Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
This air fryer chicken thighs recipe delivers simple, no-fuss comfort food at its best. The chicken comes out juicy and flavorful every time, with minimal cleanup and a cook time of under 30 minutes, making it perfect for an easy weeknight dinner.
I use my air fryer several times a week, and recipes like this are exactly why. It turns chicken thighs irresistibly crispy on the outside while keeping them juicy inside, all with very little effort.
I’m not big on deep-fried foods, but I do love that satisfying crunch. This recipe delivers that texture without the heaviness of frying, and it doesn’t even require olive oil. Just flavorful, crispy chicken made simply and efficiently.
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How to make air fryer chicken thighs
what you’ll need
An air fryer and a mixing bowl.
The ingredients are bone-in chicken thighs and herbs, spices, salt, and pepper.
Add all the herbs and spices to a bowl and then mix them until combined.
Add the herb mixture to the chicken and mix thoroughly until the chicken is evenly coated on both sides.
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You’ll cook the thighs in a 380-degree Fahrenheit air fryer, flipping them halfway through.
Time to plate a piece.
Time to cut into the crispy skin chicken thigh.
The flavor is outstanding, and the meat is moist and delicious.
Chomp.
So good.
I hope you enjoyed this air fryer chicken thighs recipe as much as we love to eat them. Check out my air fryer French toast recipe!
Other chicken recipes
And as always, may all your dishes be delish!
If you’ve tried this recipe, I’d love the know what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs (bone in and skin on – dry the chicken with paper towels – do not wash)
- 1 teaspoon tarragon (ground)
- 1/2 teaspoon parsley (ground)
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin (ground)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Place chicken in the mixing bowl.4 chicken thighs
- In a small mixing bowl, add the herbs and spices and mix with a whisk.1 teaspoon tarragon, 1/2 teaspoon parsley, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- Sprinkle the herbs and spices over the chicken and use a spatula to thorougly mix together until the chicken is covered.
- If you have an air fryer with trays, remove them before preheating the oven at 380 degrees Fahrenheit. Set the time for 23 minutes. If you have the basket type, preheat as usual.
- Add the chicken to the trays, making sure they don't touch each other. If you have the basket type, wait until the air fryer have finished pre-heating before adding the meat.
- Once the air fryer beeps that it has come to temperature, add the trays of chicken to the oven or the chicken to the basket.
- Halfway through the cooking time, I move the bottom tray to the top and the top to the bottom. In a basket type of air fryer, you will flip the thighs.
- When the air fryer beeps that it is finished cooking, check the internal temperature of the thighs. I use a digital thermometer – and it should read at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Eat, smile, and enjoy.
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Helpful tips
- Skip washing the chicken. Rinsing poultry can spread bacteria around your sink and counters. Instead, remove it from the packaging and pat it completely dry with paper towels before seasoning.
- Tarragon pairs beautifully with chicken and is a favorite of mine. If you don’t have it on hand, basil or parsley makes a good substitute.
- Arrange the chicken thighs in a single layer in the air fryer with space between them. This allows the skin to crisp properly instead of steaming.
- For best results, use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. Boneless, skinless thighs won’t deliver the same crispy texture.
- This recipe works in both basket-style and oven-style air fryers with the same temperature and timing. For tray-style models, remove the trays during preheating, then load them once the unit reaches temperature. Basket-style air fryers should be preheated with the basket inside, then filled.
- Leftover chicken thighs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or frozen for up to three months.
Nutrition
Originally published September 2021.
Thighs are the best part of the chicken and using your air fryer recipe was a great idea. Crispy skin and juicy meat. Absolutely perfect.
Thank you Marta. I think thighs are the best part of the chicken. I hope you make it and see how easy and delicious this recipe is.
Easy and flavorful are the words to describe these chicken thighs. Plus, a recipe we all need to make often!
I’m so glad to hear that Linda. Thanks for letting me know. 😊
I am loving all of these air fryer recipes! So delicious and easy.
Thanks Liz. I do too. I use it multiple times a week.
Easy, fast, and delicious. Great combination of herbs. The thighs were moist and so flavourful we will be making this recipe over and over again.
Thanks so much Silvia. I’m so glad to hear that. 😊
We love crispy skin on our chicken, so this is perfect for us! The preparation doesn’t take too long, thanks for the recipe!
Us too Farrukh. Thanks so much for commenting and rating!
Made this for a bbq recently and it was a hit! My friends and family loved it!
I’m so happy to hear that Maren!! Thanks for letting me know.
This recipe was wonderful! Our chicken thighs turned were juicy with crispy skin, just the way we like it. Thank you very much.
Yay! I’m so glad to hear that Kate!! 🙂 And you’re welcome. Thanks for commenting.