Can you use chicken breasts instead of thighs?

Yes! I would suggest cutting them horizontally into thinner pieces (follow the directions in this recipe ) and then air frying them at 375 for 9-10 minutes.

Can I make these chicken thighs in the oven instead of an air fryer?

Yes! Bake on a small sheet pan at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. To get extra browning on the chicken thighs, turn on the broil setting for the last few minutes of cooking and move the pan closer to the top of the oven.

Can you use frozen chicken thighs?

I would not recommend using frozen chicken thighs.

How do you know when the chicken is fully cooked?

When it reaches 165 degrees, you're good to go! This is the thermometer I use . (affiliate link) I use this thing all the time. Highly recommend.

Can you use other types of oil?

I use both avocado oil and olive oil.

What air fryer do you use?

This is my favorite air fryer ! The Ninja Air Fryer Pro XL. (affiliate link) Love this for so many recipes!

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe

Description

These air fryer chicken thighs are SO good. Super juicy, deeply golden, and ready in 15 minutes! Such an easy recipe that my whole family loves.

Ingredients

Scale

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

1.25 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
3/4 teaspoon salt (I've been using a fine-grained table salt for this)
a few cracks of freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
squeeze of lemon to finish

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Instructions

Trim the Chicken Thighs: Optional, but I usually cut off the little bits of fat (the chunkier white strips) from the edges of the chicken thighs.
Season the Chicken: Toss the chicken thighs with the spices and olive oil. For the best flavor, let it marinate anywhere from 15 minutes to 2-3 hours in the fridge. (Also fine to skip if you’re short on time!)
Air Fry Chicken: Air fry at 375 for 11-13 minutes, until deeply golden and a bit crisped on the outside, and at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit on the inside. (I use a meat thermometer to check!)
Slice Chicken: Transfer chicken to a cutting board. Let it rest for a few minutes; cut into bite-sized pieces. Squeeze lemon over the top if you want.
Serve: Serve with your favorite sauce (see notes for a smoky aioli that I love), baked potato or roasted veggies, in a rice bowl, or on a salad!

Notes

Smoky Paprika Aioli (my current favorite sauce with this): Whisk 1/2 cup mayo, 1/4 cup yogurt, 1 clove freshly grated garlic, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 2 tablespoons water, 1/4 teaspoon salt (more to taste).

Spice Coverage on The Chicken: Every package of chicken thighs is a slightly different size, so if your package is 1.5 pounds or more (or if you love a lot of spices), you may want to add a few extra shakes of spices to get more complete spice coverage!

Preheating the Air Fryer: I do not preheat my air fryer. I just put the chicken in, turn the air fryer on, and then make sure to use a meat thermometer to check that it’s completely cooked.

Lining the Air Fryer: I also don’t line the air fryer basket with anything. I just put the chicken thighs directly onto the grill grate.

Flipping the Chicken: I also do not flip the chicken thighs halfway through. I’ve tried it, but I like the texture better with just the top being crispy and the underside being a bit juicy. If you think you want both the top and bottom to be crisped up a bit, you can air fry for 8-9 minutes, then flip and cook for another 5 minutes to get both sides a bit crisped.

Category: Dinner
Method: Air Fryer
Cuisine: American

Keywords: air fryer chicken, air fryer chicken thighs, air fryer recipe