Crispy air fryer chicken thighs have become our favorite ‘quick dinner’ main dish: they are prepared in minutes, require no oil, and are incredibly flavorful and juicy. Last night, without any ideas for dinner but craving something delicious, I seasoned some simple chicken thighs with salt, pepper, and thyme, massaged them well, and placed them directly into the air fryer basket. In half an hour, we had a dish that made both my daughter and husband happy: tender inside and super crispy outside, just like the ones from the rotisserie.
The airfryer cooking is perfect for this type of recipe: the chicken skin crisps evenly thanks to the hot air circulating all around, while the inside remains juicy as it cooks quickly at high temperature, using only the natural fat of the meat. A light main dish, with no added fats, but full of flavor.
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can also cook them in a traditional oven, increasing the temperature to 428°F to achieve the same crispiness. Serve with sautéed vegetables or a fresh salad: they will become one of your favorite dishes for a quick, healthy, and truly irresistible dinner.
Before moving on to the recipe, here are more air fryer ideas:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very cheap
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Portions: 2 people
- Cooking methods: Oven, Electric Oven, Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
- Energy 836.52 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 0.88 (g) of which sugars 0.01 (g)
- Proteins 74.11 (g)
- Fat 59.55 (g) of which saturated 0.02 (g)of which unsaturated 0.02 (g)
- Fibers 0.39 (g)
- Sodium 1,464.78 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 350 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs, with skin, raw
- salt
- pepper
- thyme
Tools
- 1 Air fryer
Steps
Season the chicken thighs with salt, pepper, and thyme.
Massage them well with your hands to distribute the seasonings evenly.
No oil and no added fats: the natural fat from the skin will be sufficient for perfect cooking.
Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket with the skin facing down.
Cook at 392°F for about 35 minutes.
Midway through cooking (or when 15 minutes are left), turn them over so the skin is up and can become nicely golden and crispy.
NOTES
Air fryer chicken thighs are a simple but truly satisfying main dish, perfect even when time is short. You can customize them as you like by adding some different seasonings, such as sweet paprika, rosemary, or garlic powder, for an even more inviting aroma. The beauty of this recipe is that it remains light because it requires no added fat: the chicken cooks in its natural juices, staying tender inside and crispy outside. Serve them with a vegetable side or a fresh salad for a complete, tasty dinner made with zero effort.
If you liked the recipe or have any questions, feel free to comment here or on social media Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and X
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Can I use skinless thighs?
Yes, but the result will be less crispy: the skin helps to keep the meat juicy and creates that irresistible crust. If you use skinless thighs, slightly reduce the cooking time to avoid them drying out.
Can they also be cooked in a traditional oven?
Of course! Place the thighs on a rack and cook at 428°F until they become golden. Times may vary slightly, so check the cooking in the last minutes.
