Air-Frying Chicken Thighs: A Quick, Crispy Treat

Cooking chicken thighs in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get crispy, juicy chicken. You'll want to preheat your air fryer to around 400°F, and make sure your chicken thighs are at room temperature before you put them in. You can also add a variety of seasonings to your chicken thighs, such as garlic powder, paprika, and onion powder.

Preheat the air fryer

Make sure the chicken thighs are at room temperature before placing them in the air fryer. Take them out of the fridge 30 minutes before you plan to cook them so that they cook through evenly.

Season the chicken thighs

To season the chicken thighs, you will need kosher salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, oregano, onion powder, olive oil, white pepper, black pepper, and lemon pepper. You can also add dried parsley and avocado oil.

Firstly, preheat your air fryer to 380°F for 5 minutes. While the air fryer is preheating, prepare your chicken thighs. Take them out of the fridge 30 minutes before you plan to cook them so that they cook through evenly. Pat the chicken thighs dry, especially if they are defrosted from frozen. Place the chicken thighs in a large zip-top bag or a bowl with a lid.

Next, combine your seasonings in a small bowl. You can use the measurements mentioned above, or adjust to your taste preferences. Sprinkle the seasoning over the chicken thighs, gently patting it on. Be careful not to rub the seasoning, as it may come off the skin. Flip the chicken thighs over and sprinkle more seasoning on the other side, rubbing it into the crevices.

Finally, coat the chicken thighs with olive oil. You can use 2 tablespoons of olive oil for each side of the chicken thigh, or adjust the amount as needed. Rub the olive oil into the chicken thighs, ensuring they are well-coated.

Add chicken thighs to the air fryer basket

When adding chicken thighs to the air fryer basket, it's important to ensure they are at room temperature. Take them out of the fridge 30 minutes before you plan to cook them so they cook through evenly.

Before placing the chicken thighs into the air fryer basket, you can line the basket with parchment paper. However, do not preheat the air fryer with the parchment paper inside without the chicken, as it can catch fire.

Place the chicken thighs in the basket, skin side down, in a single layer without touching each other. If you are cooking a large batch, it is recommended to cook the chicken in two batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket.

If you are using a seasoning mix, coat the chicken thighs with olive oil on one side and rub half of the seasoning on the chicken. Flip the thighs, coat with the remaining olive oil, and sprinkle more seasoning on the other side.

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for chicken thighs in an air fryer will depend on the type of chicken thigh you are cooking. For example, if you are cooking boneless chicken thighs, you should cook them at 400°F for 9 minutes on each side. However, if you are cooking bone-in chicken thighs, you should cook them at 380°F for 15 minutes, skin-side up.

It is important to ensure that your chicken thighs are at room temperature before placing them in the air fryer. This will help them to cook through evenly. You should also make sure that you do not overcrowd the air fryer basket, as this can affect the cooking time and temperature. If you are cooking a large batch of chicken thighs, it is recommended that you cook them in two separate batches.

You can also choose to line the air fryer basket with parchment paper before adding the chicken thighs. However, you should not preheat the air fryer with the parchment paper inside, as it can catch fire.

Once your chicken thighs are cooked, you can serve them immediately with your favourite side dishes.

Serving suggestions

Once cooked, serve the chicken thighs immediately with your favourite side dishes. You can store leftover chicken thighs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months. Wrap each thigh separately in foil to help keep moisture off the skin.

Frequently asked questions