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Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs – Easy Juicy Dinner

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These crispy air fryer chicken thighs are light, juicy, and come together with almost no effort. Perfect for busy weeknights, they deliver impossibly crispy skin and tender meat in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4–6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 pounds total)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken thighs completely dry with paper towels until no moisture remains.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, and cayenne (if using). Whisk together.
  3. Add the chicken thighs to the bowl and toss with your hands until evenly coated. Get seasoning under the skin by gently lifting it.
  4. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3-5 minutes.
  5. Arrange the thighs skin-side down in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overlap; cook in batches if needed.
  6. Cook at 400°F for 12 minutes without opening the basket.
  7. Flip the thighs using tongs and cook for another 8-10 minutes at 400°F, or until internal temperature reaches 185°F (85°C) at the thickest part.
  8. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
  9. Optional: For extra-crispy skin, increase temperature to 425°F (220°C) for the last 2-3 minutes after flipping.

Notes

Patting the skin completely dry is crucial for crispiness. Do not overcrowd the basket. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving to retain juices. For best results, use bone-in, skin-on thighs. Leftovers can be reheated in the air fryer at 375°F for 3-4 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer chicken thighs, crispy chicken thighs, easy chicken dinner, quick chicken recipe, air fryer recipe

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