Easy Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Juicy chicken thighs with shatteringly crispy skin made effortless in the air fryer. Simple pantry spices, minimal prep, and ready in about 30 minutes.
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Servings:
Calories: 120kcal
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 pound bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.25 teaspoon baking powder helps crisp the skin
- 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional, for heat
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped optional, for garnish
- 1 lemon lemon, cut into wedges for serving
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Pat chicken thighs very dry with paper towels. Trim excess skin if needed.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
- In a small bowl, mix salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and baking powder. Add cayenne if using.
- Toss chicken with olive oil, then sprinkle the spice mix evenly on all sides to coat.
- Arrange thighs in a single layer in the basket, skin side down, leaving space between pieces.
- Air fry at 400°F for 12 minutes. Flip skin side up and cook 10 to 12 minutes more, until the skin is crisp and the thickest part reaches 175°F.
- Rest 5 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
Avoid overcrowding; cook in batches for best crispiness. For boneless, skinless thighs: air fry at 380°F for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway, until 170°F. Seasoning swaps: use smoked paprika, lemon pepper, or your favorite chicken seasoning.
Nutrition
Serving: 200g | Calories: 120kcal | Carbohydrates: 120g | Protein: 120g | Fat: 120g | Saturated Fat: 120g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 120g | Monounsaturated Fat: 120g | Trans Fat: 120g | Cholesterol: 120mg | Sodium: 120mg | Potassium: 120mg | Fiber: 120g | Sugar: 120g | Vitamin A: 120IU | Vitamin C: 120mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 120mg