Air Fried Chicken Thighs
Air fried chicken thighs are easy to make, juicy and seasoned to perfection. The perfect no-fuss protein to serve with a variety of side dishes.
To keep this recipe as simple as possible, I make a quick and easy seasoning oil with spices I always have on hand, similar to my Air Fryer Chicken Breasts recipe.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Chicken thighs. Use bone-in skin-on chicken thighs for the best flavor. Boneless skinless chicken thighs can be substituted and won’t require as long cooking.
- Seasoning: Smoked paprika, dried oregano, garlic powder, red pepper flakes/chilli flakes, celery salt and black pepper. Other seasonings like onion powder, cayenne pepper, curry powder, ground coriander and cumin, etc can all be used too. Dried herbs like thyme, rosemary, sage and parsley are all delicious with chicken.
- Olive oil.
- Fresh lemon juice.
How to air fry chicken thighs
Combine the olive oil, lemon juice and spices together in a small bowl and stir together. Pat the thighs dry with paper towels then spoon over the seasoning oil and rub in, making sure the thighs are coated in the spice mixture. Place chicken thighs, skin-side up, to the air fryer basket and air fry for 20-25 minutes at 380°F/190°C until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the air fryer and allow to rest for a few minutes before serving.
Can I make this ahead?
These air fryer chicken thighs can be marinated and kept in the fridge for up to 24 hours before cooking. Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. This recipe is great for meal prep as the chicken thighs keep really well and are easy to reheat in the microw
What temperature should I air fry chicken thighs?
Bone-in chicken thighs can be air fried at 350°F-390°F/180°C-190°C for 20-25 minutes. Boneless chicken thighs can handle higher cooking temperatures and will cook in 10-15 minutes. I often cook boneless thighs in the air fryer at 400°F/205°C, like in my Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken recipe.
Serving Suggestions
I served the chicken thighs with a simple summer corn salad but they are so versatile, they will work with absolutely any side dish you choose to serve with them. We love chicken with crispy potato wedges, garlicky rice or cheesy mashed potatoes. Vegetables like air fryer asparagus, roasted patty pan squash, roasted broccoli, cauliflower, sautéed green beans, carrot salad or creamy sautéed mushrooms will all be delicious too.
Chicken Thigh Recipes
Ingredients
- 8 chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- ½-1 tsp red pepper flakes / chilli flakes
- 1 tsp celery salt
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Combine the olive oil, lemon juice and spices together in a small bowl and stir together.
- Pat the thighs dry with paper towels then spoon over the seasoning oil and rub in, making sure the thighs are coated in the spice mixture.
- Place chicken thighs, skin-side up, to the air fryer basket and air fry for 20-25 minutes at 380°F/190°C until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through.
- Remove from the air fryer and allow to rest for a few minutes before serving.