Published 7/17/2023 • Updated 9/19/2023 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!
How long should I cook chicken thighs in the air fryer?
For bone-in chicken thighs, set your air fryer to 400ºF and cook your chicken thighs for ~16 minutes, flipping halfway through. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 160ºF – 165ºF.
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.
Can I use boneless skinless chicken thighs?
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.
Go-To Chicken Seasoning Ranch Seasoning Everything Bagel Seasoning Cajun Seasoning
Can I use marinated chicken thighs instead of a dry rub?
Marinated chicken thighs in the air fryer are delicious too, but they may not come out as crispy due to the added moisture.
How long should I cook chicken legs if I don’t have thighs?
Chicken legs in the air fryer should take a similar amount of time. Start by air frying for 8 minutes. Flip them and cook for another 6. Check the internal temp and keep cooking until they reach 160ºF – 165ºF.
Do I have to preheat my air fryer?
We recommend preheating your air fryer for a few minutes so that it can get up to your desired temperature.
Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Air Fryer Chicken Breast Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Air Fryer Coconut Chicken Tenders Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Air Fryer Chicken Wings Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Air Fryer Honey Sesame Chicken Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken
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.
How to Store Leftover Crisp Chicken Thighs
Once your chicken thighs have cooled, transfer them into an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-5 days. Thermoworks Thermapen 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
Chicken Thigh Recipes
Looking for more ways to cook chicken thighs? Here are our top tutorials for every cooking method.
Stovetop Chicken Thighs Dutch Oven Chicken Thighs Cast Iron Chicken Thighs Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Grilled Chicken Thighs Baked Chicken Thighs Instant Pot Chicken Thighs Sous Vide Chicken Thighs Smoked Chicken Thighs
