      Reply
    • Deb says

      23/09/2022 at 04:37

      The thighs cooked to perfection in 20 min. Each side. I followed the recipe with 3 TBS veg. oil, g powder, lo salt lowreys,5 stars

      Reply
      • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

        28/09/2022 at 08:35

        Thanks so for your feedback, Deb!

        Reply
  6. Gari says

    29/09/2019 at 01:08

    Color is so great n air fried chicken do seems amazing

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      30/09/2019 at 08:11

      Thanks, Gari!

      Reply
  7. Traci says

    30/10/2019 at 07:55

    Tried the recipe and was a hit. How did you get it crispy? I can never get chicken to crisp. Thanks!4 stars

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      31/10/2019 at 07:25

      Hi Traci, the photos you see are exactly what it looked like after cooking. These kind of things don’t get crispy easily unless you leave them in the air-fryer for a very long time which in this case might cause the chicken go dry. I noticed some people like to use broiler after but I’ve never tried with these kind of recipes. In general, when you cook breaded chicken in there and spray it with oil, it will get crispy but it will never be like from a deep-fryer. Hope this helps.

      Reply
  8. Noel says

    20/12/2019 at 01:43

    This was AMAZING! Even my husband who doesn’t like chicken was a fan!5 stars

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      20/12/2019 at 08:24

      That’s amazing! Thanks so much for your feedback, Noel!

      Reply
  9. Liz says

    09/01/2020 at 03:27

    I used boneless skinless chicken thighs and it turned out wonderfully. My husband and daughter ate so much I didn’t have leftovers. Can’t wait to try something else in my Air Fryer

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      09/01/2020 at 08:55

      That’s great to hear Liz. Thanks so much for finding time to write the feedback!

      Reply
  10. Missy says

    29/02/2020 at 02:59

    Great recipe! We really enjoyed it!5 stars

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      02/03/2020 at 08:54

      Thanks for the feedback, Missy! :)

      Reply
  11. Dawn Greenwalt says

    29/02/2020 at 18:55

    Can I leave the skin on for extra crispyness?

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      02/03/2020 at 08:49

      Yes, you can :)

      Reply
  12. Shantae Mwika says

    06/04/2020 at 06:39

    This was so good5 stars

    Reply
  13. Rick says

    19/04/2020 at 04:55

    This came out really good. We added some steamed veggies (mixed) and had a really nice meal together. We’ve been trying out the Instantpot for air frying and the chicken was not only cooked through, it was moist, well braised, and had an excellent mouth feel.

    My only adjustment is that next time I will use less salt in the recipe. We don’t usually add salt to food and this really was more than we really want, so next time, I’ll use 1/2 TSP instead.5 stars

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      21/04/2020 at 08:50

      Hi Rick. Thank you so much for your feedback!

      Reply
  14. Belinda says

    19/05/2020 at 01:01

    These were great, and so simple! I used smoked paprika. Thanks for a keeper!5 stars

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      19/05/2020 at 09:47

      You are welcome, Belinda and thanks so much for your feedback and rating.

      Reply
  15. Amber Pilgrim says

    19/05/2020 at 23:05

    Do I spray the oil directly on the chicken before turning it?

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      21/05/2020 at 09:41

      You don’t have to do it anymore, Amber. You can also just spray the bottom of the air fryer at the beginning and that should be enough. Hope this helps!

      Reply
  16. Catole says

    21/05/2020 at 21:57

    I made it and it was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside and had a delicious flavor. It will be my go-to recipe for thighs. I might even try it on legs and wings5 stars

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      23/05/2020 at 09:31

      That’s great to hear, Catole! Thanks for your feedback.

      Reply
  17. Renae says

    03/06/2020 at 01:35

    The chicken thighs were wonderful. Crispy on the outside and the seasoning added great flavor. Will definitely make this again.5 stars

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      03/06/2020 at 08:21

      Thank you so much for your feedback, Renae!

      Reply
  18. Den says

    27/07/2020 at 22:08

    Delicious!!!5 stars

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      29/07/2020 at 11:07

      Thanks for your feedback, Den.

      Reply
  19. Tony Guerrier says

    18/08/2020 at 22:41

    WOW!! We just our air fryer last week and this was my first chicken meal. Followed the recipe line by line and this may have been the juiciest, tastiest chicken I’ve had in a while. Everyone went crazy over it!5 stars

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      20/08/2020 at 07:56

      I am so happy to hear that, Tony. Thanks so much for your feedback and happy air frying! :)

      Reply
  20. Ellie says

    28/10/2020 at 02:32

    I cannot believe how easy and delicious this was!! Took the skin off bone in chicken thighs 2 lbs/4 thighs… just like you said, minus the oil… used seasoning. Preheated the air fryer (best purchase of my life!) x 2 min @ 350. Both sides seasoned… 10 min, flipped, 6 minutes more… they’re GONE! Lil’ side salad, fat free dressing, and some garlic mashed potatoes-YUM-trelicious!!! Thank you for perfecting this. We work so hard and to be able to make a hot, HEALTHY, delicious & nutritious meal in minutes is amazing. They didn’t last long enough for a pic. Sorry. Maybe next time.

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      28/10/2020 at 16:33

      Thanks so much for your detailed feedback, Ellie. It always helps readers to decide whether to make a recipe or not. Thanks again :)

      Reply
  21. Mrs Powsey says

    05/01/2021 at 16:09

    I’ve had my air fryer for two years and I’ve only ever used it for frozen nuggets and frozen fish fingers. Today I made your chicken thighs and they were delicious and so easy! I definitely need to get out more!5 stars

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      16/01/2021 at 11:25

      That’s so good to hear. Thank you so much for finding time to leave comment and rating.

      Reply
  22. Natasia Nauman says

    12/01/2021 at 02:16

    This was delicious. The chicken was flavorful and juicy. It was perfect. Im in love with my new air fryer! I’ll definitely use this recipe again.5 stars

    Reply
  23. Natalie says

    13/01/2021 at 22:54

    Just made this for lunch! So easy and so so good! Printed out the recipe to use in the future! Thank you so much!!!5 stars

    Reply
    • Julia | Happy Foods Tube says

      16/01/2021 at 10:21

      That’s so good to hear, Natalie! Hope you try some more recipes from our blog :)

      Reply

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