Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Thighs

This Air Fryer Chicken Thighs recipe will give you super crispy chicken without frying! Dry rub the chicken thighs and then air fry them for about 16 minutes, flipping halfway through. It’s that easy.

We love air frying chicken thighs and so do you! This is one of our most popular air fryer recipes and many of you have rated it 5 stars and have made it over and over again..

If you’re used to whipping up baked chicken thighs or grilled chicken thighs to get them nice and crispy, the air fryer will change your life. When I say they are so crunchy, I really mean it!

Table of Contents

What you need for Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs (bone-in): For this recipe, we are using bone-in thighs. We love how juicy the innards are with the bone-in thighs. Feel free to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs if that’s your jam. We recommend reducing the cooking time by a few minutes on each side to avoid overcooking.

Olive oil: Olive oil is used to make sure these chicken thighs turn out nice and crisp. Feel free to change to a different oil.

spices: the combination of spices in this recipe is so delicious. We use salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, thyme, and brown sugar.

Ideas for seasoning the chicken!

If you have any of our homemade seasonings on hand, feel free to use about 1-2 tablespoons in place of the listed spices.

Variations and substitutions

You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe. Just reduce the cooking time to 16-18 minutes depending on the thickness of the chicken thighs.

Chicken thighs marinated in the air fryer are also delicious, but they may not be as crispy due to the extra moisture.

Frequently asked questions

How long should I cook chicken thighs in the deep fryer?

Set your deep fryer to 400ºF and cook the chicken thighs for 16 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Can you put raw chicken in a deep fryer?

Yes, you can cook raw chicken in the deep fryer. It’s one of the best ways to make it nice and crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside.

How many minutes to air fry chicken?

Chicken thighs will take 16-20 minutes, depending on the size of the thigh. Be sure to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature to see if it’s done.

How long to fry chicken thighs?

Cook chicken thighs in air fryer for 20 minutes at 400ºF, flipping halfway through.

How do I know when my chicken thighs are fully cooked?

The best way to tell if chicken thighs are fully cooked is to use a meat thermometer. Make sure the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken is 165ºF.

Try it!

Thermoworks Thermapen

We swear to use a meat thermometer when cooking any cut of meat. The Thermapen is our meat thermometer that works every time.

Buy now

Storage

Once the chicken thighs have cooled, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3 to 5 days.

To reheat: air fry at 350ºF for 2-3 minutes. Or, microwave on high for about 60 seconds.

Serving Suggestions

Round out your meal with some of our favorite easy side dishes.

Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Thighs

Perfectly cooked and crispy air fryer chicken thighs are combined with bone-in chicken thighs and delicious chicken seasoning.

Homework:10 minutes

Cook:twenty minutes

Total:30 minutes

Fat 27

carbohydrates 3

Protein 55

Instructions

Preheat fryer to 400ºF and spray inside of basket with nonstick cooking spray.
Prepare the chicken by patting it dry with a piece of paper towel.
Add the garlic powder, paprika, dried thyme, salt, and brown sugar to a bowl and mix until combined. Then sprinkle the dry rub over the chicken thighs. Make sure the dry rub coats the entire chicken thigh.
Place the chicken thighs skin side down in the deep fryer and drizzle the chicken thighs with olive oil. You may need to do this in two batches depending on the size of your fryer.
Set the air fryer for 8 minutes, flip the chicken thighs, and cook the chicken thighs for an additional 6-10 minutes, depending on the size of your thighs.
If the internal temperature of the chicken is 160ºF to 165ºF and the skin is crisp, remove the chicken thighs from the fryer. If you would like your chicken thighs extra crispy, cook them for an additional 2 minutes. Let chicken rest for 3-5 minutes and enjoy.