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Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs – Easy Best Recipe

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These crispy air fryer chicken thighs are fast, forgiving, and deliver shatteringly crisp skin with tender, juicy meat. Made with simple pantry ingredients, they are the perfect weeknight dinner that tastes like deep-fried comfort without the mess or guilt.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 to 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt or kosher salt (reduce to ¾ teaspoon if using table salt)
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground preferred)
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken thighs completely dry with paper towels. Use at least three or four paper towels to remove all moisture from the skin and surfaces.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, dried thyme, and cayenne pepper (if using). Whisk into a paste.
  3. Add the chicken thighs to the bowl and toss with your hands until each piece is evenly coated. Gently lift the skin and rub some seasoning directly onto the meat.
  4. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 to 5 minutes.
  5. Arrange the seasoned chicken thighs in the air fryer basket, skin-side up, in a single layer with at least half an inch of space between each piece. Do not overcrowd; cook in batches if necessary.
  6. Cook at 400°F for 12 minutes undisturbed.
  7. Carefully flip each thigh using tongs. Cook for another 10 to 15 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 175°F to 185°F (or until skin is deep golden-brown and juices run clear).
  8. Remove chicken from the air fryer and let rest on a cutting board or plate for at least 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Pat the chicken dry twice for extra crispiness. Let the seasoned chicken sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before cooking for even cooking. Do not overcrowd the basket. For the most tender meat, cook to 175°F-185°F internal temperature. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. Reheat leftovers in the air fryer at 375°F for 3-4 minutes to restore crispiness.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer chicken thighs, crispy chicken thighs, easy chicken recipe, weeknight dinner, bone-in chicken thighs, air fryer recipe

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