These tender and juicy air fryer chicken thighs are rubbed with a delicious blend of spices and have the most addictive, crispy seasoned skin. Cooking them in the air fryer takes half the time it would take on the stove top or in the oven, making them the perfect meal for a busy weeknight. This is one recipe that you are sure to add to your rotation of quick and easy dinners!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Quick and easy. With hardly any effort from you, cooking chicken thighs in the air fryer makes the chicken perfectly tender, every time.
- Healthier. Using an air fryer uses a fraction of the oil that is needed for deep frying or stove-top methods. This allows you to enjoy the fried taste and texture, without using excess oils. These chicken thighs are also low in carbs and high in protein. You can also remove the skin for an even healthier dinner.
- They are the juiciest and crispiest chicken thighs you’ll ever try!
- Includes cook times for both boneless and bone-in thigh fillets.
- Serve them with pasta, vegetables or rice for a quick and satisfying meal in less than 25 minutes.
- No mess on the stove-top!
Ingredients you will need
** This post contains tips and instructions to achieve the best possible results. The photo above is a great guide for when you are in the supermarket, but for full ingredient quantities and methods, please scroll down to the detailed recipe card below!
- Chicken thighs – choose either boneless or bone-in fillets, depending on your preference. I’ve included the cooking times for both below. Keeping the bone in is recommended, as it increases the moisture and flavour of the chicken. And bone-in thighs are more juicy and flavourful, although they do take a little longer to cook through. Either way, the skin will get nice and crispy while the inside stays juicy and tender. Of course, you can also choose skin-off to make them healthier, if you prefer.
- Paprika. Please note that the paprika I am referring to here is the sweet, Hungarian style rather than hot or smoked paprika. The heat levels are completely different! Of course you can adapt to suit your tastes or add chilli powder too if you prefer. But if you do have hot paprika, you will need to adjust the quantities to suit.
- Italian herbs are a blend of classic dried Italian herbs that can be found in most supermarkets. Or, use your favourite dried herbs from your pantry like basil, oregano and rosemary, parsley and thyme.
- Parmesan cheese. A little fresh parmesan cheese is added to the skin for flavour and texture. If you need to keep this recipe dairy-free, you can use vegan parmesan cheese, or leave it out entirely.
- Olive oil. Just a little, for moisture and to prevent sticking.
Step by step guide
Step 1. Pre-heat your air-fryer to 190°C/374F for a few minutes while you prepare the chicken. Gently pat the thigh fillets with paper towel to reduce excess moisture.
Step 2. Coat the chicken in the olive oil.
Step 3. Coat the chicken in the spices and toss until completely covered.
Step 4. Sprinkle the skin of the chicken with the parmesan cheese and place the chicken into the air fryer to cook. Note: for boneless chicken thighs in the air fryer, there is no need to turn the chicken. If using bone-in chicken, turn the chicken after 15 minutes to ensure that they are evenly cooked through.
Cook the chicken until the juices run clear and the internal temperature is 75°C/165F (around 20 minutes for bone-in and 15 minutes for boneless fillets). Allow the chicken to rest and then serve with your choice of sides.
Full ingredient list and instructions are found in the recipe card below.
Expert tips
- Pre-heat your air fryer. This will ensure that the chicken thighs cook quickly and evenly.
- Cooking times will vary depending on the size of the chicken thighs and the size, brand and power of the air fryer used. When cooked, the chicken’s juices will run clear and the chicken should have an internal temperature of 75C/165F.
- Make sure the fresh parmesan cheese is very finely grated, almost powder-like. Larger pieces of grated cheese are more likely to become overcooked and become slightly bitter.
- Place the chicken pieces skin side up to ensure crispy skin.
- Boneless fillets don’t need to be turned for even cooking, while bone-in will need turning to cook through on all sides.
- To ensure they cook evenly, the thighs should be room temperature when you put them into the air fryer. If possible, take them out of the fridge 30 minutes before you plan to cook them.
- Don’t crowd the air fryer basket. There should be space in between each thigh fillet to ensure even cooking. If you have a smaller air fryer, you may need to cook in batches.
- Stir together the seasoning mixture while the air fryer is pre-heating. Or, if you are short on time, add your own favourite spice blend.
- Storage: store cooked chicken thighs in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Leftover chicken (hot or cold) is perfect for meal prepping quick dinners and lunches!
FAQs
Yes, you can cook frozen chicken thighs in the air fryer. You will need to adjust the cooking time to around 25-30 minutes, until they are completely cooked through.
Unfortunately, no. When cooking in the air fryer, it is important to leave gaps between the food so that the air can circulate and ensure even cooking. If you have a small air fryer or are cooking with large chicken fillets, you may need to cook in batches.
Cooking times will vary slightly, depending on the size of the chicken thighs and whether they are boneless or bone-in. Different air fryer brands and sizes will also affect the cooking time. As a guide, boneless chicken thighs will take around 15 minutes at 190C/374F and bone-in fillets will take around 20 minutes at the same temperature. Rest the chicken for 5 minutes after cooking and always check that they are cooked through.
Cheap, full of flavour and so versatile, chicken thighs make a perfect, protein-packed dinner. And they work perfectly with almost any side! Try them with some roasted or steamed vegetables, Greek salad, rice or pasta salad or this roasted pumpkin and goat’s cheese salad.
More air fryer recipes
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Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 6 chicken thighs bone-in or boneless (cooking times for both below), skin on. The thighs should be placed in room temperature half an hour before cooking, if possible.
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tsp paprika sweet Hungarian style paprika
- 1 tsp mixed Italian herbs dried
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt add more or less, to your preferred taste
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- 3 tbsp fresh parmesan cheese very finely grated
To serve
- 1-2 lemons sliced into wedges
- parsley chopped
- extra parmesan cheese optional
Instructions
- Pre-heat the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 190°C/374F.
- Gently pat the chicken thighs with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Place the chicken into a large bowl and cover with the olive oil.
- Cover the chicken with the paprika, Italian herbs, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper and mix (with your hands or a spoon) until the chicken thighs are completely coated.
- Place the chicken skin side up and sprinkle with the parmesan cheese.
- Place the chicken thighs into the air fryer basket, skin side up. There should be a gap between each fillet to ensure even cooking. If you have a smaller air fryer, you may need to cook in batches.
For bone-in chicken thighs
- Cook the chicken for 15 minutes. Turn the chicken and cook for a further 5 minutes, or until completely cooked though. Check the largest part of one of the thighs. The juices should run clear and the internal temperature at the thickest part should be 75°C/165F.
For boneless chicken thighs
- Cook the chicken for 15 minutes (skin side up), or until completely cooked through. Check the largest part of one of the thighs. The juices should run clear and the internal temperature at the thickest part should be 75°C/165F.
To serve
- Allow the chicken to rest on a plate for 5 minutes before serving with the lemon wedges, extra parmesan and chopped parsley and your choice of sides.
Notes
- Chicken thighs – choose either boneless or bone-in fillets, depending on your preference. I’ve included the cooking times for both. Bone-in thighs are more juicy and flavourful, although they do take a little longer to cook through. Either way, the skin will get nice and crispy while the inside stays juicy and tender. Of course, you can also choose skin-off to make them healthier, if you prefer.
- To ensure they cook evenly, the thighs should be room temperature when you put them into the air fryer. If possible, take them out of the fridge 30 minutes before you plan to cook them.
- Paprika. Please note that the paprika I am referring to here is the sweet, Hungarian style rather than hot or smoked paprika. The flavour and heat are completely different! Of course you can adapt to suit your tastes or add chilli powder too if you prefer. But if you do have hot paprika, you will need to adjust the quantities to suit.
- Italian herbs are a blend of classic dried Italian herbs that can be found in most supermarkets. Or, use your favourite dried herbs from your pantry like basil, oregano and rosemary, parsley and thyme.
- Pre-heat your air fryer. This will ensure that the chicken thighs cook quickly and evenly.
- Cooking times will vary depending on the size of the chicken thighs and the size, brand and power of the air fryer used. When cooked, the chicken’s juices will run clear and the chicken should have an internal temperature of 75C/165F.
- Make sure the fresh parmesan cheese is very finely grated, almost powder-like. Larger pieces of grated cheese are more likely to become overcooked.
- Place the chicken pieces skin side up to ensure crispy skin.
- Don’t crowd the air fryer basket. There should be space in between each thigh fillet to ensure even cooking. If you have a smaller air fryer, you may need to cook in batches.
- Stir together the seasoning mixture while the air fryer is pre-heating. Or, if you are short on time, add your own favourite spice blend.
- Storage: store cooked chicken thighs in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Leftover chicken (hot or cold) is perfect for meal prepping quick dinners and lunches!
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