Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Today, my brother-in-law wanted air fryer chicken thighs, so it didn’t seem new to me because he wants everything his stomach can handle. I’m like that.

Look, he also said that we shouldn’t fry in oil. I’m getting fat. This time, my brother-in-law said that we should fry in the air fryer. By then, he was somehow thin, so he made jokes about his hooves.

What are you going to do about my brother-in-law? I’ll put up with it. Let’s prepare our recipe, come on.

The air fryer chicken thighs that my brother-in-law asked for are going to be very tasty and easy to make! With a little technique, the meat will be super juicy.

This chicken thigh recipe can be made in just 25 minutes in the air fryer. This recipe can serve 4 or 5 people, depending on the number of thighs you take per serving, so the whole family can sit at home and have a nice meal while chatting.

But that’s not the case at our house. I prepare 4 of them, and my brother-in-law eats 2 of them.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Ingredients

Chicken thighs:- I used skinless chicken thighs to make them juicy and crispy.

Olive oil:- You can use other oils, but it gives the chicken a nice flavor and aroma.

Spices:- These are the basic ones that everyone uses. I keep things simple with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and Italian seasoning. These are basic, but they give the chicken thighs a nice flavor.

Equipment:

How to Make Crispy Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer

Step 1: Preheat. Before we start cooking, we need to preheat the air fryer at 400° F for about 5 minutes.

Step 2: Prep chicken. Now we need to dry our chicken thighs with a paper towel, then brush them with olive oil. We need to rub our spices all over the meat so that it sticks together.

Step 3: Air fry chicken. Place the chicken in the air fryer at a distance. Now set the temp at 380 degrees and fry for 12 minutes. Then turn the chicken to the other side and fry for another 10 minutes. Finally, if the meat thermometer inserted into the meat reaches 165 degrees, our chicken thighs are perfectly cooked.

Step 4: Resting. We can’t enjoy the taste of a dish as soon as it’s ready, so letting the chicken sit for 5 minutes before serving allows all the juices to soak in and gives it the desired flavor.

 

Nutrition per serving

  • Calories: 240
  • Carbohydrates: 0g  
  • Protein: 34g  
  • Fat: 10g 
  • Fiber: 0g

 

Tips for making the best Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

  • Make sure to space the chicken thighs out in the air fryer basket, not crowding them together, so they cook evenly.
  • Spraying the basket with cooking spray before cooking will help the skin get crispy.
  • Baking powder is our secret! – Rub it well into the chicken to get ultra crispy skin.

 

How long to air fryer chicken thighs

Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs: Cook in an air fryer at 400°F (200°C) for 23-25 ​​minutes, skin side down first, then flip and cook until cooked through and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

 

Are chicken thighs still healthy?

This is a common question because chicken thighs are higher in fat and calories than chicken breasts.

However, they are a healthy option full of protein and other nutrients. My brother-in-law doesn’t think it’s healthy or unhealthy, but I can’t help but take such precautions.

Also, there is no doubt that they taste so good!. You can also say that they are much tastier than chicken breasts after eating them. Many people, including my wife, love the skin, but if you want to reduce calories, you can leave the skin out. Here we use less air fryer oil, so it is healthier.

If You don’t like thighs then you can try my Air Fryer Chicken Wings recipe  and Easy Fried Chicken Recipe.

 

Why You’ll Love the Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

We can get crispy skin without any deep frying, like using an air fryer. They are very juicy and flavorful inside. We can make this with simple ingredients without much marinating, and this is also one of the recipes that can be enjoyed with family members.