These air fryer chicken thighs are one of my favorite quick and easy dinners to make when I’m feeling uninspired. Simple seasonings really make this chicken pop, and the air fryer makes them so crispy and delicious. No matter when I make them, my family is always happy to devour them! They make me feel like supermom with so little effort!

3 air fryer chicken thighs on a white plate.

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My air fryer is quickly becoming my favorite kitchen appliance. It makes everything so much easier and healthier– and super crispy, too! Seasoned simply and coated with olive oil, these air fryer chicken thighs are ridiculously juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. They take less than 30 minutes from start to finish, making them one of my absolute favorite easy weeknight dinners!

What’s in This Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe?

  • Chicken Thighs: I tested this recipe with bone-in, skin-on thighs. This is my favorite option for juicy, crispy chicken! Boneless thighs will cook through faster, so check the temperature about 5 minutes earlier.
  • Oil: I coated my thighs in olive oil to help the seasonings stick and to crisp up the skin.
  • Spices: I used a mix of salt, white pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper to create a savory coating.
overhead view of 4 air fryer chicken thighs on a white plate.
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Tips for Success

  • The thighs should be at room temperature when you put them in the air fryer. I like to take them out of the fridge 30 minutes before I plan to cook them so that they cook through evenly.
  • Preheat the fryer before adding the chicken so that it cooks evenly.
  • Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. If you want to double the recipe, I recommend cooking the chicken in two batches.

How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover air fryer chicken thighs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. I like to wrap each thigh separately in foil to help keep moisture off the skin. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating in a 350°F air fryer for 4-6 minutes, or until warmed through.

three-quarters view of 4 air fryer chicken thighs on a white plate, one is partially eaten.

Serving Suggestions

These simply-seasoned, crispy air fryer chicken thighs make the perfect main dish for any meal. I love to serve them with air fryer corn on the cob, cornbread, and sweet potato fries.

5-Star Review

“These chicken thighs were so delicious. Easy recipe, quick cooking with the air fryer-can’t beat that!!” -Cheryl

Recipe Card

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe

4.68 from 141 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 thighs
Author: Becky Hardin
featured air fryer chicken thighs.
These air fryer chicken thighs are rubbed with a simple seasoning mixture, and they come out super juicy with crispy skin!
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
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Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Combine the seasonings in a bowl.
    ½ teaspoon white pepper, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon ground paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
    overhead view of 4 raw chicken thighs on a baking sheet.
  • Coat the chicken thighs in olive oil on one side. Rub seasonings on chicken thighs.
    4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, 4 tablespoons olive oil
    overhead view of 4 seasoned chicken thighs on a baking sheet.
  • Flip the thighs and coat with remaining olive oil and seasonings.
  • Spray basket with non stick cooking spray.
  • Place chicken thighs into basket and cook for 15 minutes, skin side up.
    overhead view of 4 seasoned chicken thighs in an air fryer basket.
  • Flip chicken thighs and cook 3-4 minutes skin side down, or until internal chicken temperature has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
    overhead view of air fryer chicken thighs in an air fryer basket.
  • Remove chicken thighs from the air fryer and serve immediately.

Video

Becky’s Tips

Storage: Store air fryer chicken thighs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Serving: 1thighCalories: 448kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 24gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 142mgSodium: 403mgPotassium: 329mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 362IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Air Fry Chicken Thighs Step by Step

Mix the Seasonings: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Combine ½ teaspoon of white pepper, ½ teaspoon of kosher salt, 1 teaspoon of ground paprika, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, and 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper in a bowl.

overhead view of 4 raw chicken thighs on a baking sheet.

Season the Thighs: Coat 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs in 2 tablespoons of olive oil on one side. Rub half of the seasonings on the chicken thighs. Flip the thighs and coat with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and seasonings.

overhead view of 4 seasoned chicken thighs on a baking sheet.

Cook the Thighs: Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Place the chicken thighs into the basket and cook for 15 minutes, skin side up.

overhead view of 4 seasoned chicken thighs in an air fryer basket.

Flip and Cook: Flip chicken thighs and cook for 3-4 minutes, skin side down, or until the internal chicken temperature has reached 165°F. Remove the chicken thighs from the air fryer and serve immediately.

overhead view of air fryer chicken thighs in an air fryer basket.

More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes to Try!

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.68 from 141 votes (129 ratings without comment)
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30 Comments
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Florence
Florence
August 16, 2024 8:30 pm

Very good and easy5 stars

Bill
Bill
January 23, 2024 10:29 pm

I think this recipe got it backwards. Why start with the skin down and then flip it so the juices run into the skin and make it uncrispy again? No. The trick is to reverse and start with the skin down and then flip it so the skin can crisp up. The recipe does not suck in other regards.3 stars

Cheryl
Cheryl
December 22, 2023 9:31 pm

These chicken thighs were so delicious. Easy recipe, quick cooking with the air fryer-can’t beat that!!5 stars

Marya Khairullah
Marya Khairullah
March 16, 2022 7:33 pm

Incredibly good! Perfect in every way… I added a bit of lemon juice too
Will definitely make frequently
Thank you5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
March 17, 2022 11:29 am

Thanks for dropping by and sharing, Marya!

Penny Lea
Penny Lea
January 16, 2022 11:37 pm

Omgosh! My first air fried chicken and it is delicious!! Definitely will be making this recipe again! I’m so excited to make more rookie recipes. My fryer took longer than 20 minutes though…but im not a huge chicken fan, but these, these are a game changer.
.yuuummmy5 stars

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Last edited 2 years ago by Penny Lea
Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
January 20, 2022 4:35 pm
Reply to  Penny Lea

Those look amazing, Penny!

Deborah
Deborah
January 9, 2022 12:27 pm

Very tasty. This is the first time to cook in my air fryer. I was afraid the smoked paprika would overpower other flavors but you really don’t even realize it’s in there. My chicken thigh was a little larger than the one she must’ve used but I just cooked it few minutes longer. Definitely recommend a good instant read thermometer if you use an air fryer to cook protein. Better than baked because the skin renders more fat and is very crispy.5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
January 12, 2022 3:48 pm
Reply to  Deborah

Thanks for sharing, Deborah!

Sue Pinkerton
Sue Pinkerton
October 17, 2021 5:16 pm

My first use of our just purchased air fryer. We had air fried chicken at a friends home and thought it was really good. This was perfect. Easy and delicious. We will only have air fried chicken from now on.5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
October 18, 2021 3:19 pm
Reply to  Sue Pinkerton

Air fryers open up a whole new world!

Jay t
Jay t
September 29, 2021 5:41 pm

These were very good and quick. Fried taste & texture but healthy.5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
October 5, 2021 9:06 am
Reply to  Jay t

Happy to hear you enjoyed it!

Janet
Janet
September 21, 2021 5:17 pm

My husband said save this recipe it is delightful. I used boneless thighs and cooked a few minutes less. Definitely a keeper5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
September 22, 2021 9:51 am
Reply to  Janet

Thanks for sharing, Janet!!

Gary
Gary
September 12, 2021 1:05 pm

Great. abslutly the best i have ever had.5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
September 15, 2021 1:14 pm
Reply to  Gary

Thanks for sharing, Gary!