This Air Fryer Chicken Thighs recipe is an easy main dish ready in under 30 minutes! Use our comprehensive guide to chicken thighs made how you like them – with crispy skin, juicy boneless skinless chicken thighs, from fresh or frozen!
If you’ve been a reader of The Busy Baker for any length of time you’ll already know that we love a good kitchen shortcut that doesn’t sacrifice on flavour. This Air Fryer Chicken Thighs recipe is one of our favourites because it’s SO easy to make in minutes and turns out perfectly every time.
These Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are perfect for an easy weeknight meal because you can customize the recipe to whatever you happen to have on hand! Got a freezer full of boneless skinless chicken thighs? No problem! Our comprehensive guide to chicken thighs in the air fryer covers bone-in skin-on, boneless skinless, or even frozen chicken thighs. Whatever you prefer, we’ve got you covered!
To make basic Air Fryer Chicken Thighs you’ll only need a few ingredients:
- chicken thighs (boneless skinless, bone-in skin-on, fresh or frozen)
- seasoning salt (OR each salt, paprika and garlic powder)
- honey
- garlic powder
- Italian seasoning
- Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- cooking spray
Try one of these delicious variations on the basic recipe!
- Spicy Cajun: Add a generous amount of Cajun seasoning to the chicken thighs before air frying for a deliciously spicy option.
- Honey Garlic: Drizzle a blend of honey and minced garlic over the chicken thighs during the last minute of cooking, creating a sticky-sweet glaze.
- Lemon Herb: Marinate the chicken thighs in zesty lemon juice and fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, and parsley for a burst of bright flavours.
- Savoury Parmesan: Coat the chicken thighs with grated parmesan and a touch of paprika before air frying for a golden, crunchy crust.
- Teriyaki: Dip your chicken thighs in a homemade or store-bought teriyaki sauce for a sweet and savoury Asian-inspired dish.
- Pesto: Slather your chicken thighs with basil pesto before air frying for a fresh and delicious twist!
If you’ve been gifted an air fryer for the holidays and it’s been sitting on your shelf collecting dust, or if you’ve been thinking about picking up an air fryer for awhile but haven’t yet, we’d HIGHLY recommend getting started. An air fryer is a fantastic kitchen appliance for achieving that oven-crisp or fried texture in a fraction of the time with next to no added fat, and to be honest it’s a kitchen appliance we’d have a hard time living without!
Cooking chicken in the air fryer is one of our favourite ways to prepare it! We’ve shared many of our favourite air fryer chicken recipes with you, like these Air Fryer Chicken Breasts, these Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks, these Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas, this Air Fryer Whole Chicken, and even these Air Fryer Chicken Wings. All these chicken recipes are juicy and full of flavour, AND most importantly they’re on the table in a fraction of the time thanks to the air fryer, our new favourite kitchen appliance!
Here are our favourite air fryers we recommend (affiliate links):
- A great Air Fryer for space-saving (2 quart capacity)
- The perfect Air Fryer for large families with a dual basket feature
- A standard Air Fryer for everyday use (works well for a family of 2 to 4 people)
- A large Air Fryer for everyday use (works well for a family of 2 to 4 people)
One of the most important kitchen tools to use when cooking meat is an instant read thermometer. Measuring the internal temperature of your chicken thighs is the BEST way to ensure they stay nice and juicy. Here’s a list of our favourite instant-read thermometers (affiliate links):
- Lavatools Javelin Instant-Read Thermometer
- ThermoPro Instant-Read Thermometer
- OXO Good Grips Precision Instant-Read Thermometer
Aside from an air fryer and an instant read thermometer, you’ll need these basic kitchen tools to make this recipe (affiliate links):
Time needed: 25 minutes
Follow these steps for the BEST air fryer chicken thighs!
- Preheat your air fryer.
Preheating your air fryer is a critical step to speeding up the cooking process and achieving a crispy skin and caramelized exterior. Preheat your air fryer to 200℃ (400℉) for bone in, skin on chicken thighs and 190℃ (380℉) for boneless skinless chicken thighs.
- Pat the chicken dry.
Pat the chicken thighs dry on all sides with some kitchen paper towels. This will help the outside of the chicken thighs to caramelize and become crispy.
- Add the flavour.
In a bowl mix the seasoning salt, honey (it’s easier if you heat it up for a couple of seconds), garlic powder, Italian seasoning and Worcestershire sauce (if using). Massage the mixture on to the chicken.
- Spray the air fryer basket.
Spray a little cooking spray into the air fryer basket to prevent sticking.
- Air fry in a single layer.
Overcrowding the air fryer prevents the chicken from caramelizing and developing a crispy skin. Be sure to air fry in a single layer.
- Test the doneness with an instant read thermometer.
You’ll know your chicken thighs are done when the internal temperature reaches 74℃ (165℉)
- Let the chicken rest before serving.
When done, remove the chicken thighs from the air fryer to a plate and cover them with aluminum foil. Rest for 5-10 minutes before serving so they stay nice and juicy.
Here at The Busy Baker we have shared so many of our favourite mealtime tips, tricks and secrets with you over the years. If you haven’t already signed up, we offer a FREE email course where we share our BEST weeknight meal tips, tricks and recipes to help you feed your hungry family without losing your sanity. Sign up for our FREE course below:
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How long should I cook boneless, skinless chicken thighs in the air fryer?
For boneless, skinless chicken thighs, preheat the air fryer to 380°F (190°C) and cook for 7-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
Can I cook bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs in the air fryer?
Absolutely! To cook bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook for 16-18 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
How do I make sure frozen chicken thighs cook evenly in the air fryer?
When cooking frozen chicken thighs, preheat the air fryer to 380°F (190°C) and add 5-7 minutes to the cooking time for boneless, skinless thighs, and 10-15 minutes for bone-in, skin-on thighs. Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer (the internal temperature should reach 165°F or 74°C).
How can I prevent air fryer chicken thighs from sticking to the basket?
To avoid sticking, lightly coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray or brush it with a small amount of oil before placing the chicken thighs.
Can I marinate the chicken thighs before air frying?
Absolutely! Marinating adds flavour and helps keep the chicken moist. Just ensure you pat the chicken dry before air frying to achieve that crispy exterior.
What is the best way to achieve crispy skin on air fryer chicken thighs?
For the crispiest skin, ensure the chicken thighs are dry before cooking by patting them dry with a paper towel. Spraying them with a small amount of cooking stray or brushing them with a small amount of oil before air frying also helps.
How do I know if the chicken thighs are fully cooked?
The internal temperature of the chicken thighs should reach 165°F (74°C) when measured with an instant read thermometer.
How do I reheat leftover air fryer chicken thighs without drying them out?
Reheat the thighs at 175 C (350 F ) in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes or until warmed through.
We hope you love this chicken recipe as much as we do! Let us know in the comments below, what’s your favourite air fryer recipe? We’d love to know!
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Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Recipe: Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken thighs 4 bone in, skin on OR 6 boneless, skinless
- 2 teaspoons seasoning salt OR 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon paprika and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning OR 1 teaspoon each thyme and oregano
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce optional
- oil spray
- chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
Recipe: Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 200℃ (400℉) for bone in, skin on chicken thighs and 190℃ (380℉) for boneless skinless chicken thighs.
- Pat the chicken thighs dry on all sides with some kitchen paper towels.
- In a bowl mix the seasoning salt, honey (it's easier if you heat it up for a couple of seconds), garlic powder, italian seasoning and Worcestershire sauce (if using).
- Add your chicken and massage the mixture well on all sides.
For bone in, skin on chicken thighs:
- Spray the bottom of your air fryer with some oil spray. Add the chicken thighs to your air fryer in one layer and air fry at 200℃ (400℉) for 16-18 minutes, flipping halfway. You'll know your chicken thighs are done when the internal temperature reaches 74℃ (165℉)
For boneless, skinless chicken thighs:
- Spray the bottom of your air fryer with some oil spray. Add the chicken thighs to your air fryer in one layer and air fry at 190℃ (380℉) for 7-10 minutes. You'll know your chicken thighs are done when the internal temperature reaches 74℃ (165℉)
- When done, remove the chicken thighs from the air fryer to a plate and cover them with aluminum foil. Rest for 5-10 minutes.
- Garnish the chicken thighs with fresh chopped parsley and serve with your favourite sides.
To cook the chicken thighs from frozen:
- Be sure to separate the chicken thighs so they're not frozen together. If they're covered in ice, rinse them under lukewarm water to remove any excess ice.
- Pat the chicken thighs dry and season as directed above.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F (190°C) and add 5-7 minutes to the cooking time for boneless, skinless thighs, and 10-15 minutes for bone-in, skin-on thighs. Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer (the internal temperature should reach 165°F or 74°C).
Recipe: Notes
How to Air Fry Frozen Chicken Thighs
When cooking frozen chicken thighs, preheat the air fryer to 380°F (190°C) and add 5-7 minutes to the cooking time for boneless, skinless thighs, and 10-15 minutes for bone-in, skin-on thighs. Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer (the internal temperature should reach 165°F or 74°C).Storage Instructions
This recipe is great for meal prep. Simply cook as directed and store the chicken thighs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days after cooking.Reheating Instructions
Reheat the thighs at 175 C (350 F ) in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes or until warmed through.Freezing Instructions
Freeze the chicken thighs in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Let them thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.Recipe: Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
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Buy 3, save 30%!
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I do not have an air fryer so I made these in the oven. The flavors were so good, the thighs were juicy and tender. I baked them at 400° for 35 minutes. Will make again.