These Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside! With a simple seasoning, they are prepped and cook quickly!
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It’s no secret by now that the air fryer is one of my favorite ways to cook chicken!
After making these Air Fryer Chicken Breasts (the juiciest chicken we’ve ever eaten!) and these Air Fryer Chicken Wings, I knew it was time to throw some chicken thighs in there.
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are so juicy and flavorful, and they cook so quickly that they have become a regular recipe in our rotation.
I like to throw a second batch in the air fryer while we are eating so we have lots of leftovers for quick meals through the week!
How to make Air Fryer Chicken Thighs:
- Choose your chicken thighs: see my tips below for boneless or bone in thighs!
- Preheat your air fryer: this ensures that your chicken cooks quickly and evenly.
- Stir together your seasoning while the air fryer preheats, or choose a favorite spice blend if you’re short on time
- Toss chicken with oil and season well — this ensures a crispy, flavorful exterior!
- Cook! Some people flip their chicken half way through cooking in the air fryer, but I haven’t ever found a need as my air fryer cooks pretty evenly. You can check yours at the 7 minute mark and adjust as necessary.
Bone in or boneless chicken thighs?
Chicken thighs are inexpensive, delicious and easy to cook. They are made of dark meat, so they are extra juicy!
I used boneless chicken thighs for this recipe, though we love bone in chicken thighs in the air fryer, too!
If you choose bone in chicken thighs, you can use the same seasoning and method, but your cook time will be longer, so be sure to use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
How do I store leftover chicken?
Store cooked chicken thighs in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Leftover chicken is great for meal prepping and quick lunches!
Chop up leftover chicken and use it in this classic Chicken Noodle Soup or this Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings!
Can I reheat chicken thighs in the air fryer?
Yes! Add ¼ water to the bottom of air fryer basket. Place refrigerated chicken in basket and cook for 7-10 minutes at 350 degrees.
We also like to make stir fry, casseroles or creamy pasta dishes with it!
What sides would go well with Air Fryer Chicken Thighs?
The options are almost endless! Here are a few of our favorites:
- Broccoli Salad – a family favorite
- Air Fryer Baked Potatoes – so crispy!
- Crockpot Mac and Cheese (soooo creamy!)
- Roasted Potatoes and Carrots – made with garlic butter!
Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 4 boneless chicken thighs
- 2 Tablespoons canola oil
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black ground pepper
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Pat chicken dry with paper towel then drizzle with oil and toss to coat.
- Combine brown sugar and seasonings in a small bowl. Rub over chicken thighs.
- Coat basket with non-aerosol cooking spray then place thighs in air fryer basket and cook for 12-14 minutes, flipping half way if desired, until an internal temperature of 165 degrees F is reached.
Nutrition Information
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Brian S says
Excellent. Great flavor and done fast. I laid them out flat and they were done in 9 minutes in my Cosori air fryer.
Brian S says
BTW – no need to coat the air fryer basket. The oil on the thighs keeps them form sticking.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks for sharing Brian!
Prrla says
For someone that never cooks, I am so glad I tried this recipe because it showed me I can make amazing food! Such a simple recipe for awesome complex flavors!
Greg Stuart says
We just purchased a new air fryer, and this was the first recipe we tried! Delicious! We added the Big Burger Sauce seasoning from Epicure, and it was DYNAMITE. Thanks for a first time experience that was superb.
Ashley Fehr says
Awesome! I’m so glad!
Jennifer Olin says
This chicken is AMAZING!! So flavorful and a great for a quick weeknight meal. This is definitely a keeper and I’ve already sent the recipe to several friends.
Ashley Fehr says
I’m so glad you liked it!
Donna Murray says
This chicken recipe is absolutely delicious! I’m new to air-frying and found you online because I really wasn’t sure what to do. The rub is so flavourful! The only thing I do differently is use less oil. I use an oil sprayer and just spritz a little on so the rub will stick. Probably the equivalent of a teaspoon. Thanks for a great recipe! I look forward to trying more of yours!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Donna! I’m so glad you liked it!
Lisa says
Excellent! Ended up putting them on the grill instead and they turned out perfect. The rub is the secret sauce!
The Recipe Rebel says
Great to hear, thank you Lisa!
Linda says
This chicken is excellent, my husband and I both loved it!!
The Recipe Rebel says
Thank you Linda!
Diane says
Wow! I loved this recipe. Doing keto and needed a quick and easy recipe. I did 5 thighs and needed to double the rub. Very flavorful and I will definitely make this again. Thanks for posting.
The Recipe Rebel says
Glad to hear you enjoyed it, Diane!
Shannon says
I was looking for an easy, flavorful recipe for my boneless thighs and this was it!! I cook these up for my workday chicken salad sandwiches. These came out delicious and moist! Thank you. 😊
The Recipe Rebel says
Thank you Shannon!
HNT says
Delicious! The seasoning was great. I doubled it just in case. I will check my chicken at 10 minutes next time, but I think my air fryer runs hot. Great recipe! Thanks!!
The Recipe Rebel says
THank you!
Dawn says
Great flavor, pairs well with other side will definitely make again!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Dawn! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Jay says
Wow!! This was incredible! Will be my go to boneless skinless thigh recipe from now on 🏆⭐️
The Recipe Rebel says
Great to hear! Thank you Jay!
Sharon Pauley says
I find it so frustrating when the temps are only given in Fahrenheit . Not everyone runs in this old measure.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Sharon! Google is a great source when trying to covert from F to C. Hope this helps!
M says
Lololololol. This amused me a lot.
Carrie says
Google can easily convert. 204.444C
SharonW says
Look for a British recipe page. Lol
Jeff says
How much water is 1/4 LOL there’s a mistake in the paragraph that talks about reheating chicken thighs it only says 1/4 water LOL kind of funny
Jim says
I tried this tonite, loved it and the rest of the house said it was great.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Jim! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Pandora says
The best air fryer chicken thighs I’ve ever made – the key ingredient is the brown sugar, as I have made thighs with just the other seasonings before, but adding the brown sugar is what gives it a crispy carmelization. SO delicious!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Pandora! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Kathleen Taylor says
I just tried it last night. I doubled the recipe and it was delicious. Have given the recipe to several of my friends and family. This will be my go to for chicken now. Thank you.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Kathleen! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Sherry says
My husband’s favorite, have made many times and just finished eating it tonight. Delicious as always! Thanks for a great, easy recipe!!
Nancy says
I tripled the recipe for 6 boneless chicken thighs. It was delicious.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Nancy! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for the review!
Ali says
First time trying chicken thighs in the air fryer and they turned out perfectly. Super juicy and flavorful. Entire family loved them. Adding this to my go-to recipe list. Thank you!!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Ali! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for the review!
Pam says
This was my first time making chicken in the air fryer and it was a hit! Very juicy and flavourful. Thank you!!
The Recipe Rebel says
Great to hear! Thank you Pam!