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Air Fryer Chicken Thighs – Budget Bytes

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I’ll be sincere, I wasn’t fully offered on air fryers UNTIL I made these air fryer hen thighs. Once I let you know that these hen thighs are essentially the most juicy hen thighs I’ve ever had in my life, I wouldn’t be exaggerating. Add to {that a} deliciously crispy pores and skin and the truth that they cook dinner in about half the time as within the oven, and I’m SOLD. Air fryer hen thighs are my new straightforward dinner go-to.

Close up side view of air fryer chicken thighs on a plate.

Why Cook dinner Rooster in An Air Fryer?

Should you haven’t hopped on the air fryer practice but, let me clarify what makes this little machine particular. Air fryers are mini convection ovens that cook dinner utilizing quickly circulating scorching hair. This fixed move of scorching air will increase evaporation and offers meals a deliciously crispy exterior whereas cooking quick sufficient that the inside doesn’t dry out. And that, my buddies, is precisely what you might want to create tremendous juicy hen thighs!

What sort of Air Fryer to Use

You may cook dinner hen thighs in just about any kind of air fryer. You’ll simply have to ensure that the air fryer basket is giant sufficient to cook dinner the variety of hen thighs you’d wish to make. We cooked 4 giant hen thighs in a 5-quart Air Fryer. The hen thighs ought to have sufficient room round them for air to move freely, protecting in thoughts that they may shrink some as they cook dinner.

Close up of an air fryer chicken thigh cut open and pierced with a fork.

Components for Air Fryer Rooster Thighs

Air fryer hen thighs couldn’t be extra easy. You solely want just a few components and you’ll swap out the seasonings to fit your temper. Right here’s what you’ll want for these air fryer hen thighs:

  • Bone-in skin-on hen thighs: utilizing bone-in thighs will create the juiciest most flavorful thighs. Boneless hen thighs will cook dinner a lot quicker however can be much less juicy. Skinless hen will are inclined to dry out quicker and never have that good crispy exterior.
  • Seasonings: You should utilize any seasoning combine you’d like, however at the moment we used a easy mixture of smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, salt, and pepper.
  • Cornstarch: This helps the pores and skin get additional good and crispy!
  • Cooking oil: Just a bit bit goes a good distance with the air fryer! The oil helps the seasoning coat the hen evenly and helps create that crispy pores and skin.

If you wish to change up the flavour of your air fryer hen thighs, attempt utilizing a few of these different seasoning blends:

What to Serve with Air Fryer Rooster Thighs

Since air fryer hen thighs are such a quick and simple dinner staple, I counsel protecting the aspect dishes straightforward as effectively. You’ll need to serve the hen thighs with one thing which you can put together within the period of time that it takes the hen thighs to cook dinner within the air fryer, so I’d serve them with one thing like three bean salad, mushroom rice, homemade mac and cheese, a simple side salad, or steamed green beans.

Overhead view of air fryer chicken thighs on the plate.

Air Fryer Rooster Thighs

Air fryer hen thighs are tremendous juicy with additional crispy pores and skin, and so they solely take about 20 minutes to cook dinner to perfection!

close up side view of air fryer chicken thighs on the plate.

  • 1 Tbsp cornstarch ($0.03)
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika ($0.10)
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder ($0.05)
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder ($0.02)
  • 1/4 tsp dried oregano ($0.03)
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper ($0.02)
  • 1/2 tsp salt ($0.02)
  • 1/4 tsp Freshly cracked pepper ($0.02)
  • 4 bone-in, skin-on hen thighs (about 2.25 lbs.) ($6.53)
  • 1 Tbsp cooking oil ($0.04)
  • In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cayenne, salt, and pepper.

  • Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF. Pat the hen thighs dry with a paper towel.

  • Place the hen thighs in a bowl and drizzle the cooking oil over prime, then add the cornstarch and seasoning combination. Toss the hen thighs till they’re effectively coated in oil and spices.

  • Place the hen thighs within the air fryer basket, pores and skin aspect up, and cook dinner for 10 minutes. Flip the hen thighs and cook dinner for 8 minutes extra.

  • Flip one final time so the pores and skin aspect is up and cook dinner for 2 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to nake positive the inner temperature has reached 165ºF, and if not, cook dinner for 1-2 minutes longer. Serve the hen thighs scorching along with your favourite easy sides!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.



Serving: 1thighEnergy: 601kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 42gFats: 46gSodium: 488mgFiber: 0.3g

Learn our full nutrition disclaimer here.

Easy methods to Make Air Fryer Rooster Thighs – Step by Step Images

Seasoning mix in a bowl.

Mix the seasonings and cornstarch in a bowl. The seasoning combine we used at the moment was 1 tsp smoked paprika, ½ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp onion powder, ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper, ¼ tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper, and 1 Tbsp cornstarch.

Chicken thighs being patted dry with paper towel.

Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF. Pat 4 (about 2.25 lbs. whole) bone-in, skin-on hen thighs dry with a paper towel.

Seasoned chicken thighs in a bowl.

Add the hen thighs to a bowl and drizzle with 1 Tbsp cooking oil, then sprinkle the seasoning combine over prime. Toss the hen thighs till they’re evenly coated in oil and spices.

Chicken thighs in the air fryer, skin side up.

Place the hen thighs within the air fryer basket, pores and skin aspect up, ensuring there’s a minimum of just a little room round every for the air to flow into. The hen thighs will shrink a bit as they cook dinner, too, permitting for extra air move.

Cooked chicken thighs in the air fryer basket.

Cook dinner the hen thighs for 10 minutes, then flip and cook dinner for about 8 minutes extra. I wish to flip them one final time and cook dinner with the pores and skin aspect up for the ultimate two minutes to ensure that pores and skin is additional crispy! Be sure that to check the hen with a meat thermometer to ensure the inner temperature reaches 165ºF.

Finished air fryer chicken thighs on a plate.

Serve these juicy air fryer hen thighs and all of their crispy pores and skin goodness along with your favourite sides!

close up side view of air fryer chicken thighs on the plate.

Significantly, the juiciest hen EVER. 🤤



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