Tips To Make The Best Recipe
- Always pat dry the chicken before seasoning it. This guarantees a crispy exterior and keeps all the juices inside.
- You must flip the chicken halfway through so that both sides are cooked evenly.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket, or else the chicken will take longer to cook and risk becoming gummy in the middle.
- Try to choose equal-sized chicken thighs so they cook at the same time.
Why Are My Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Dry And Though
Here are a few things that caused them to be dry and tough:
- You didnt bring the chicken out of the fridge for 20 minutes before cooking: This is key for even cooking!
- The thighs were overcooked: Make sure to take them out of the air fryer as soon as they reach an internal temp of 165° F . By overcooking bone-in thighs you may even get their skin too brown.
- After air frying them, you didnt allow the chicken thighs to rest for 5 minutes before cutting them. The resting time will re-distribute the juices and lock the moisture in.
Easy Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs Recipe
Its hard to choose whats best about the air fryer: how simple it is to use or how you can use it to get super crispy chicken without deep frying. Air fryer chicken breasts and air fryer popcorn chicken are two staples for my family, but when boneless skinless chicken thighs were on sale at the grocery store, I wanted to give them a try in the air fryer too.
Im so glad I did! They turned out absolutely perfect, with that crispy exterior everyone loves, plus a juicy interior. And it all comes together in minutes! You just rub a quick homemade seasoning blend onto the chicken thighs, then pop them in your air fryer for about 13 minutes. Super, super simple and just what we all need right now after a few months of holiday excess!
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Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs Recipe
The air fryer is known to cook chicken particularly well, crispy skin or exterior with a juicy and tender inside. These boneless skinless chicken thighs are no different and I know youd love how tasty this recipe is.
The chicken thighs marinade is keeper and can be used for grilled chicken recipes too. This air fryer boneless chicken thighs recipe is flavorful and perfect for any side you choose to have it with.
Boneless chicken thighs are perfect with sides like potatoes, salads, pasta dishes and lots more.
- Meal prep bowls for storage and easy reheating
Lemon Pepper Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
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These Lemon Pepper Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are quick, easy, and on your dinner table in less than 20 minutes. Juicy moist chicken made right in your Air Fryer.
This post may contain affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here.
Full Recipe/Instructions are available in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. You can find important tips/tricks in theblog post.
Quick and easy weeknight options are a must in our house, especially these days. Weve moved outside the city which means a longer commute after work . Most evenings, I come in the house exhausted, ready to order la pizza.
But with this Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Thigh Recipe, pizza gets pushed on the back burner and this gets made in a jiffy. Its full of flavor and I dont have to wait for my chicken to marinate, woo hoo! My chicken thighs still come out juicy and moist and full of flavor.
Chicken thighs are one of my favorite pieces of chicken to cook in an Air Fryer. They dont dry out, theyre full of flavor, and theyre pretty much hands off.
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Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
Category: Air Fryer Dinners
If you are searching for an easy main dish that the whole family can get behind, look no further than this Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs recipe. Its the perfect weeknight dinner and one of my favorite ways to prepare a hearty meal with little spare time and almost no effort!
- Olive Oil feel free to use avocado oil if you prefer
- Italian seasonings
- Optional: cayenne pepper, garlic powder and onion powder
*see recipe card for detailed amounts
How To Cook Chicken Thighs In An Air Fryer
Air frying chicken thighs is a great way to cook them, you can grill or roast them by varying the amount of oil used . They make a great main dish for a mid-week dinner, so flavorful, easy to cook, and good value too!
Air frying is such a great way to cook chicken, check out some of my air fryer chicken recipes: air fryer chicken tenders, air fryer chicken breast, and air fryer chicken wings, or try these air fryer chicken thighs and potatoes .
Scroll down for the printable card for this air fryer chicken thighs recipe, or read on for all the details!
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How Do You Make Fried Chicken Crispy In Air Fryer
If you happen to own an air fryer, you can certainly reheat your fried chicken in its basket. Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and let the fried chicken come to room temperature. Next, arrange the fried chicken in a single layer and cook it for about four minutes, flipping it once to ensure even cooking.
More Ways To Season Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe
- Parmesan Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Add 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese to your spice mixture.
- Spicy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Add 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper to the spice mixture.
- Brown Sugar Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Add 2 teaspoons of brown sugar to the spice mixture.
- Italian Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Add 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning to the spice mixture.
- Curry Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Add 2 teaspoons curry powder to the spice mixture.
- Garlic Butter Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Omit the smoked paprika, add an extra teaspoon of garlic powder, and swap the olive oil for melted butter.
- Lemon Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Add zest of 1 lemon to the spice mixture.
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How To Store Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
These deliciously easy air fryer chicken thighs keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, to be on the safe side. Also, they keep well in the freezer for 2-3 months in a freezer bag or other freezer container.
If youre ready to reheat chicken thighs, put them back in the air fryer at 390 degrees F. Air fry for 5-7 minutes or theyre heated through. You can also reheat them in a 350 degree F oven for 10-15 minutes. Reheating chicken thighs can sometimes dry them out so be sure to watch the time! Or use a really good low carb BBQ sauce to add moisture!
What Side Dishes To Serve
There are some really easy side dishes you can serve with your main dish cooked in the Air Fryer. In some cases, you can even cook them together in the air fryer to make it even faster.
Some of our favorite side dishes to serve include air fryer cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and corn on the cob. Other quick options are to make a side garden salad or some macaroni and cheese.
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Variations On Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
There are so many ways to mix this dinner up a bit! Air fryer chicken thighs are delicious on their own, but here are a few ideas to try:
- Add BBQ sauce, hot sauce, buffalo sauce, teriyaki or other delicious sauce after cooking chicken thighs in air fryer
- Top with a garlic butter
- Sprinkle with shredded cheese during the last minute of cooking
- Serve over cauliflower rice
- Add vegetables to the air fryer basket and cook them at the same time
- Cook raw chicken after using a chicken marinade
- Top with fresh lemon juice
What Is An Air Fryer
An air fryer is like a small convection oven. Air fryers use the same technology for circulating air and evaporating the moisture from the exterior of food to fry it. A fan pushes hot air around the food, creating a crisp exterior, much like as if it were fried in oil. Only it is healthier because you only use a spritz of. Its less greasy but retains the all the flavor!
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The Most Important Tool For Cooking Meat
While using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs gives you better protection from dry meat than if you were to use boneless skinless chicken thighs, you can still overcook chicken thighs. For best resultsuse an instant read thermometer.
- Good Budget Option. This instant read thermometer costs less than $15 and will save your dinner.
- Best Option. This one is well-worth the price tag if you cook often. It reads results immediately and is dead accurate.
How To Cook Boneless Chicken Thighs In The Air Fryer
To a small mixing bowl, add smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, sage, red pepper flakes, parsley salt and pepper and mix to combine to form a dry rub.
Pat the chicken thighs dry with a kitchen towel so it is moist free, trim off any fat and transfer to a bowl.
Add the dry rub to the chicken thighs and mix to combine making all the chicken is coated. Then add olive oil and Worcestershire sauce and mix.
Preheat the air fryer at 180C/380F for 5 minutes. spray cooking oil in the air fryer basket. This is optional as the marinade already contained oil.
Arrange the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. You should be able to fit about 6 in the basket depending on the shape of the basket. If need be, cook the chicken in batches.
Cook for 15 to 18 minutes depending on how you like your chicken cooked flipping it halfway for even cooking. The internal temperature of cooked chicken should register 165F/63C. If using bone-in chicken thighs, please check my cooking time guide below.
Serve immediately as desired.
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Tips To Safely Use An Air Fryer
- Line the air fryer basket with foil or parchment paper. This will prevent the food from sticking to the basket and will make cleaning and washing up a breeze.
- Do not place parchment paper in the air-fryer while pre-heating or without any food on top. A loose paper can fly and stick to the heat source and burn.
- Never leave an operating air-fryer unattended as food can easily burn due to high temperatures. What I usually do is use my phone’s timer to remind me to flip the chicken or to check on it every now and then.
- Most importantly, read your air fryer manual for more safety tips.
Hungry for more? Try these…
- Soy Garlic Crispy Chicken Wings
- Filipino Chicken Afritada
- Pan-Fried Chicken with Mushroom Gravy
- Chicken Tinola Recipe
Can I Use Bone
Yep! I tested this recipe both ways, so if you’re going to use bone-in chicken, I’d air fry the chicken on the first side for 15 minutes, and on the second side for 12. Again, it depends on the size of your chicken thighs, too, but generally bone-in chicken takes a little longer to cook than boneless chicken.
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Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
You can never go wrong with these juicy, flavorful dark chicken meat. Harder to overcook than chicken breast meat. Thighs have three times the amount of fat that chicken breasts have. They are still my preferred option for most of my recipes.
I usually purchase a big batch at Costco and keep them in the freezer. This way, when Im ready to cook them, I defrost in the fridge overnight.
An average skinless boneless chicken thigh is usually around 3 oz and I usually plan on serving 2 of these per person.
You can easily cook and store this chicken in air tight containers in the fridge for up to 1 week. This way you can pack for lunch or reheat for dinner, add to sandwiches or salads.
Why cook chicken thighs in the Air Fryer? Cant you just bake them? I do have a recipe for baked chicken thighs, but it takes way longer than 15 minutes to cook them in the oven.
The Air Fryer is more like a Fancy/Small Convection Oven ! It is more like an oven, than a fryer. Hot air circulates inside and created even and perfectly cooked foods, like these thighs. The foods stay crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
Instructions: How To Cook Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
Making air fryer boneless skinless chicken thighs is quick and easy! This recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight meal.
First of all, spray the air fryer basket with avocado oil cooking spray or other oil. Preheat the air fryer with the air fryer basket in it, to 390 degrees F for 5 minutes.
After that, while the air fryer is preheating, get the chicken ready by trimming any fat you dont want and pat it dry it with a paper towel. Place chicken thighs in a large zipper bag or another sealable container.
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Chicken Recipe Dry Rub
Then, in a small bowl, mix together the salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried thyme. Whisk it all together well to create the rub for the chicken.
After that, sprinkle it all over the chicken, seal the bag , and shake it around until all of the chicken is coated with the rub.
Next, place the chicken in the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray the tops of the chicken thighs with avocado oil or olive oil.
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Who knew boneless, skinless chicken could be so crispy?! Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and ready in under 25 minutes!
If you haven’t made chicken in the air fryer yet, what are you waiting for?! I realized the other day that I don’t have a ton of chicken recipes on my site. There’s my sun-dried tomato chicken skillet and my whole30 chicken salad, but I definitely have way more tofu/salmon/beef recipes, and I felt like that needed to change.
Making air fryer chicken thighs is incredibly simple, and it’s an easy way to get chicken to crisp up nicely on the outside, while still being juice on the inside.
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Air Fryer Chicken Thighs: Cooking Time
Now, cook boneless chicken thighs in the air fryer basket at 390 degrees F for 17-20 minutes or until the internal temperature reads 165 degrees F on a meat thermometer.
I prefer to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer than just call it good because no one wants raw chicken!
You can flip them over halfway through to evenly cook boneless chicken thighs, but I dont generally bother. Be careful of the hot air if you do open it in the middle to flip.
When ready, let the chicken rest 1-2 minutes. Then, all thats left in this easy recipe is to remove them from the air fryer with silicone coated tongs. After that, place the air fried chicken thighs on a plate to serve with a side salad or other vegetables.
Best Tips For Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
- Spraying the basket is optional since the marinade has oil and the chicken would release some more while it cooks. If you are concerned that it would stick you can use perforated parchment paper.
- Do not overcrowd the basket. Cook in batches if needed.
- The use of a meat thermometer is highly recommended when cooking meats. If you dont have one, check the meat for doneness by cutting it at the thickest part. It should be white and juice should run clear and not red.
- This recipe was made in a non preheated air fryer. However if cooking in batches, subsequent batches may cook quicker since the air fryer got preheated during the first batch.
- Check out all our > > > Air fryer Recipes!
Did you find this recipe helpful? Leave me a comment about it or any recipe idea you would love Air fryer yummed and dont forget to share with family and friends.
Happy Air frying!
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What To Serve With Roasted Chicken Thighs
These roasted and juicy chicken thighs pair really well with spicy garlic sesame sauteed kale and cauliflower fried rice!
You can also keep this chicken in the fridge and have it ready to use when needed. You can use it with many of these salad recipes or serve it with a quick air fried sweet potato or air fried baked potato.
