Description
This recipe for Air Fryer Chicken Thighs delivers perfectly crispy, juicy chicken with minimal effort. Bone-in, skin-on thighs are seasoned with a blend of paprika, garlic, and herbs, then crisped to perfection in the air fryer for a quick and delicious meal that’s gluten-free and packed with flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 6 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
Seasoning Mix
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme or Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry thoroughly with paper towels to ensure crispy skin during cooking.
- Make the Seasoning Mix: In a small bowl, combine olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme (or Italian seasoning), salt, and black pepper until well mixed.
- Season the Chicken: Rub the seasoning mixture evenly over each chicken thigh, coating both the skin side and the underside for full flavor.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 380°F (193°C) and allow it to preheat for 3 minutes to ensure optimal cooking temperature.
- Cook Skin-Side Down: Place the chicken thighs skin-side down in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 12 minutes to start rendering the fat and crisping the skin.
- Flip and Continue Cooking: Carefully flip the thighs skin-side up, then cook for an additional 10 to 12 minutes, until the skin is crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption.
- Rest the Chicken: Remove the thighs from the air fryer and let them rest for 5 minutes; this helps the juices redistribute for a moist result.
Notes
- For extra crisp skin, increase the air fryer temperature to 400°F for the last 2 minutes of cooking.
- You can substitute boneless, skinless thighs but reduce cooking time accordingly to prevent drying out.
