Description
These air fryer chicken thighs are the ultimate weeknight dinner or party dish, featuring shatteringly crispy skin and juicy, tender meat without the guilt or grease of deep frying.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds (900g) boneless, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
Instructions
- Pat the chicken thighs completely dry with paper towels to ensure crispiness.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, pepper, and cayenne (if using).
- Toss the chicken thighs in the spice mixture, rubbing spices in for 30 seconds to adhere.
- Drizzle oil over the chicken and toss again to coat evenly.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3-5 minutes.
- Arrange chicken thighs in the air fryer basket in a single layer, skin-side up, ensuring they do not overlap.
- Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes.
- Flip the chicken over and cook for another 8-10 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F-170°F.
- Remove chicken from the air fryer and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Do not skip patting the chicken dry; moisture is the enemy of crispiness. Do not overcrowd the basket, as this causes steaming instead of crisping. If the skin isn’t crispy enough, add 1-2 minutes to cook time. If burning, lower temp to 380°F for the second half. Resting the meat for 5 minutes is crucial for juiciness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (4 thighs)
- Calories: 320
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 1
- Protein: 28
Keywords: air fryer chicken thighs, crispy chicken, juicy chicken, air fryer recipes, weeknight dinner, party food, healthy fried chicken, gluten-free chicken