Chicken thighs are a versatile and flavorful cut of meat that can be cooked in a variety of ways. Air frying is a healthier and more convenient alternative to traditional frying, and it produces crispy, juicy chicken thighs that are perfect for a quick and easy meal. This article provides three delicious and easy-to-follow recipes for air fryer chicken thighs, each with its own unique flavor profile. The first recipe is for classic air fryer chicken thighs, seasoned with a simple blend of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. The second recipe is for buffalo chicken thighs, coated in a spicy buffalo sauce made with cayenne pepper, vinegar, and butter. The third recipe is for honey garlic chicken thighs, glazed with a sweet and savory sauce made with honey, soy sauce, and garlic. All three recipes are simple to prepare and cook quickly in the air fryer, making them a great option for busy weeknights or casual gatherings.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
AIR-FRYER CHICKEN THIGHS
This air-fryer chicken thighs recipe creates meat that is crispy on the outside but super juicy on the inside. The paprika and garlic seasoning blend comes through beautifully. -Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 20m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat air-fryer to 375°. Brush chicken with oil. Combine remaining ingredients; sprinkle over chicken. Place chicken, skin side up, in a single layer on tray in air-fryer basket. Cook until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 170°-175°, 15-17 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 255 calories, Fat 18g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 81mg cholesterol, Sodium 511mg sodium, Carbohydrate 0 carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 23g protein.
AIR FRYER BACON-WRAPPED CHICKEN THIGHS
Dinner doesn't get any more simpler than this main course! It uses basic ingredients most will already have.
Provided by thedailygourmet
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Pork
Time 2h35m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Combine softened butter, garlic, thyme, basil, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Place butter on a piece of wax paper and roll up rightly to form a butter log. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
- Lay one bacon strip flat on a piece of wax paper. Place chicken thigh on top of the bacon and sprinkle with garlic. Open up the chicken thigh. Place 1-2 tsp of the cold finishing butter in the middle of the chicken thigh. Tuck one end of bacon into the middle of the chicken thigh. Fold over the chicken thigh and roll the bacon around the chicken thigh. Repeat with remaining thighs and bacon.
- Preheat an air fryer to 370 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Place chicken thighs in the basket of the air fryer and cook until chicken is no longer pink and the juices run clear, about 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 453.2 calories, Carbohydrate 1 g, Cholesterol 150 mg, Fat 34.3 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 33.4 g, SaturatedFat 13.9 g, Sodium 440.8 mg
CRISPY AIR FRYER CHICKEN THIGHS
Juicy, tender dark-meat chicken with the crispiest skin in less than twenty minutes-who could ask for anything more? Serve these lightly seasoned chicken thighs as is, or toss them while still hot with your favorite barbecue or buffalo sauce to give this quick and easy anytime meal an extra kick.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 35m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Mix together the granulated garlic, onion powder, thyme, paprika, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Pat the chicken dry and add to a medium bowl. Add the olive oil and half of the spice mix, then toss to combine.
- Add the flour to the remaining spice mix and stir to combine. Transfer the flour mixture to a large resealable bag. Add the seasoned thighs to the bag, seal well and toss until the chicken is fully coated in the flour.
- Preheat a 3.5-quart air fryer to 400 degrees F. Add the chicken thighs to the air fryer basket, skin-side down and without touching. Cook, flipping skin-side up halfway through, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part (avoiding the bone) reads 165 degrees F, about 18 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
AIR FRYER CHICKEN THIGHS
Cooking chicken thighs in an air fryer is a speedy way to achieve succulent meat with a delicious crispy skin. A spicy coating makes the perfect finishing touch
Provided by Samuel Goldsmith
Categories Dinner
Time 27m
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Combine the paprika in a bowl with the herbs and garlic granules, if using, together with ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp ground black pepper. Scatter onto a plate. Rub the chicken thighs with the oil, then coat in the spice mix.
- Put in the basket of your air fryer and cook, skin-side down, for 10 mins at 180C. Turn over and cook for a further 10-15 mins until cooked through and the skin is crispy. To check they are cooked, pierce the thickest part of the thigh with a knife to see if the juices run clear. Remove from the air fryer immediately to stop the skin from softening.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 88 calories, Fat 5 grams fat, SaturatedFat 1 grams saturated fat, Fiber 0.3 grams fiber, Protein 11 grams protein, Sodium 0.7 milligram of sodium
AIR-FRIED BREADED CHICKEN THIGHS
Wonderfully crisp and juicy air-fried chicken thighs. These won't get crispy all the way around on the bottom, but it's an easy oil-free way to get that crunch on top with just a few steps. Let the air fryer do all the work!
Provided by Rebekah Rose Hills
Time 1h40m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Place chicken thighs and buttermilk in a non-reactive container with a lid or a resealable plastic bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- Remove chicken from the refrigerator. Pour off buttermilk and let chicken rest on the counter while preparing the breading mixture.
- Combine flour, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, paprika, garlic powder, salt, onion powder, and black pepper in a large, shallow bowl or pie plate; whisk or stir with a fork until evenly combined.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 to 380 degrees F (190 to 195 degrees C). Spray air fryer basket lightly with nonstick spray.
- Once air fryer is hot, press chicken thighs, 1 at a time, into the breading mixture and make sure breading sticks onto all sides as much as possible. Gently set into the air fryer basket. Repeat until all thighs are breaded and in the basket. Do not stack them on top of each other.
- Set air fryer for 25 minutes. When the time is up check temperature with an instant-read thermometer. Internal temperature should be 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). If they aren't quite done but the breading is getting dark, just close the basket again and let them rest, or you can turn the air fryer on again for a few minutes and check again. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 849.7 calories, Carbohydrate 14.9 g, Cholesterol 288.8 mg, Fat 49.1 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 81.5 g, SaturatedFat 14.1 g, Sodium 990.6 mg, Sugar 3.7 g
Tips:
- Choose the right chicken thighs: Look for bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for the best flavor and texture.
- Pat the chicken thighs dry: This will help the skin crisp up.
- Season the chicken thighs liberally: Use a flavorful blend of herbs and spices to taste, such as paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Preheat the air fryer: This will help the chicken thighs cook evenly.
- Cook the chicken thighs in a single layer: This will ensure that they cook evenly and don't steam.
- Flip the chicken thighs halfway through cooking: This will help them brown evenly.
- Cook the chicken thighs until they are cooked through: The internal temperature should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Let the chicken thighs rest before serving: This will help the juices redistribute and make the chicken more tender.
Conclusion:
Air fryer chicken thighs are a delicious and healthy way to enjoy this versatile cut of chicken. They are easy to make and can be seasoned with a variety of flavors to suit your taste. Whether you are new to air frying or a seasoned pro, these tips will help you make the best air fryer chicken thighs every time.
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