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The Best Air Fryer Chicken Thighs (Crispy + Juicy!!)

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Posted by:

Erin Lynch

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Updated:

March 28, 2025

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4.99 from 93 votes

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Air fryer chicken thighs pinterest image.
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These incredibly easy air fryer chicken thighs are juicy and crispy with just the right amount of herbs and seasonings. This easy recipe works perfectly for bone-in or boneless chicken and skin-on or skinless.

Cooked air fryer chicken thighs on plate.

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Reader

Love



5 stars
Yum – the whole family wants me to make these again. Great recipe!

–

Jenny

These air fryer chicken thighs are seasoned to absolute perfection. Using your air fryer is a great way to get the crispiest skin and the juiciest chicken.

Air frying is the best way to cook the crispiest chicken thighs in less time and without deep frying. Coated with my simple homemade chicken seasoning, these flavorful chicken thighs not only make an easy dinner for busy weeknights that your whole family will love, but they’re perfect for healthy eating meal prep too.

The best thing about serving chicken is that it is also so versatile. Adding a delicious and creamy sauce like this white bbq sauce or Peruvian creamy green sauce can create an entirely new recipe.

And adding side dishes like Instant Pot Risotto or Sous Vide Asparagus makes it the perfect meal.

Tip: You can add halved brussels sprouts, broccoli, etc. at the halfway point and it will cook right along with your chicken.


Table of Contents

  • Ingredients needed
  • How to make air fryer chicken thighs
  • How to make ahead + store
  • Recommended tool
  • FAQs
  • Sides for air fried chicken
  • Sauces for chicken thighs
  • Erin’s wine pairings
  • Did you make these air fryer chicken thighs?
  • Full Recipe

Ingredients needed

  • Olive Oil
  • Chicken Thighs – Bone in or boneless, skin on or skinless (see tips below)
  • Kosher Salt
  • Oregano
  • Paprika
  • Black Pepper
  • Garlic Powder

Tip: To switch things up, try swapping in my Chicken Dry Rub, Italian Seasoning or Cajun Seasoning in place of the herbs called for in this recipe.

How to make air fryer chicken thighs

Chicken thighs coated in spices.

Step 1

Coat chicken in spices

  • In a small bowl combine the salt and spices with oil to create a paste.
  • Coat raw chicken thighs with the seasoning mixture.

Step 2

Place chicken in air fryer

  • Place chicken thighs in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Seasoned chicken in air fryer

Step 3

Cook

  • Cook your chicken thighs at 360-degrees for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees on a meat thermometer.
  • Cooking time will vary based on the thickness of your chicken thighs. If they are not fully cooked, return them to the air fryer and cook for 2-3 minutes longer.

For skin on chicken thighs

For skin on chicken thighs, after the cook time is up, increase the temperature to 400 degrees and cook skin side up for an additional 5 minutes to crisp up the skin.

How to make ahead + store

Store leftovers in an airtight container (these are my favorite!) in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It will also keep in the freezer for up to three months, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.

Recommended tool

You likely already have an air fryer since you are reading this post. But in case you’re in the market to buy a new one, here are my TOP 5 Favorite Air Fryers!

FAQs

At what temperature do you air fry chicken thighs?

360-degrees makes for deliciously moist and flavorful chicken in the air fryer.

How long should you cook chicken thighs in an air fryer?

Cook your chicken thighs at 360-degrees for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees on an instant read thermometer. Cooking time will vary based on the thickness of your chicken thighs.

How do you reheat chicken in the air fryer?

For best results, first let the chicken sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Then, preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees. Arrange the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook for about four minutes, flipping halfway through.

Sides for air fried chicken

  • Vegan Caesar Salad
  • Sauteed Spinach
  • Easy Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream
  • Glazed Carrots
  • Cherry Tomato Salad with Roasted Lemons
  • Easy Arugula Salad
  • More → side dishes to serve with chicken

Sauces for chicken thighs

  • Buffalo Sauce
  • Al Pastor Marinade
  • Peri Peri Sauce
  • Jerk Sauce
  • Mushroom Sauce
  • Honey Mustard
  • BBQ Sauce
  • White BBQ Sauce
  • Plus, 25+ Sauces for Fried Chicken

Erin’s wine pairings

  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Chardonnay
  • More → the 8 BEST chicken wine pairings
Side view of air fryer chicken thighs on plate.

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Did you make these air fryer chicken thighs?

If you loved these crispy chicken thighs I would appreciate it so much if you would give the recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on  Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Facebook.

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Side view of air fryer chicken thighs on plate.

Full Recipe

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

This air fryer recipe makes juicy and flavorful chicken thighs an absolute breeze.
4.99 from 93 votes
Print Pin
Serves 4
Created by Platings and Pairings

Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 chicken thighs (boneless or bone-in, skinless or skin on )
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (***)
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  • In a small bowl combine the salt and spices with oil to create a paste. Coat chicken thighs with the paste.
  • Place in the air fryer basket and cook at 360-degrees for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 165-degrees.
  • Can add halved brussels sprouts, broccoli, etc. at the halfway point.
  • For skin on chicken thighs, after the cook time is up, increase the temperature to 400 degrees and cook skin side up for an additional 5 minutes to crisp up the skin.

Notes

***If using Diamond Kosher Salt, increase the amount of salt used to 1 teaspoon to account for the fact that it has 50% less sodium than other salt brands. 
If you’d prefer to make chicken breasts, be sure to try out this air fryer chicken breasts recipe!

Nutrition

Calories: 284kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 669mg | Potassium: 258mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 343IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

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Note: This recipe was adjusted in January 2023 to change the amount of salt in the recipe. Some readers commented that the chicken was too salty for them. This is due to the fact that I typically cook with Diamond Kosher Salt which is about 50% less salty than table or other salt (more on that here).

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4.99 from 93 votes (76 ratings without comment)

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48 responses

  1. Karen
    August 31, 2021

    4 stars
    Black powder or was that supposed to be black pepper in the ingredent list?

    Reply
    1. Erin
      August 31, 2021

      Yes – Thanks for catching that Karen!

      Reply
  2. M
    December 22, 2021

    5 stars
    The chicken turned out very good! Very flavorful !
    Simple. & the spices had the house smelling good!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      December 23, 2021

      I’m so glad you liked it!

      Reply
      1. Jenny
        September 15, 2022

        5 stars
        Yum – the whole family wants me to make these again. Great recipe!

        Reply
  3. Doreen
    January 17, 2022

    5 stars
    These were fabulous! Thank you!!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      January 20, 2022

      You’re welcome Doreen!

      Reply
  4. Dorothy Wolfe
    January 28, 2022

    Do you put the thighs with skin on down first meaning bottom up or bottom down?

    Reply
    1. Erin
      February 1, 2022

      Hi Dorothy – I would start with the skin side down. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  5. Lori
    February 1, 2022

    This might be a silly question, but my oven has an “air fryer” mode. Do I still follow the same temps & times?

    Reply
    1. Erin
      February 1, 2022

      Hi Lori – I’m so sorry, but I’ve never used an air fryer oven. I would think it would be the same, but the oven will probably need to be preheated for longer.

      Reply
  6. Angel
    February 5, 2022

    Hello,

    I want to try your recipe, but my air fryer will only fit 2 thighs, it has two sides. Can I still cook them at the same temperature and cook time or do I have to adjust?

    Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      February 8, 2022

      Hi Angel! I would still cook at the same temperature.

      Reply
  7. Joan
    February 12, 2022

    5 stars
    Made this recipe last night for dinner and it was not only easy and quick, it was delicious.

    Reply
    1. Erin
      February 16, 2022

      Thanks Joan!

      Reply
    2. Andy
      July 17, 2022

      5 stars
      Hello, got a Air Fryer for Father’s Day and have been cooking non-stop since, tonight I’m trying your chicken thigh recipe as I’m writing this and so far the house is starting to smell good. Well dinner was served (wife & I) and it was a hit she loved it and is starting to understand why I have been wanting one for awhile. Thanks for sharing and have this one book marked. 🤘🏽

      Reply
      1. Erin
        July 18, 2022

        Thank you Andy! I’m glad you liked them!

        Reply
  8. Lisa
    February 21, 2022

    Hi, with bone-in, does it still cook the same temperature and time? Thank you 🙏

    Reply
    1. Erin
      February 25, 2022

      Hi Lisa – Bone in thighs may cook a bit quicker. I would check them a minute or two early. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  9. Tiffany
    March 4, 2022

    Hello, first time using my air fryer. Do I need to put parchment paper down?

    Reply
    1. Erin
      March 4, 2022

      Hi Tiffany – I’ve never used parchment in my air fryer, so you should be good. Enjoy!

      Reply
  10. Nikki
    May 8, 2022

    5 stars
    Thank you for this recipe. Ours turned out great and was a big hit with my husband. I’m printing this one out to add to our go to recipes.

    Reply
    1. Erin
      May 23, 2022

      Thanks Nikki!

      Reply
  11. Betty
    June 28, 2022

    The chicKen is great but the vegetables are not. Won’t do vegetables like that again.

    Reply
  12. Emma Ehrlich
    August 15, 2022

    5 stars
    Hello. I made this and my family loved it. If I want to make it for a larger group, I’ll need to adapt for a regular oven. How would I adjust the time and temp? Also I would use boneless/skinless.

    Reply
  13. David
    August 24, 2022

    Can you use bone in thighs?

    Reply
    1. Erin
      August 30, 2022

      Hi David – you sure can!

      Reply
  14. Darcy
    September 5, 2022

    Question – How long would you suggest cooking chicken breast tenderloins?? I don’t want to overcook them. Thanks!!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      September 7, 2022

      Hi Darcy – Here’s my post on cooking air fryer chicken breasts. With tenderloins, I would probably check them for doneness around the 10 minute mark. This post on my air fryer chicken tenders may also be helpful. 🙂

      Reply
  15. Nancy
    September 11, 2022

    5 stars
    So easy so yummy! I made with sliced orange and red peppers on the side (added half way through – could have added 3/4 way through but it was still wonderful). I served with rice.
    Next time I will add slightly less salt but that’s a petdknal preference.

    Reply
    1. Erin
      September 13, 2022

      Thanks Nancy! I love your idea to add in some peppers!

      Reply
  16. Jenny
    September 15, 2022

    5 stars
    Yum – the whole family wants me to make these again. Great recipe!

    Reply
  17. Carol
    September 15, 2022

    5 stars
    These are SO easy and SO delicious! My kids are loving these – especially with ranch. Perfect snack or meal. Love it!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      September 19, 2022

      I’m so happy to hear that Carol!

      Reply
  18. Brooke
    October 4, 2022

    5 stars
    Loved this spice rub for my chicken thighs. Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      October 11, 2022

      You’re welcome Brooke!

      Reply
  19. Marlene
    November 16, 2022

    5 stars
    I made this for dinner tonight and it was so good! The chicken was super tender, moist, and flavorful. My husband, who is a picky eater, asked me if I would be able to make it again, the same way. Wow! That is high compliments to your recipe. It really was delicious, and so easy. And cleanup is a breeze with the air fryer!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      November 19, 2022

      Thanks Marlene! I’m so glad you gave it a try!

      Reply
  20. Susan
    November 23, 2022

    I’ve just started using an an air fryer. Does the oven need to be preheated?

    Reply
    1. Erin
      November 23, 2022

      Hi Susan – Most models call for preheating. When you set the temp, it will say “preheat” or something like that. It isn’t always necessary though, because air fryers heat up so quickly.

      Reply
  21. Brenda
    December 6, 2022

    5 stars
    This recipe is so delish! Super easy too, which I love. I added a pinch of red pepper flakes. It will become a regular for us. Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      December 8, 2022

      Thanks Brenda!

      Reply
  22. SusanB
    February 12, 2023

    5 stars
    5 star++ Outstanding recipe! What a delicious blend of spices, and such tender chicken thighs! This recipe is definitely going to be made weekly! Thank you for sharing such a gem!!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      February 15, 2023

      Thank you so much Susan!

      Reply
  23. Pamela
    May 24, 2023

    5 stars
    This recipe has become my go to favourite. I make it all the time now and I’ve added it to my favourites Pin! Thanks for sharing. I do double the recipe, it’s so quick and easy and my husband loves it!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      May 24, 2023

      Thank you so much Pamela!

      Reply
  24. S
    May 22, 2025

    5 stars
    My go to chicken. We use Costco chickens and sometimes they are gigantic so we hust cook it longer. But we can eat this all the time. So glad I found this recipe! Aloha

    Reply
    1. Erin Lynch
      May 23, 2025

      Thank you so much!

      Reply

Hi, I’m Erin!

Can I pour you a glass of wine? Let’s have some fun in the kitchen! Maybe some pasta? A juicy steak? I’ve got loads of yummy, easy recipes for you! Because cooking should feel as comfy as your favorite yoga pants. ♥

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