Pull those bone in, skin on chicken thighs out of the refrigerator and make these air fryer crispy chicken thighs tonight! In under 30 minutes you will have a delicious family friendly dinner.
If you prefer drumsticks, try my Air Fryer Chicken Legs recipe for the same crispy results.
If you prefer baking instead of air frying, try my crispy baked chicken thighs, which use a simple oven method to get perfectly crispy skin.
For even more high protein chicken recipes, be sure to checkout my master post of keto chicken recipes.
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
This is the perfect way to cook juicy chicken thighs for that extra crispy skin and no need to heat up the oven.
- Just 5 ingredients - chicken thighs, smoked paprika, garlic powder, oregano, and onions powder (plus salt and pepper but those don't count!)
- Cooks quickly thanks to the air fryer - These take about 25 minutes in the air fryer...which is great!
- No splatter on the stove top!
Personally, I think the air fryer is the best invention besides a home coffee maker. I use mine just about everyday!
I love to make burgers, pork tenderloin, crispy pork chops, and even crispy Brussels sprouts.
If you prefer the oven, my Oven Baked Chicken Tenders recipe is another reader favorite.
My method for crispy chicken thigh skin
I start by pre-heating the air fryer before I spray with avocado oil cooking spray. I do this only when I want my food to be really crispy.
I make sure the chicken thighs are patted dry with a paper towel and any excess skin is cut away.
Then I mix the chicken thighs with all of the seasonings.
Now we can place the chicken thighs in the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer skin side down.
I do this so the skin can start to render the fat without browning the skin too much. It gives the best results!
I also do this with my Air fryer whole chicken recipe.
My Air fryer has a 6 quart basket so 4 bone-in chicken thighs fit perfectly.
If your air fryer is smaller you would need to cook these in batches.
After the bone-in thighs cook skin side down, we can flip them over and continue to cook them until the skin is nice and crispy and the internal temperature is 165F using an instant read thermometer.
The result is the juiciest chicken with the crispiest skin.
Making this a complete meal
I like to serve these air fryer chicken thighs with cauliflower Mac and cheese, keto green beans with bacon, or a broccoli salad.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
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Air Fryer Chicken Thighs - Super Crispy!
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Tip: Hitting your 20–30g protein per meal goal helps you stay full and supports muscle.
Ingredients
- 4 Bone in, skin on chicken thighs,, trimed of excess fat and skin
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Oregano
- ½ teaspoon Onion powder
Equipment
- Air Fryer (Here's the air fryer I like best on Amazon)
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 380F for 5 minutes. After pre-heating, spray with cooking spray, if desired.
- Add the chicken thighs to a large zip-top bag or a bowl with a lid. Top with the kosher salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, oregano and onion powder. Shake to coat.
- Remove from the bag and place the chicken thighs in the air fryer, skin side down, for 12 minutes.
- Turn your chicken thighs skin side up and cook for 10-15 minutes more. If you would like your chicken thighs super crispy. Cook for 4 minutes increments to get your desired crispness.
- The crispy air fryer chicken thighs are done when an internal meat thermometer reads 165F inserted into the thickest part of the thigh. The cooking time will vary depending on the size of your chicken thighs and the wattage of your air fryer. Serve.
Anna Rees says
Chicken thighs were so crispy and juicy. Spice mix gave a nice taste!
Jonathan Paul Bryans says
I don't understand why people want to add their additions to your recipe. I cooked as it was published and it was an absolute delight!!!! Thank you. For those 'show-offs' quit adding your additionsnto a perfectly sensible and delicious recipe.
Wayne Parrish says
I blundered into this site by accident today and just enjoyed the best chicken thigh dinner ever and I love thighs. I seasoned the thighs with a cheap discount store chicken seasoning, mostly salt, and let them sit awhile in a marinade of Cholula hot sauce. I did have to cook an extra 5 minutes. The skin was quite crisp with a slight blistered look. I never expected to get such flavor and texture without breading. I am an old, Southern, widowed country boy and I love chicken. This was the best.
Jenn says
I love this recipe. I cook this at least once a week and my family also loves it. I will continue to cook this as long as I can. So crispy and so favorable. I will make this again and again.
Judy says
Delicious !
Gail Mathieson says
Excellent!! Skin a bit too crispy, but that was my fault. Will fix me error next time time because there will be another time.
H H elen says
Made this and it came out perfect. My family loved it. Ty!
Sheila says
Great flavor! Easy! New favorite!
Shannon says
Hot damn, the chicken came out PERFECT! Thank you!
Dianna says
Delicious my favorite way to cook chicken the paprika I use is the sweet and spicy perfect every time
Herbie pitchuck says
Easy recipe and great tasting
Melissa C Hamilton says
Gonna be one of those people who changes a recipe up, but I did use the basic ingredients. We love air fryer bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs so I coated them in the spice mix, cooked at 360 degrees skin down for 12 minutes, then skin up for 15 minutes. Made the sauce as written in a skillet, frying the garlic in a bit of oil before adding the cream and dried tomatoes. When it thickened, I added the spinach until wilted, turned the heat off and added the parm cheese. Served the sauce over pasta as a side to the chicken. Delicious!
Jill says
with the timing be the same for bone in with skin removed?
Jennifer Banz says
Here is a boneless recipe: https://jenniferbanz.com/air-fryer-boneless-skinless-chicken-thighs
zygmunt fronczak says
May I season chicken cuts today for next day air frying,
Jennifer Banz says
Yes that will work!
B L says
Just learning to cook i'm 63 on my own. And this is the best chicken. I've ever made. I just want to thank you so much for a great recipe. That I know it cooked and tastes great? I will be back as soon,as soon as I eat this chicken, I'll start looking for more.help Thanks again. Amazing I never learned to Now I respect what my wife did for us.
Angela says
So simple and delicious. This is my go to! Thank you!
Chris says
Absolutely delicious and so easy to make.
Jen says
Loved the flavor and how easy it is. Will try more of your creations.
Dorothy says
Same question as another commenter-what temp do you cook them at after preheating?
Thanks.
Jennifer Banz says
The same temperature that you preheat the air fryer to.