Description
This Air Fryer Chicken Thighs recipe delivers crispy, juicy, and flavorful chicken thighs with a simple seasoning blend. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s a perfect quick and healthy dinner option using an air fryer for that ideal crispy skin without the extra oil.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Thighs
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
Seasoning Paste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 380°F and preheat it for 3 to 5 minutes to ensure it reaches the right temperature for even cooking.
- Prepare chicken thighs: Pat the chicken thighs dry thoroughly with paper towels to help achieve extra crispy skin when cooked.
- Make seasoning paste: In a small bowl, combine olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper. Stir until a smooth paste forms.
- Coat the chicken: Rub the seasoning paste evenly over each chicken thigh, making sure to cover both sides well for maximum flavor.
- Cook the chicken: Place the chicken thighs skin side down in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 12 minutes, then flip the thighs over and continue cooking for another 10 to 12 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the skin is crispy.
- Rest and serve: Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute, ensuring moist and tender meat.
Notes
- For extra crispy skin, make sure to pat the chicken very dry before seasoning.
- Boneless thighs can be used as an alternative; reduce cooking time to about 14–16 minutes total.
- Add cayenne pepper to the seasoning paste for a spicy kick.
- A squeeze of lemon juice before serving adds brightness and contrast to the flavors.
