100 Days of Real Food

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
    • Welcome
    • Original 100 Day Pledge
    • 100 Day Budget Pledge
    • FAQs
  • My Cookbooks
  • Resources
    • Our Shop
    • Meal Ideas & Resources
    • Mini-Pledge Progam
    • School Lunch Packing Chart
    • Favorite Amazon Buys
  • Blog
    • What Is Real Food?
    • How to Start
      • Real Food Tips
      • Eating Out and Travel
      • Food Shopping
      • How to Cook
      • Kitchen and Home
    • School Lunches
    • Snacks
    • Kids
      • Picky Eaters
      • Fun Stuff
  • Meal Plans
    • Real Food Meal Plans
    • School Lunch Plans
    • Free Weekly Dinner Plans
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
    • Welcome
    • Original 100 Day Pledge
    • 100 Day Budget Pledge
    • FAQs
  • My Cookbooks
  • Resources
    • Our Shop
    • Meal Ideas & Resources
    • Mini-Pledge Progam
    • School Lunch Packing Chart
    • Favorite Amazon Buys
  • Blog
    • What Is Real Food?
    • How to Start
      • Real Food Tips
      • Eating Out and Travel
      • Food Shopping
      • How to Cook
      • Kitchen and Home
    • School Lunches
    • Snacks
    • Kids
      • Picky Eaters
      • Fun Stuff
  • Meal Plans
    • Real Food Meal Plans
    • School Lunch Plans
    • Free Weekly Dinner Plans
×
Home » Recipes

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

These air fryer chicken thighs are tender, juicy, crispy, and delicious! This is the quickest and best way to make chicken thighs. This is a healthy alternative to fried chicken thighs. They are low in oil but high in flavor. Nothing is better than making dinner in under 25 minutes. Use this chicken in soups, stews, casseroles, tacos, sandwiches, burritos, and more!

Try these Air Fryer Chicken Tenders and these Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets too.

Air fryer chicken thighs.

Want to Save this Recipe?

Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get great new recipes from us every week!

Save Recipe

If you like a bit of spice, try this blackened chicken or this popular chicken marinade. Chicken has never tasted this good! This yummy yogurt-marinated grilled chicken is another healthy chicken dish to try. I use my air fryer almost every single night. These chicken thighs are one of my favorite family dinners for busy weeknights! Kids and adults love this recipe.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • These air fryer chicken thighs are the ideal family dinner.
  • Kids will go crazy for them!
  • These air fried chicken thighs are as delicious as fried chicken, just healthier. Serve with some Mashed Cauliflower for a healthy dinner!
  • They are great as leftovers too.
  • This recipe is versatile.
  • Use the leftover chicken in sandwiches, tacos, burritos, soups, and casseroles.
  • Or, add the leftovers to salads, pasta dishes, bowls with grains and other veggies, and more. 
  • Perfect for back to school and school lunches.
  • Whip up the quickest mid-week dinner ever. Serve alongside Air Fryer Potato Wedges.
  • This recipe yields the softest, most tender air fryer chicken thighs.
  • Low in oil but bursting with juicy goodness and lots of flavor. 
  • This recipe is great for many different lifestyles and diets.
  • It is naturally Paleo, Whole30, low carb, gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and sugar-free.
  • Check out these Air Fryer Chicken Breasts for another easy dinner recipe!

Ingredients & Substitutes

Scroll down to the recipe card for the full air fryer chicken thighs recipe.

Boneless skinless chicken thighs in the air fryer are the juiciest cut of chicken. They absorb seasonings beautifully and rarely dry out. 

Use any neutral-flavored oil like olive oil or avocado oil.

Garlic powder adds a well-balanced savory flavor. Try fresh, grated, or chopped garlic if you do not have garlic powder.

Onion powder pairs well with the garlic powder to deliver beautifully seasoned chicken thighs.

Ingredients for air fryer chicken thighs.

Paprika is optional but it does give the chicken a wonderful color and glow.

Taste & Texture

These quick skinless air fryer chicken thighs are plump, juicy, and flavorful. The chicken soaks up the seasoning while cooking in the air fryer.

The garlic and onion powder season the chicken perfectly, giving it a mouth-watering taste.

How to Make

Step 1

First, preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2

Add chicken thighs, olive oil, and all seasonings to a large bowl. Toss until the chicken is completely covered.

Chicken thighs with seasonings.
Thighs with spices.

Step 3

Arrange the chicken thighs in one even layer in the air fryer. If needed, air fry in two batches.

Air fryer basket with chicken thighs.

Step 4

Air fry for 10 minutes. Carefully flip the chicken thighs. Cook for an additional 8 to 10 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Crispy thighs in basket.

Step 5

Lastly, remove the chicken thighs from the air fryer. Let it rest for 5 minutes. Serve!

Chicken thighs with crispy skin.

Expert Tips for Success

Preheat the air fryer. While you are seasoning the chicken, get the air fryer pre-heated and ready to go. This will ensure the best results and the crispiest skin. This step also promotes even cooking.

Season adequately and generously. You want your air fryer chicken thighs to be full of flavor. Ensure you use enough salt, pepper, garlic, and onion powder to achieve this. Feel free to play around with alternate seasonings. Add some spices, herbs or try a wet or dry marinade.

Space out the thighs. To encourage even cooking, space the thighs out in the basket.  Do not overcrowd them.

Rest before serving. To allow the internal juices to settle. This will result in moist chicken and prevent the air fryer chicken thighs from drying out.

Flavor Variations & Add-Ins

  • BBQ bliss: Create a simple spice rub by combining smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and coconut sugar. Add the black pepper and salt to this and rub it all over the chicken.  Once cooked, top with BBQ sauce. Check out our BBQ Chicken Thighs!
  • Lime and herb: Mix dried Italian herbs with the other seasonings. Add a splash of fresh lime juice for a bright, zesty flavor combo.
  • Cajun spice: You can buy a premix or combine paprika, garlic, onion powder, dried thyme, oregano, and cayenne with salt and pepper.
  • Teriyaki: Whisk together a little rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey soy sauce, and freshly grated ginger. Brush the air fryer chicken thighs with them for a totally delicious flavor.
Potatoes with chicken thighs.

How to Serve & Store

Serve air fryer chicken thighs with tasty sides like this Italian pasta salad, these smashed potatoes, or these air fryer potatoes.

Kids will love it with this cheesy mashed potato casserole or with my healthy oven-baked cheese fries. 

Cool the chicken completely before packing and storing it. This is an essential step for food safety. Once it has cooled, load it into an airtight container. Seal the container. Place it in the refrigerator. 

The chicken can stay frozen for about two months. To freeze the chicken, pack it in a freezer-friendly container. It is a great idea to space out the chicken when freezing it. This will make the thawing process more straightforward, especially if you only want to take out one or two thighs without having to thaw the whole lot.

Bone-In Versus Boneless Chicken Thighs

Bone-in chicken thighs yield juicy and flavorful results. During the cooking process, the flavors within the bone seep out and into the meat. This provides a deeper flavor and slightly more tender meat. 

A lot of people do not like to eat chicken (or any meat) with bone in it. In the case of these air fryer chicken thighs, the result will be tender and succulent due to the nature of the air fryer cooking. This cooking method will lock in flavor and moisture, so choosing bone-in meat is unnecessary.

Air Fryer Advantages

Making chicken thighs in the air fryer is quicker than oven roasting.

No need to heat up the whole kitchen by turning on the oven. The air fryer is smaller and easier.

The air fryer gives the chicken a delicious crispy exterior. It gives these Air Fryer Italian Sausages and this Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken the perfect texture too!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long does it take to cook chicken thighs in the air fryer?

Air fryer chicken thighs take approximately 20 minutes in total to cook.

How long and what temperature do you cook chicken thighs?

Set the air fryer to a temperature of around 375°F (190°C) and cook the chicken thighs for approximately 20-25 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Cooking times may vary depending on the size of the thighs and the specific model of your air fryer. 

What internal temperature should chicken thighs be?

Air fryer chicken thighs should reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Can you use frozen chicken thighs?

Yes, the cooking time must be extended by 10 to 15 minutes more.

Do I have to use skinless chicken thighs?

Yes, skinless chicken thighs are recommended for these air fryer chicken thighs.

Meat with crispy potato wedges.

Equipment Needed

Air Fryer: This air fryer is easy to use! The basket style makes this recipe super simple.

You May Also Enjoy

  • Cajun Chicken Pasta
  • Chicken Spaghetti
  • Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
  • Chicken Marsala
  • Homemade Chicken Nuggets

If you enjoyed this air fryer chicken thigh recipe, please leave a rating and comment! For more inspiration, check out my Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. For 5 free weekly meal plans and more free resources, sign up to receive my free newsletter! Check out these Dinner Recipes for more healthy and easy family dinner ideas.

Air fryer chicken thighs.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

These air fryer chicken thighs are golden crispy on the outside and tender inside! They are juicy, hearty, and savory. This quick and easy recipe takes only 20 minutes. Great for family dinners, busy weeknights, leftovers, and meal prep!
5 Average
Prep Time: 2 minutes mins
Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
Total Time: 22 minutes mins
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Method: Air Fryer
Diet: Dairy Free, Egg Free, Gluten Free, Peanut/Tree Nut-Free, Picky Eaters
Print Recipe
Servings: 4 servings
Save Recipe Saved!

Ingredients
  

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika (optional)

Instructions
 

  • First, preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Add chicken thighs, olive oil, and all seasonings to a large bowl. Toss until completely covered.
  • Arrange the chicken thighs in one even layer in the air fryer. If needed, air fry in two batches.
  • Air fry for 10 minutes. Carefully flip chicken thighs. Cook for another 8 to 10 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Finally, remove from the air fryer. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing into. Serve!

Notes

  • If you only have bone in, skin on thighs, add 4 to 6 minutes of air frying time.
  • Feel free to adjust the seasonings to suit your taste.
  • All air fryers are different.  Yours may need more or less cooking time.
  • Use a meat thermometer to accurately measure the internal temperature.
  • Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Want weekly REAL FOOD meal plans made for you?→ Check It Out

Enjoy this air fryer chicken thighs recipe!

More Recipes

  • Sausage stir fry.
    Sausage Stir Fry
  • Sausage broccoli pasta.
    Sausage Broccoli Pasta
  • Chicken sausage pasta.
    Chicken Sausage Pasta
  • Steak with veggies.
    Steak with Veggies
124 shares

Comments

  1. Robin says

    October 18, 2023 at 8:56 pm

    5 stars
    This was delicious! My family of 6 loved it!

    Reply
    • Addison LaBonte says

      October 18, 2023 at 9:27 pm

      I am so glad to hear that!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Welcome!


Meet Lisa! Lisa is a best-selling cookbook author, wife, mother, and passionate home cook. Lisa began blogging in 2010 and has created a community of millions of people who share her love of healthy living, real food ingredients, and family recipes.

Learn More

Popular

  • Sausage and potatoes.
    Sausage and Potatoes
  • Spaghetti squash with meat sauce.
    Spaghetti Squash with Meat Sauce
  • Spaghetti squash boats.
    Spaghetti Squash Boats
  • How to cook spaghetti squash.
    How to Cook Spaghetti Squash

Seasonal

  • Air fryer popcorn chicken.
    Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken
  • Healthy blueberry pancakes.
    Healthy Blueberry Pancakes
  • BBQ chicken.
    Easy BBQ Chicken Thighs
  • Chicken cacciatore.
    Chicken Cacciatore

Footer

↑ back to top

Browse

  • Cookbooks
  • Meal Plans
  • Recipes
  • Favorite Products
  • Free Downloads

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Blog

  • About
  • Comment Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Partner With Us
  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 100 Days of Real Food