Description
Crispy air fryer chicken thighs elevate weeknight dinners with golden, juicy perfection. Seasoned simply and cooked to crisp, tender brilliance, you’ll savor restaurant-quality chicken without extra grease or complicated techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
Herbs and Spices:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Cooking Oils:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Meticulously dry chicken thighs using clean kitchen towels to eliminate excess moisture, promoting optimal crispiness.
- Massage olive oil across entire surface of chicken thighs, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Create a robust seasoning blend by generously sprinkling garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and freshly cracked black pepper over each thigh.
- Arrange chicken thighs in air fryer basket with skin facing upward, maintaining adequate spacing between pieces for consistent heat circulation.
- Program air fryer to 400F (200C) and cook for approximately 22 minutes, rotating chicken midway through cooking process to guarantee uniform browning.
- Verify doneness by checking internal temperature reaches 165F (74C) using reliable meat thermometer, focusing on thickest portion of meat.
- Remove chicken from air fryer and allow to rest for 3-4 minutes, permitting juices to redistribute and ensuring maximum tenderness before serving.
Notes
- Ensure chicken thighs are completely dry to achieve maximum crispiness and golden-brown skin.
- Experiment with different spice blends like Cajun, Mediterranean, or herb mixtures to customize flavor profiles.
- Use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for richer taste and juicier meat compared to boneless varieties.
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to allow proper air circulation and even cooking of chicken thighs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 365
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 415 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg