Delicious, quick and juicy fried chicken thighs are here to save you from hunger.
These deep fryer chicken thighs are juicy, quick, and best of all, delicious. When you want food and you want it fast, deep fryer chicken thighs are the most important thing. These guys are seasoned with one of the best chicken flavors ever – lemon pepper chicken. It makes a great chicken base for any sauce or side pairing you might like, and it’s great on its own, too.
Why is the air fryer better for chicken thighs?
- If you like baked or super juicy chicken, air fried chicken tastes just as juicy and tender, maybe even more so
- Air frying chicken thighs is faster than roasting/baking
- It’s also more energy efficient because you don’t need to preheat or turn on your oven
How long should chicken thighs be cooked in the air fryer?
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs: Air fry at 360°F for 12-15 minutes, turning halfway through.
- Bone in skin on chicken thighs: Air fry at 360°F for 18 minutes, turning halfway through, then add an additional 5 minutes at 400°F to crisp the skin.
- Frozen Chicken Thighs: Air fry from freezer at 360°F for 25 minutes, turning halfway through, then add an additional 5 minutes at 400°F to crisp the skin.
You want to air fry them until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, or until the juices run clear. Chicken thighs come in all sizes and thicknesses, so it’s best to get an instant-read thermometer to make sure they reach 165°F.
Bone in skin versus boneless skin
You can go with either: extra juicy or very light, the choice is yours! This recipe defaults to skinless chicken thighs because they are a favorite: they cook quickly and never dry out because the cooking time is so short. Plus, when I’m eating, I can pop them in my mouth without thinking or use them shredded in tacos or salads.
Skin-on chicken thighs are also delicious – I use them in a lot of recipes and you can easily use them here too. The skin peels off nicely and also cleans the meat underneath, which makes it tastier. They are by no means second class citizens.
left: boneless, right: skin on
How to fry chicken thighs
I go between making bone-in skin on chicken thighs and boneless skinless thighs in the air blender. I like both, so which chicken thigh you choose is up to you.
- Dry it a little. Use a clean kitchen towel or paper towel to dry the skin of your chicken. You want a dry surface so it can crisp up – this is especially important if you’re bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs. Moisture is the enemy of fresh.
- The season. Place the thighs in a bowl and season with lemon juice, spices and a little oil. The oil helps conduct heat that makes the skin crispy, and the lemon juice and spices add flavor.
- Fry in the air. Place the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer and air fry, turning halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. (See below for times)
The secret to air-fried chicken thighs
The secret to liquid air fryer chicken thighs is…there is no secret! It always comes out juicy!
Do I need to preheat the fryer for the chicken thighs?
Unlike using a regular oven, you don’t need to preheat the fryer, which means dinner is on the table faster.
If you want to achieve the ultimate speed or juiciness, or if your pan takes a little longer than you want to get up to temperature, you can preheat the air fryer before starting any of the other steps, and it will be quite hot until you have the chicken ready to go.
Need to return the chicken to the air fryer?
Technically you don’t need to because the air in an air blower circulates around, but for a fresh and even appearance, especially for bony skin, I recommend it. Start cooking the chicken skin-side down, then flip it over to finish skin-side up, so the skin looks nice and crisp.
What can I serve with air fried chicken thighs?
Since you have the blender out, why not pair the chicken thighs with:
How do I reheat chicken thighs in the air fryer?
To reheat already cooked chicken thighs in the air fryer, let the thighs heat up at 350°F for 2-3 minutes.
What is the best air blower?
Our air winner is discontinued? but we love it so much. The Philips XL (actually XXL) is what we’d get if ours ever broke.
Can I make these in the oven?
yes!
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs: Bake at 425°F for 18-20 minutes.
- Bone in skin on chicken thighs: Bake at 425°F for 25-30 minutes if seasoned properly.
- Bone in skin on chicken thighs: Bake at 425°F for 35-40 minutes if they come right out of the fridge.
Stick them on a wire rack on a foil-lined baking sheet and turn them halfway through. If you have convection mode, it means you have a giant air fryer! Follow the same instructions as with an air fryer, maybe an extra 5 minutes in case the oven temperature isn’t quite right.
As with air fryers, you want to cook them until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, or until the juices run clear, and that instant-read thermometer is your best bet!
The air is red for me Scotty!
Steph
Air-fried Chicken Thighs
Delicious, quick, juicy air fryer chicken thighs are here to save you from hunger!
It serves 4
- 1/2 lemon
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 SPOON garlic powder
- 1 SPOON onion powder
- 1/2 SPOON paprika smoked paprika is preferred
- 1/4 SPOON freshly ground pepper or 1/2 tsp as desired
- 1.5 £ bone in skin on chicken thighs or 1 lb boneless skinless, see notes
Optional paprika oil for extra shine
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 SPOON paprika smoked paprika is preferred
For frozen chicken thighs, cook at 360°F for 25 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F and juices run clear. Halfway through, flip the chicken over and add lemon wedges. Remove from the air fryer immediately after you are done. Optionally, add an additional 5 minutes at 400°F for a crisp skin (for a total cook time of 30 minutes).
Nutrition facts
Air-fried Chicken Thighs
Amount per service
Calories 410
Calories from fat 241
% Daily Value*
Fat 26.8 g41%
Saturated fat 7 g44%
cholesterol 140 mg47%
Sodium 127 mg6%
potassium 374 mg11%
Carbohydrates 2.6 g1%
Fiber 0.6 g3%
Sugar 0.8 g1%
Protein 38 g76%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
