Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

A piece of crispy skinned chicken that is sitting in a air fryer basket and garnished with parsley.

Learn how to make these easy, crispy, and flavorful Air Fryer Chicken Thighs with just a couple of dried seasonings and oil. In 30 minutes you'll have the most juicy and crispy skinned chicken thighs you've ever tasted!

Course Air Fryer, Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword air fryer bone-in chicken thighs, air fryer chicken thighs, air fryer chicken thighs recipe, how long to cook chicken thighs in air fryer

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 20

Total Time 25

Servings

Calories 334kcal

Author Jessica - Together as Family

Equipment

Ingredients

6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
2 teaspoons oil ^{(canola, vegetable, olive, avocado)}
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons lemon pepper
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
fresh minced parsley ^{(optional garnish)}

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 400° F and line the air fryer basket with parchment paper. Spray the parchment paper with cooking spray.
* Depending on how long your air fryer takes to preheat, you may want to wait and preheat it until after you have prepared the chicken thighs. Have it lined with parchment paper so you're ready to put the chicken in.
Pat the chicken thighs completely dry with paper towels and place them inside a mixing bowl.
Drizzle on the oil and minced garlic and then toss to coat the chicken thighs evenly.
In a small bowl whisk together the paprika, lemon pepper, and salt and then sprinkle the seasoning over both sides of each chicken thigh.
Use your clean hands to rub or pat in the seasonings onto each piece.
Place the chicken thighs, skin side down, into the air fryer basket.
* Do not overcrowd the basket. Make sure the pieces are not touching at all. If needed, do another batch to cook it properly.
Air fry the chicken for 9-11 minutes on each side, flipping each piece halfway through, until the skin is golden brown and crispy and the internal temperature of the chicken has reached a minimum of 160° F.
Remove the chicken thighs from the air fryer with tongs and allow it to rest for about 5 minute to allow it to cool slightly and finish cooking.
Serve hot with chopped fresh parsley.

Notes

Seasoning Tip : This recipe is easily adaptable to what you prefer. The simplicity of the paprika + lemon pepper + kosher salt is perfect but that doesn't mean that you can't add more or mix it up a bit. Smokey paprika is a great option if you want a smokier flavor. You could also try using Italian seasoning. Another good option is to use garlic pepper seasoning + the lemon pepper seasoning. It's a good mix and provides tons of flavor.

Chicken Thighs : Thighs is what this recipe has been tested with but you could use any bone-in, skin-on cut of meat that you prefer. Like chicken legs, chicken wings, or chicken breasts. Keep in mind that if you choose to use boneless skinless cuts of chicken that you won't get the crispy skin and the chicken is more likely to dry. I only recommend using a bone-in, skin-on cut of chicken in this recipe.

FAQ's -

How Long To Cook Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer?
- The most important thing when cooking these chicken thighs, is that the internal temperature reaches at least 160 degrees F before you remove them from the air fryer basket.
- I have found that the time needed really depends on the air fryer you are using and how large the pieces of chicken thighs you are cooking.
- This recipe calls for the chicken to cook 9-11 minutes, flipping each piece halfway through.
- The cook time does not matter as much as 1) is the chicken up to temperature, and 2) is the skin browned and crispy. I recommend you set the air fryer timer for 10 minutes and go from there. It could take up to 12 minutes to cook the chicken depending the size of the pieces.
How To Store Leftovers
- Allow any leftovers to cool to room temperature before storing in an airtight container. The thighs will keep well in the fridge for 3-5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- When reheating the chicken, be aware that using the microwave will result in a soft, possibly saggy, skin.
- I recommend reheating it in the air fryer at 400 degrees F until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Reheating it this way ensures that the skin stays crispy and the chicken stays tender.
- You can also just pull the meat off the bone and eat it or use the meat in another recipe.
Is It Necessary For Me To Use Parchment Paper in the Air Fryer?
- You don't have to line the air fryer basket with parchment paper. It helps make clean-up a breeze, however, it won't affect the final outcome of the recipe if you choose to not use it.
- An air fryer tip I always share is that you don't want to spray the basket directly with cooking spray as that can ruin the non-stick surface.
- The air fryer basket will clean easily with warm water and soap.

Nutrition