Air Fryer Chicken Thighs - SUPER CRISPY and JUICY!

Four crispy and juicy chicken thighs cooked in the air fryer.

5 from 141 votes

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs - SUPER CRISPY and JUICY!

These fool-proof Air Fryer Chicken Thighs come out perfectly crispy and juicy in the air fryer every time! My SECRET ingredient (a touch of baking powder rubbed onto the skin) gives these bone-in chicken thighs an ultra crispy skin while the dry brining and seasoning keeps the meat so juicy!

Prep Time15

Cook Time25

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Author: Chris Joe

Equipment

1 Air Fryer

Ingredients

3 lbs bone in chicken thighs
1 tsp kosher salt divided
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp dried herbs rosemary, thyme or herbs de province
¼ tsp baking powder
1 tablespoon neutral oil avocado, canola, or vegetable oil work well

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl or tray, place chicken thighs meat side up. Sprinkle salt on the meat side of the chicken thighs and let sit for 15 minutes.
Combine all spices in a small bowl. Pour the spice mixture over the chicken thighs along with the oil in a bowl and mix to combine well. Once combined, turn the thighs skin side up and sprinkle a pinch of baking powder onto the skin and rub it in until the baking powder is no longer visible.
Place skin side down in the air fryer tray and air fry at 400F for 12 minutes. Flip each chicken thigh so skin side is up. Pat the skin dry with a paper towel. Air fry again for 12-14 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and skin is golden crispy.

Notes

Depending on your air fryer, cooking times may vary. If the chicken is not as crispy as you'd like after the 14 minute mark in step in step 3, increase the cooking time for intervals of 3 minutes until the desired crispiness is achieved. Thankfully, chicken thighs are very forgiving when cooking, so they will still be juicy even with the extra time!

For boneless chicken thighs, reduce the time on the first side to 6 minutes on the first side, and 8-10 minutes on the second side.

Baking powder - don't skip this step! It's a foolproof way to get ultra crispy skin. Ensure the baking powder is rubbed only on the skin until it's no longer visible!

Prepare Ahead, Storage, and Reheating Tips

If you're want to prepare Air Fryer Chicken Thighs ahead of time:

- Season the raw chicken (steps 1-2) and cover in the refrigerator until ready to cook. NOTE: I would only do this 1-2 days in advance.

- Once ready to cook, resume step 3.

Storage once the Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are already cooked:

- Refrigerate cooked Air Fryer Chicken Thighs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. NOTE: the skin will not remain crispy once refrigerated.

- Freeze cooked Air Fryer Chicken Thighs in an airtight container for up to 1 month. When ready to reheat, first thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

To reheat, place the cold chicken thighs skin side up in the air fryer and reheat at 350F for 6-8 minutes until the skin becomes crispy and meat is warmed through.

Nutrition