Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Looking for a crispy chicken thigh recipe that doesn’t require hours of baking in the oven? Look no further than your air fryer!

These chicken thighs come out nice and crunchy, thanks to the hot air around them. You can serve them with your favorite dipping sauce or simply enjoy them.

Best of all, this recipe is super easy to follow In under 25 minutes! So go ahead and give it a try today. Your taste buds will thank you.

How to make Air Fryer Chicken Thighs recipe:

Step 1-Preparing the Chicken:

For this recipe, you’ll need four bones in the skin on chicken thighs. Before you get started, you want to pat them dry with a paper towel.

Just pat it as best as you can. The top, the sides, the bottom, the whole thing. Because the less moisture in the air fryer, the better the food will crisp up.

So think about it this way. If there’s more moisture, it creates a steamy kind of setting.

And that’s going to take away from that crispiness. It’s going to be kind of soggy it’s not going to be good. So try to pat it dry as best as you can.

Place your chicken thighs into a medium-sized bowl and drizzle one tablespoon of olive oil.

Then grab some tongs and just start tossing all that chicken together until it’s evenly coated in that oil, and then set it aside.

And now we can get started on the spice mixture.

Step 2-The Seasoning:

In a small bowl, you want to add 1 teaspoon of salt, 2 teaspoons of paprika, 3 teaspoons of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 1 teaspoon of brown sugar.

Now use a fork to mix everything until it’s all evenly combined.

Step 3-Marinating the Chicken:

And then, sprinkle that seasoning mixture right over the chicken.

Then grab your tongs and mix everything until the chicken is fully coated in that delicious seasoning.

Now you can cook the chicken right away. Or, if you want it to taste extra delicious, you can go ahead and cover it with some plastic wrap and then pop it in the fridge overnight.

And it’s going just to bring out more flavor. That meat marinated in that spice mixture will be extra good.

So if you want to go the extra mile, I recommend it, but you don’t have to.

Step 4-Cooking in the Air Fryer

Before you cook the chicken, you want to preheat your air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit for about three minutes.

Once it’s preheated, you want to place the chicken inside, skin side down first. And then you want to Cook it for ten minutes.

And then you want to open it up, flip it over, and cook for another eight minutes.

And if you’re ever unsure if your chicken is fully cooked, the best way to check is by inserting a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the meat.

And it should read at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Once your chicken is all done, you want to serve it with mashed potatoes and some veggies on the side and enjoy.

I NEED TO MAKE MORE CHICKEN; SHOULD I DOUBLE THE MARINADE?

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are one of my family’s favorite weeknight meals.

They’re quick, easy to make, and always juicy and flavorful.

The only downside is that I can never seem to make enough! If I’m doubling the recipe, should I also double the marinade?

The answer depends on how much chicken you’re making. You’ll probably need to double the marinade if doubling the recipe.

However, if you’re only making a few extra chicken thighs, you might be able to get away with using the same amount of marinade.

Be sure to coat the chicken thoroughly and give it plenty of time to absorb the flavor.

With a little trial and error, you’ll find the perfect marinade-to-chicken ratio for your family’s taste buds.

CAN I COOK FROZEN CHICKEN THIGHS IN MY NINJA AIR FRYER:

Yes, you can. I will show you how to make frozen chicken thighs in the Ninja air fryer or any other brand. It’s so easy and only takes about 20 minutes!

First, preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

You can even add a little bit of seasoning to the chicken before cooking if you like

Then, place the frozen chicken thighs in the basket. Make sure they are not touching each other so that they cook evenly.

Cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

What to serve with chicken thighs?

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are a healthy and delicious option for a quick weeknight meal.

Serve them with a simple salad of mixed greens and cherry tomatoes, or pair them with roasted Brussels sprouts and roasted sweet potatoes for a more hearty meal.

Try serving Air Fryer Chicken Thighs with honey-glazed carrots for a bit of sweetness.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are sure to be a hit whatever side dishes you choose!

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Nutrition:

Chicken thighs are widespread among many people because they are so versatile.

They can be used in various dishes, from stir-fries and soups to salads and sandwiches.

You can even use them as an alternative to ground chicken when making meatballs or burgers.

One of the main reasons that chicken thighs are so appealing is that they are low in fat while offering plenty of protein.

They are also a great source of zinc, essential for maintaining healthy immune function.

Chicken thighs also tend to be higher in iron than other types of chicken, making them a great choice if you want to increase your intake of this vital mineral.

Conclusion:

Now you know just how easy this chicken recipe is. This has become my go-to method for making chicken thighs. It is so simple, quick, and not nearly as messy as cooking on the cooktop, and it’s incredibly delicious.

And the best part about this recipe is that it uses such simple ingredients that you can just go wild with the variations.

You can make it spicier by adding cayenne or sweeten it up a little more with some extra brown sugar, or even smothering on some barbecue sauce.

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