Last Updated on May 2, 2025 by Toya
These air fryer chicken thighs are so easy to make and are the perfect family dinner idea ready in just 30 minutes! Make these on days when you have very little time and you want to wow the family!
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
The air fryer makes these chicken thighs so easy to prepare with only 26 minutes cook time. The best part is that this method of cooking requires minimal effort, minimal ingredients and minimal cookware and the results are amazing.
Crispy skin on the outside and just the right amount of juiciness on the inside. You can’t go wrong with these flavorful air fried chicken thighs.
Ingredients for Cooking Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
These are all the ingredients you’ll need to make chicken thighs in an air fryer.
- 4 chicken thighs (bone in skin on)
- ½ tbsp garlic powder
- ½ tbsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tbsp oregano
- 1 ½ tbsp olive oil – Check out this best-selling olive oil on Amazon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Tip: Use a digital meat thermometer to make sure your chicken is cooked perfectly every time!
If you’re tired of guessing whether your chicken’s done (I was too), this meat thermometer is a total lifesaver. It’s super quick to use and honestly one of the best little kitchen tools I’ve picked up.
What I Used to Make These Crispy Chicken Thighs
These are the main tools and ingredients I used to make my air fryer chicken thighs recipe super easy:
- My Handy 4 Quart Air Fryer – I love using this air fryer because it cooks evenly and makes the skin extra crispy without needing a lot of oil.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – I used a little olive oil to coat the chicken and help the seasonings stick better.
- Digital Meat Thermometer – To make sure the chicken thighs hit that perfect 165°F internal temperature every time.
- Silicone Tongs – These make flipping the chicken in the hot air fryer super easy without scratching the basket.
- Mixing Bowls or Zip lock Bags – Perfect for tossing the chicken with oil and seasoning.
Tip: Having the right tools on hand makes air frying even easier and helps guarantee perfect results every time!
I didn’t realize how much easier dinner could be until I got this air fryer. It’s become one of my favorite kitchen tools — crispy chicken, roasted veggies, even reheated leftovers come out so much better now. I honestly don’t know how I managed without it.
Tips to Make the Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Crispy
For the crispiest air fried chicken thighs follow these two methods.
- Pat dry the chicken thighs until most of the moisture has been removed.
- Then place the chicken thighs in an uncovered container or bowl and place that into the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. This method will help dry the chicken thighs which will make for a crispy chicken thigh recipe.
How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Gather all the ingredients in one place. Preheat your air fryer for 400°F (200°C) for 3–5 minute. While it’s heating up, measure out and mix all the herbs and spices together.
Add the chicken thighs, 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil and the dry rub into the zip lock bag or mixing bowl and mix well.
Then, place the seasoned chicken thighs into the preheated air fryer basket and cook for 26 minutes. Flip the chicken thighs half way through cooking or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Once cooked the air fryer thighs should look like this:
Remove from the air fryer basket when the time is up or the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees and serve warm.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Thighs
Chicken thighs are very versatile and so you can serve them with a wide variety of sides to make a complete meal. I love serving these chicken thighs with creamy penne pasta or creamy linguine for a quick dinner. However, here are some other great ways to serve these yummy air fryer thighs:
- Fajita veggies
- Green beans
- Jicama fries
- Crispy fried zucchini
- Cauliflower rice
- Cauliflower mac and cheese
- Ground beef casserole
- Creamy keto cucumber dill salad
Storage & Reheating Tips
- Refrigerate: You can store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: This recipe is freezer friendly, so you can make a larger batch (double or triple the recipe as needed) or freeze any leftovers in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months!
- Reheat: To reheat these air fried chicken thighs, simply pop them back in the air fryer at 375°F for 5–6 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use boneless chicken thighs?
Yes you can! You will need to reduce the cooking time to about 16–18 minutes total. Check for doneness with a meat thermometer to guarantee the best results.
Can I make these without the skin?
You can make these chicken thighs with skinless chicken, but, the skin is what actually makes these chicken thigh crispy, so you’ll be missing out on that. Also, if you want to use skinless chicken thighs, you will need to reduce the cooking time slightly.
Do I need to spray the air fryer basket?
If your air fryer isn’t nonstick, lightly spray it with some olive oil spray to prevent sticking.
Using an olive oil sprayer has seriously been a game-changer in my kitchen. It gives you the perfect light, even coating without drowning your food in oil. I use it all the time for roasting veggies, air frying, and even spraying pans before cooking — it’s one of those little tools that makes everything easier (and a little healthier too).
More Air Fryer Recipes My Readers Enjoy:
To make this recipe even easier, here are a few of my favorite kitchen tools that I used. I’ve linked them below if you want to check them out:
- Air Fryer – Perfect for crispy, juicy chicken thighs.
- Olive Oil Sprayer – For evenly coating veggies and meats with just the right amount of oil.
- Silicone Tongs – Makes flipping, tossing, and grabbing hot food way easier without scratching your pans.
- Meat Thermometer – Ensures you have juicy, perfectly cooked meat without the guesswork.
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
These air fryer chicken thighs are so easy to make and make the perfect family dinner in just 30 minutes. Make these on days when you have very little time but still want to wow the family!
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs (bone in skin on)
- 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- 1/2 tbsp oregano
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
Gather all the ingredients in one place. Preheat your air fryer for 400°F (200°C) for 3–5 minute. While it’s heating up, measure out and mix all the herbs and spices together.
- Add the chicken thighs, 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil and the dry rub into the zip lock bag or mixing bowl and mix well.
- Then, place the seasoned chicken thighs into the preheated air fryer basket and cook for 26 minutes. Flip the chicken thighs half way through cooking or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Remove from the air fryer basket when the time is up or the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees and serve warm.
Notes
What I Used to Make My Crispy Chicken Thighs
Air Fryer – Perfect for crispy, juicy chicken thighs.
Olive Oil Sprayer – For evenly coating veggies and meats with just the right amount of oil.
Silicone Tongs – Makes flipping, tossing, and grabbing hot food way easier without scratching your pans.
Meat Thermometer – Ensures you have juicy, perfectly cooked meat without the guesswork.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil – I used a little olive oil to coat the chicken and help the seasonings stick better.
Mixing Bowls or Zip Lock Bags – Perfect for tossing the chicken with oil and seasoning.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1 chicken thighAmount Per Serving: Calories: 222Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 4.1gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 421mgCarbohydrates: 2.2gNet Carbohydrates: 1.5gFiber: 0.7gSugar: 0.2gProtein: 14g