If I want to choose one kitchen gadget that completely changed the way I cook is the air fryer. Chicken thighs are the must dish here every Sunday. Otherwise my brother will go insane about it. But recently I tried the recipe in the air fryer with some changes from the typical chicken thigh recipe. The result was so perfect and I am still mouth watering about it. Just imagine crispy skin and juicy chicken thigh in air fryer with your favorite sauce in a healthier way!
Why Use the Air Fryer to Make Chicken?
All of this started because of a 3 year old girl. My niece is pretty much addicted to crispy non veg items and giving her food containing so much oil does not feel good for her. So I researched more about it and got to know about this air fryer. My first experiment was with sausages and it directly went to my dustbin like a rocket with smoke from the bottom. Just after two failures, now I can say myself as a pro in this.
The airfryer just revolutionized all the crispy recipes into the easy and healthy versions. Even deep frying in a pan of oil or baking in an oven for ages, it was not that much easy. With the air fryer you will get the healthy and crispy thing in just minutes. Now I am on a diet for weight loss and I am having my favorite chicken thighs without regret and oil.
Equipment Used
The happy news for you is you don’t need so many tools or equipment for this chicken thigh in air fryer recipe. You just need these four things.
- Air fryer (I use a basket-style air fryer)
- Tongs (for flipping)
- A small bowl for mixing spices
- Paper towels for patting dry
I’ve experimented with different air fryers, and I’ve found that the basket-style air fryer ones give the crispiest results. The tongs are essential for flipping without tearing the skin.
Chicken Thigh Ingredients
I know that you are searching for this part, so let us start the recipe. You don’t need to anxious or stressed about this. This is gonna be the best dish of yours.
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (or spray oil)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano or thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
These simple ingredients are always stored in my pantry. I always say to my friends that you don’t need fancy ingredients to create such magic in the kitchen. You should remember to not avoid the combination of garlic, paprika, and oregano makes the chicken thighs aromatic and flavorful. So don’t skip it.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Prepare the Chicken
I always buy a whole piece of chicken rather than buying it as pieces or parts. You can make every part of chicken into a new dish. You can choose as per your wish. My sister always go for chicken thigh in air fryer boneless. She always feels the bones are annoying. But I love that too. Let us start by patting the chicken thighs to dry with a paper towel. This step is important to get the perfect crispy skin.
Season Generously
Start with drizzling the olive oil a little over the chicken and rub it in. Sprinkle the spices mentioned on the ingredient list evenly on both sides. You can simply customize this step as per your taste buds, like I over do the onion powder and black pepper.
Preheat the Air Fryer
This step needs more attention and care as a beginner. Start by setting your chicken thigh in the air fryer temp to 400°F and preheat for 3 minutes. You should not skip the preheating step in air fryer. It helps the cooking basket to get the needed temperature just before air frying the dish in it.
Arrange in Basket
I felt this step was satisfying. Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket, make the skin side up for better cook. Be sure not to overcrowd them for cooking all parts evenly. I usually don’t use any oils here. If you are not that health conscious and love the oily taste, go for two teaspoons of oil on the top of your skin.
Cook Perfectly
Now we set the temp and arranged the chicken thighs. If you set the temperature options perfectly into this, then chicken thigh in air fryer cooktime is about 22-25 minutes. Also don’t forget to flip halfway through.
I love how the whole process feels so hands-on yet effortless. While the air fryer does its thing, I usually tidy up or plan the rest of my meal.
My Method for Crispy Chicken Thigh Skin
Actually I was pretty possessive with my secret tips, but I realised that sharing the best recipe tips will actually be good, like baking the best dessert for you!
Here’s some tricks to getting that extra crispy skin for you. You should make sure the chicken is as dry as possible before seasoning. Drying of skin makes the dish more crispy outside and juicy inside. My brother teases me by taking a hair dryer to remove excess water while I concentrate more on removing the excess water. Sometimes, I even let the chicken sit uncovered in the fridge for an hour to remove moisture.
You want another tip? You should careful to don’t add too much oil. Lime I mentioned above, you can add two teaspoons. But most pour it directly, instead use a light brush to apply oil on all parts of it.
My Special Recipe Tips
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes after cooking to retain the juices.
- Experiment with spices! Sometimes, I like to add a pinch of cayenne for heat or swap oregano for rosemary.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. It’s better to cook in batches.
You Should Know This Before Air Fry the Chicken Thighs
Air frying process is really nice to watch. I have an air fryer with a transparent window. I love peeking into it and watching the changes it has. But the smell itself can make you hunger for a heavy meal.
How Long Does It Take to Air Fry Chicken Thighs?
The time period is very less compared to other cooking methods. I my experience,the bone-in chicken thigh in the air fryer will take about 22-25 minutes. But if you opt boneless like my sister, around 15-18 minutes you can get the crispy and juicy chicken thighs. If you want to make sure they are cooked, use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should be 165°F.
But don’t need to complicate that much, just after one try, you will get to know the time and temp accurately. At 400°F, chicken thighs cook beautifully in under 25 minutes. This high heat will make sure the skin is crisp enough and the meat is juicy.
Is It Better to Bake Chicken Thighs at 350 or 400?
Even though I shared the temperature, you can change as per your need. Like if you want slow cooked meat, it is better to bake chicken thighs between 350°F and 400°F. This will help to retain the moisture in it and If you are a quicker or busy, then cook it at 400°F.
Are Chicken Thighs Still Healthy?
Absolutely! I told you that the chicken thighs made in the air fryer is my go to weight loss journey. Chicken thighs are packed with so much protein and essential nutrients like iron and zinc. It actually has more fat than chicken breasts. But the fat is what makes them so flavorful and delicious. By air-frying, it will help to reduce the amount of oil needed and make this dish healthier than traditional frying methods.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 260
- Protein: 22g
- Fat: 18g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
What to Serve with Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Like cooking, serving is an art. I love how people present the food made with love. It will stimulate our vision and smell together just before the taste buds. I always love to pair the air fryer chicken thighs with roasted vegetables like a crisp salad or garlic mashed potatoes. If I am in a good mood, I will make a quick honey mustard dipping sauce for an extra treat. My niece is a picky eater and always asks for mac and cheese on the side.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes You’ll Love
Like I told you above, I shop whole chicken and make different parts as different recipes. Just with these same ingredients, you can go for other chicken recipes that will make your day more delicious and yumm.
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
- Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
Each of these recipes has its taste and feel, but chicken thighs remain my brother’s favorite forever I guess. We both fought for that leg piece in childhood. There’s something so satisfying about biting into that crispy skin.