This air fryer chicken thighs recipe will get you super crispy chicken without deep frying! Dry rub your chicken thighs and then air fry for around 16 minutes, flipping halfway through. It’s that simple.
We love to air fry chicken thighs and so do you! This is one of our most popular air fryer recipes and so many of you have rated it 5-stars and made it time and time again.
If you are used to whipping up baked chicken thighs or grilled chicken thighs to get them nice and crispy, the air fryer is going to change your life. When I say these are so crispy, I mean it!
And best of all, when you cook chicken thighs in the air fryer you don’t need to use tons of oil like you do when deep frying. Instead, you use a drizzle on just a little bit and let the air fryer do the work!
What You Need to Air Fry Chicken Thighs
Chicken thighs (bone-in): for this recipe, we’re using bone-in thighs. We love how juicy the insides come out with bone-in thighs. Feel free to use boneless skinless chicken thighs if that is your jam. We recommend lowering the cooking time by a few minutes on each side to prevent over-cooking.
Olive oil: olive oil is used to make sure these chicken thighs come out nice and crispy. Feel free to swap for a different oil.
Spices: the spice combination in this recipe is so delicious. We’re using salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, thyme, and brown sugar.
chicken seasoning ideas!
If you have any of our homemade seasonings on hand, feel free to use around 1-2 tablespoons in place of the listed spices.
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Variations and Substitutions
You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs for this recipe. Just lower the cooking time to 16-18 minutes, depending on how thick your chicken thighs are.
Marinated chicken thighs in the air fryer are delicious too, but they may not come out as crispy due to the added moisture.
FAQ
How long should I cook chicken thighs in air fryer?
Set your air fryer to 400ºF and cook your chicken thighs for 16 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Can you put raw chicken in an air fryer?
Yes, you can cook raw chicken in the air fryer. It’s one of the best ways to get it nice and crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
How many minutes do you air fryer chicken?
Chicken thighs will take around 16-20 minutes depending on the size of the thigh. Make sure to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temp for doneness.
How long to air fry chicken thighs?
Cook chicken thighs in the air fryer for 20 minutes at 400ºF, flipping halfway through.
How do I know when my chicken thighs are fully cooked?
The best way to know if your chicken thighs are fully cooked is to use a meat thermometer. Make sure that the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken is 165ºF.
Storage
Once your chicken thighs have cooled, transfer them into an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-5 days.
To reheat: air fry at 350ºF for 2-3 minutes. Or, microwave on high for around 60 seconds.
How to Serve Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Complete your meal with some of our favorite easy side dishes.
- Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- Roasted Red Potatoes
- Oven Roasted Asparagus
- Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 2 lb. bone-in chicken thighs (we used 4)
- 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF and spray the inside of the basket with non-stick cooking spray.
- Prepare the chicken by patting them dry with a piece of paper towel.
- Add the garlic powder, paprika, dried thyme, salt, and brown sugar to a bowl and mix until combined. Then sprinkle the dry rub over the chicken thighs. Be sure the dry rub covers the entire chicken thigh.
- Place the chicken thighs skin side down into the air fryer and drizzle the chicken thighs with olive oil. You may have to do this in two batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Set the air fryer for 8 minutes, flip the chicken thighs, and cook the chicken thighs for an additional 6-10 minutes depending on the size of your thighs.
- If the internal temperature of the chicken is 160ºF – 165ºF and the skin is crispy, remove the chicken thighs from the air fryer. If you would like your chicken thighs crispier, cook them for an additional 2 minutes. Let the chicken sit for 3-5 minutes and enjoy.
Tips & Notes
- The cook time will vary depending on the thickness of the chicken thighs.
- If you’re using boneless, skinless thighs, decrease the cooking time by 2-4 minutes.
- For best results, do not stack the chicken thighs in the air fryer.
Watch It
Nutrition facts
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Photography: photos taken in this post are by Erin from The Wooden Skillet.
I want everybody to know you do not and I repeat do not use cooking sprays in your non-stick cookware. I’ve been a chef or was a chef for many years you do not use this because the aerosols and other stuff in the aerosols will ruin the non-stick. It will kill it it’s non-stick for a reason you don’t use any type of sprays in it. Now you can use olive oil out of a jar that’s fine or any oil out of a jar plastic container or something like that but not out of a spray can. Some of you may have found the South by now some of you and most of you probably haven’t and if you haven’t trust me on this I would not be posting this if this was not true cuz once you ruin it you got to go buy a whole new set. Just because you may have been using it for a little while and nothing’s happened doesn’t mean the damage is not being done that you can’t see yet. But if you don’t want to believe me or trust me it’s something that’s easily looked up and you can find it online.
Absolutely loved this recipe! I tried it with boneless thighs too, and the juiciness from the air fryer was incredible. Thanks for the tip! 🍗👌
Yummy, the recipe which your team shared in this post definitely delicious and crispy. I love this.
This recipe is a game-changer! The step-by-step instructions were easy to follow, and the pictures were mouth-watering. The end result was a delicious meal that my family couldn’t get enough of.
Seriously the best chicken thighs.
Just made this a couple of days ago. I gave it a touch of black pepper and added an extra half more amount of the spices. Since I had 6 pieces of thighs. This was very good and I will definitely be making it again. Thank you for sharing
I made this for supper tonight…2 legs and 2 thighs. The chicken was moist and the seasoning was delicious. This recipe is a keeper!
Note: My chicken was only about 3/4 thawed, so I added 2 minutes to each stage and it was perfect.
Yummy! Simple and comes out very juicy from air fryer! Used boneless thighs
I had boneless thighs ready to cook but no idea what to do. This recipe was perfect. It ended up great and a quick recipe.
Excellent – loved the rub on the chicken.
I made this tonight, and it was SO good!!! Everyone loved it!
I really like the simplicity of this recipe. You were able to make a dry rub appear to be”wet”, and that makes the chicken look tastier. I’m going through and finding recipes I believe are, quick, simple, and flavorful. Let’s see how yours fares.-GSH
Just made it for myself and a couple of grandchildren. So juicy and delicious. So easy. I wish I had stopped to take a photo but didn’t. I will definitely be saving this recipe.
My Amanda oven has an air fryer option, I bought a pan and mesh basket to use for this. Should I use the same 400 temp setting and times?
Why don’t you put oil on the skin side?
Please try this recipe it is wonderful Don’t improvise just follow the instructions. I can tell you as a Southern Cook, this is a hit!
Wow, Janice, we’re blushing! So glad you enjoyed these chicken thighs.
Very moist
It is just fine without the oil. The drizzle of Olive oil made the air fryer smoke too much for my taste.
I haven’t cooked chicken in a few years due to dietary changes so I needed a good air fryer recipe and came across this one. It. Was. Awesome! The blend of spices was perfect and the timing adjustment for boneless/skinless thighs was spot on. I’ve pinned this and will definitely make it again!
This was so delicious and easy! Highly recommend! Did it with boneless chicken thighs and cooked for 16 min, came out perfect!