Air fryer chicken thighs are a quick and easy dish to make. It only takes 5 minutes to prepare and, thanks to cooking in the air fryer, only 35 minutes to have them ready on the table. They can also be cooked in the oven, in which case increasing the temperature, while the cooking time will extend to the classic 50 minutes.
As you’ll see, the air fryer chicken thighs will be exceptional: inside, thanks to the quick cooking, they will be very tender and juicy, and outside they will have a crispy crust. Finger-licking good! And the best part is that no need to add even a splash of oil! Thanks to the air fryer, the chicken thighs will cook quickly, and their own fat will ensure a perfect cooking, without any need for additional oil. The fat will indeed drip down through the basket holes, resulting in lighter and even tastier chicken thighs. There’s no need to use parchment paper or trays, allowing the fat to drip down and the air cooking to achieve perfect crispiness outside while the meat remains tender and moist inside. Try it to believe it!
To season them, I used some spices, but if you prefer, you can just add a pinch of salt, or choose the spices you like best or the classic roast seasoning.
Also, check out these recipes featuring chicken in the air fryer:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Portions: 4
- Cooking methods: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon dried sage
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon hot paprika
- to taste salt
Tools
- Air Fryer
Steps
In a bowl, place the chicken thighs and add the spices; I used sage, hot paprika, and garlic powder, but you can choose the ones you like best. Add a pinch of salt and mix all the aromas well with the meat.
Transfer the chicken thighs to the air fryer without adding oil and cook at 375°F for about 35 minutes, turning them halfway through cooking. Or you can cook them in the oven, adding a drizzle of oil to the chicken thighs, at 392°F for 50 minutes.
Once ready, they will be juicy and tender inside and crispy on the outside.
Tips for You
✔ To achieve perfect chicken thighs like those from the rotisserie, do not add oil: since the fat already present in the skin, the chicken will cook perfectly without using external oils or fats.
✔ This dish will also be lighter than the one in the oven because the fat contained in the skin will drip away through the basket holes. It is essential to avoid using parchment paper or trays, as the fat needs to drip down.
✔ I recommend using the BBQ mesh to insert directly into the non-stick basket of your air fryer: the mesh protects the non-stick of the basket (which will remain like new) and allows the food to cook evenly, allowing air to circulate 360 degrees. You can find it on Amazon by clicking here.
✔ Alternatively, you can use perforated parchment paper, which allows air to pass from bottom to top. You can find it on Amazon by clicking here: link.
✔ Always check the cooking: the chicken thighs will be ready in 30-35 minutes. It also depends on the size of the meat and the quantity.
✔ You can also cook the chicken thighs in the oven. In this case, besides adding a drizzle of oil, you should increase the temperature to 392°F and cook for about 50 minutes.
✔ For this recipe, I used the air fryer COSORI 4.7, which you can find on Amazon here.
Don’t miss the latest recipe for 👉 cordon bleu of bread with ham and cheese in the air fryer: they are amazing, ready in 10 minutes, crispy on the outside, and gooey and soft inside.
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