If I could only make one thing in the Airfryer, I’d still buy one
Of all the meals I have in my air fryer, and the list is long and growing by the day, chicken thighs are safely at number 1, and no recipe threatens to dethrone them. I make a version of this air fryer chicken thigh recipe at least twice a week, often more.
It often serves as a quick, low-carb lunch when sliced and tossed into a salad. Many nights I make it into a more elevated meal, served with rice, noodles or potatoes and some vegetables.
Air fryer chicken thighs are not only easy, they also come out perfect every time. And with a plethora of interesting spices and sauces to jazz them up — I often make them blackened, with curry, or a gochujang sauce — the variations are endless.
Why Chicken Thighs Are the Perfect Air Fryer Dish
Chicken thighs are the perfect dish for the air fryer.
Chicken thigh meat has a higher fat content than breast, so the chances of your chicken thighs drying out when cooking them in an air fryer are very slim — even if you accidentally leave them in for too long. That makes them the perfect candidate for cooking in a piping hot air fryer.
If the only recipe I was allowed to make in my air fryer was chicken thighs, I would still buy one and give it space on my countertop. That’s how much I love boneless, skinless air fryer chicken thighs and how often they make it into my weekly meal routine.
And like many of my favorite air fryer recipes, there’s almost no mess to clean up. Air fryers typically have non-stick baskets that you can clean with a few wipes and hot, soapy water.
Even this small 2-liter air fryer has room for four to five chicken thighs.
How to make perfect air fryer chicken thighs in 15 minutes
- Step 1Preheat the air fryer to 220 degrees Celsius.
- Step 2: Mix the package of chicken thighs with the spice mixture or simply with salt and pepper
- Step 3: Bake the chicken thighs for 15 minutes, turning them after 8 minutes (bake them longer if you want them crispier)
- Step 4: Let cool and serve on a salad or with rice and vegetables.
It’s virtually impossible to ruin chicken thighs in the air fryer.
Do you need oil when baking chicken thighs in the Airfryer?
You don’t need oil when frying chicken thighs in the air fryer, but a little won’t hurt.
I have tried cooking airfryer chicken thighs with and without oil and they both turned out great. There is enough fat in the thighs to cook without oil. And if you are using a sauce, there is really no need to put oil on them.
If you plan to add cooking oil, don’t use too much. About a teaspoon for every four thighs should be enough.
Do I need to bread chicken thighs before cooking them in the air fryer?
Chicken breast breaded in the air fryer tastes better, but the thighs have too much fat to do without.
Yes, I do, and it’s great for adding texture to this simple recipe. A quick coating of egg wash and breadcrumbs gives air fryer chicken thighs a divine crunch, but it also adds a few extra carbs and calories. It also makes for more dishes and a messier air fryer basket, so I often make do without it. Use this method when making air fryer chicken parmesan or for a quick fried chicken sandwich.
If you are cooking boneless chicken breast in the air fryer, I recommend breading it to prevent the lean meat from drying out.
For more information, here is a complete guide to air fryers And seven things I will never cook in the air fryer again.
