• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Everyday Eileen
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Let's Go Shopping
      • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Let's Go Shopping
      • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Lifestyle
    • About
      • Let's Go Shopping
        • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Chicken

    Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe

    Published: Dec 26, 2023 by Eileen Murphy Kelly

    Jump to Recipe
    Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe pinterest pin

    These Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are crispy, juicy, crunchy, and full of flavor. They make for a great quick meal that is light and flavorful.

    Air fryer chicken thighs made in with a dry rub on a white plate.

    Save the Recipe?

    Enter your email below and we'll send the recipe straight to your inbox to view anytime. Plus the bonus of regular recipes to you for inspiration!

    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
    • 🧾 Ingredients
    • 🍲Equipment
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • ❄️ Make ahead, storage, and freezer tips
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Eileen's Tips for Success
    • 📋 Frequently Asked Questions
    • 📋 Variations
    • 🥣 Serving Suggestions
    • 🍽 Similar recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

    • Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are easy to make with just a few simple ingredients.
    • The crispy air fryer chicken thighs are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
    • Air Fryer Thighs are a great meal for weeknights or entertaining.

    🧾 Ingredients

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    • bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs 
    • olive oil or olive oil spray
    • homemade chicken dry rub

    🍲Equipment

    • Cosori 5.8 Quart Air Fryer
    • Measuring Spoons and Cups
    • Instant Read Thermometer

    🔪 Instructions

    This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.

    Air fryer chicken thighs cooked in the air fryer with a chicken rub.
    1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F/204°C. Spray the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
    2. Optional, trim the chicken thighs of any excess fat. Pat them dry with a paper towel. Drizzle olive oil all over the chicken thighs or spray the thighs with olive oil cooking spray.
    3. Then sprinkle the homemade chicken dry rub all over the chicken thighs. Place the seasoned thighs into the prepared air fryer basket.
    4. Cook the chicken thighs, skin side down at 400°F for 10 minutes. Then flip the chicken thighs to cook for another 8 -10 minutes. The chicken is completely cooked when the thighs reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken.
    5. Let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

    ❄️ Make ahead, storage, and freezer tips

    Air fryer chicken thighs should be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in a covered airtight container.

    Reheat in the air fryer at 400°F for 5 minutes or until heated through. You can also reheat them in the microwave, but they may not be as crispy as when you first made them

    Chicken thighs made in the air fryer with a chicken dry rub.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Eileen's Tips for Success

    • The internal temperature of the chicken thighs should reach 165° when ready to eat.
    • Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken.

    📋 Frequently Asked Questions

    How long do I cook chicken thighs in an air fry?

    The cooking time varies depending on the size of your chicken thighs. This recipe is for bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs.
    I air fry them at 400°F for 10 minutes, then flip and cook for another 8-10 minutes.

    Can I make this recipe with boneless, skinless chicken?

    Yes, you can use boneless skinless chicken thighs. However, without the skin-on they will not be as crispy.

    Do I need to preheat my air fryer?

    Yes, it's important to preheat the air fryer before cooking air fryer bone-in chicken thighs. This helps the food cook evenly and prevents it from sticking to the basket.

    📋 Variations

    • Add some vegetables to the air fryer basket along with the chicken for a complete meal.
    • This recipe uses our chicken dry rub but try any of our spice blends for the dry rub to change up the flavor.
    • Use chicken breasts instead, but you will need to reduce the cooking time by a few minutes if you are using thin chicken breasts. And, increase the time if you are using thick chicken breasts.

    🥣 Serving Suggestions

    • Roasted Green Beans are always a delicious side dish.
    • If you are looking for a light and no-cook side dish to pair with this hearty meal, look no further than this Asian Cole Slaw recipe. It's the perfect blend of crunchy, tangy, and fresh.
    • This Roasted Red Potatoes recipe is an easy make-ahead side dish! They reheat easily and are also perfect for feeding a large crowd! I love serving these potatoes with crispy air-fried chicken.
    • We have some amazing side dishes to choose from for a delicious accompaniment to these chicken thighs.

    🍽 Similar recipes

    • One of our most popular recipes is Marinated Chicken Drumsticks. So easy to prepare and they
    • These Baked Chicken Leg Quarters are super crispy, juicy, and oh-so-tender meat. They are perfectly seasoned with a homemade blend of simple pantry spices. They are without a doubt one of our favorite dinners.
    • Air Fryer Stuffed Chicken Breasts is a popular recipe for us. Easy and loaded with flavor.
    • Dry Rub Chicken Wings are seasoned with a savory blend of spices that are not too spicy yet have a zing of heat that is just billowing with flavor. A delicious meal when you don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.
    • Instant Pot Chicken Wings are coated with zesty hot sauce. They are crispy, super juicy, and tender.  These crispy wings are perfect for game days or just a weeknight dinner.
    • Check out all our chicken recipes here.

    I love any comments or questions, please feel free to leave them below.

    Keep up to date with recipes by following me on:

    FACEBOOK  INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, TWITTER

    Thank you for your continued support. I am forever grateful.

    Eileen  xo

    If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.

    If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    📖 Recipe

    Chicken thighs made in the air fryer in the air fryer basket.

    Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

    Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are made with a quick homemade chicken dry rub. This is an easy air fryer recipe and the seasonings can be changed for your personal preference. This is an easy less than 30 minute chicken recipe.
    Print (Email Required) Rate
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: air fryer chicken thighs, air fryer recipe, easy dinner recipe
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    rest time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 79kcal
    Author: Eileen Murphy Kelly

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

    Equipment Needed:

    • As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
    • Cosori 5.8 Quart Air Fryer
    • Measuring Spoons and Cups
    • Instant Read Thermometer

    Ingredients

    • 4 (5-6) ounce bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs Note 1
    • 1 teaspoon olive oil or olive oil spray
    • 1 ½ -2 Tablespoons homemade chicken dry rub add as much seasoning to the chicken as you prefer.

    Save the Recipe?

    Enter your email below and we'll send the recipe straight to your inbox to view anytime. Plus the bonus of regular recipes to you for inspiration!

    Instructions

    • Preheat the air fryer to 400°F/204°C. Spray the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
    • Trim the chicken thighs of any excess fat. Pat them dry with a paper towel. Drizzle olive oil all over the chicken thighs or spray the thighs with olive oil cooking spray.
    • Then sprinkle the homemade chicken dry rub all over the chicken thighs. Place the seasoned thighs into the prepared air fryer basket.
    • Cook the chicken thighs at 400°F for 10 minutes. Then flip the chicken thighs to cook for another 8 -10 minutes. The chicken is completely cooked when the thighs reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken.
    • Let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

    NOTES

    Be sure to check Expert Tips and FAQs above with important tips and questions that can help make a delicious recipe. 
    Note 1: Skinless thighs can be used.
     
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1thigh | Calories: 79kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 24mg | Potassium: 69mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.03g | Vitamin A: 50IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @Everyday_Eileen or tag #everydayeileen!

    More Chicken

    • Chicken birria tacos on a tray.
      Slow Cooker Chicken Birria Tacos
    • A wooden salad bowl with creamy chicken caesar salad pasta recipe.
      Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
    • Mexican chicken salad in rolls topped with jalapeno and sliced limes.
      Mexican Chicken Salad Recipe
    • Chicken broccoli rice in the crockpot.
      Slow Cooker Chicken Broccoli Rice

    Thank you for sharing!

    25 shares
    • Share8
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Shop with me
    • Accessibility

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Everyday Eileen, Eileen Murphy Kelly

    25 shares