Description
Juicy and crispy air fryer chicken thighs provide a quick weeknight dinner solution that elevates home cooking with minimal effort. Succulent meat and golden-brown skin make this recipe a guaranteed crowd-pleaser with complete satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on, about 2 lbs / 900 g)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika (or regular paprika)
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp dried thyme (or rosemary)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
Instructions
- Preparation: Pat chicken thighs completely dry using paper towels to eliminate excess moisture and promote optimal crispiness.
- Seasoning: Blend olive oil with garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, thyme, salt, pepper, and cayenne, creating a robust spice mixture. Thoroughly coat chicken thighs, massaging seasoning into every surface.
- Air Fryer Setup: Arrange seasoned thighs skin-side down in the air fryer basket, ensuring minimal overlap for uniform cooking.
- Initial Cooking: Set air fryer to 400F (200C) and cook for 10 minutes, allowing fat to render and skin to develop initial golden crispness.
- Final Cooking: Flip chicken thighs, continuing air frying for 8-12 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165F (75C), guaranteeing perfectly cooked meat with irresistibly crispy exterior.
- Resting and Serving: Let chicken rest for 3-5 minutes to redistribute juices, then plate alongside roasted vegetables, herbed rice, or complementary dipping sauces for a complete meal.
Notes
- Dry Chicken Thoroughly: Pat chicken completely dry with paper towels to achieve ultra-crispy skin and prevent steaming in the air fryer.
- Prevent Overcrowding: Arrange chicken thighs in a single layer without touching, allowing hot air to circulate and ensure even, crispy cooking.
- Monitor Internal Temperature: Use a meat thermometer to check chicken reaches 165F precisely, guaranteeing food safety without drying out the meat.
- Customize Seasoning Flexibility: Experiment with different spice blends like cajun, Mediterranean, or herb-infused mixes to transform the dish’s flavor profile while maintaining core cooking technique.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg