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These Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are seasoned to perfection with beautiful crispy skin. Ready in less than 30 minutes!

Have you tried the Air Fryer yet? I have to admit, I resisted it for a LONG time. I have a ton of kitchen gadgets that I hardly use, and my cabinets are packed to the gills! But I kept talking to people that loved their Air Fryer. Regular people, not food bloggers like me that geek out over new kitchen gadgets for a living. My co-workers, neighbors and friends all love their dang air fryers! So, I caved and bought one. I have a few other air fryer recipes in the queue for you that are excellent. But I loved this Air Fryer Chicken Thigh recipe so much that I’m posted it early!

a photo of an air fried chicken thigh

So, what’s great about the air fryer? First, it is SO EASY to use. One you pop something in, it’s hands off. No stirring, no flipping! Second, if you want your food to get crispy without having to deep fry it, this is the absolute best way to get it done.

a photo of air fried chicken thighs in a red basket

The skin on these chicken thighs is crisped to perfection, something that is so hard to achieve by baking. Plus, this Air Fryer Chicken Thigh recipe is easily adapted for keto and low-carb diets!

If you love this recipe, I have more air fryer chicken recipes! try my Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu or Air Fryer Chicken Wings.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Recipe Substitutions and Changes

I think it’s always best to use the ingredients you have on hand! With that in mind, here are a few suggestions for how you can modify this recipe to use what you already have at home.

  • Yes, you can use boneless chicken thighs, but it will reduce the cook time by a few minutes.
  • Use your favorite barbecue sauce. If you don’t have any on hand, try my homemade Apricot BBQ sauce or Pineapple BBQ sauce! If you are following a keto or paleo diet, make sure to find a sauce that meets your dietary needs.
  • If you don’t have Cajun seasoning in the pantry, don’t buy it! You can make your own Cajun seasoning pretty easily! Bonus points if you have smoked paprika on hand for it. Delicious! 
  • Keep it simple by using a simple combination of equal parts of the basic spices salt, black pepper, onion powder and garlic powder for the rub instead of the Cajun seasoning.
a chicken thigh in an air fryer basket

How to Air Fry Chicken Thighs

So, how long should you cook chicken thighs in the air fryer? I cook my bone-in chicken thighs for about 28 minutes total at 380 degrees Fahrenheit. If you want to sauce your chicken thighs, brush the sauce on the thighs at around 25 minutes. Any earlier, and you risk the sauce burning.

Then, cook for three more minutes to complete your cooking. Make sure the juices run clear on your chicken before serving. If you’re not sure they are done, use a meat thermometer to check! Chicken is safe to eat at 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

For boneless skinless chicken thighs, you will need to shave up to 5 minutes off the cook time. I recommend taking the internal temperature of the chicken at the 20-minute mark, then checking every 2-3 minutes to see if it’s done.

a photo of chicken meat in a basket

Serving Suggestions for Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

It is totally possible to make your entire meal in the air fryer if you want to! I recommend pairing this chicken thigh recipe with Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, Air Fryer Carrots or Air Fryer Cookies! 

The flavor of this easy recipe pairs super well with creamy pasta salad, roasted potatoes or hash brown casserole.

I think these chicken thighs are also a great option for high protein meal prep!

Saving Leftover Chicken Thighs

If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the air fryer for a few minutes until warmed through.

I hope that you enjoy these air fried chicken thighs! If you make them, let me know how it went in the comments below.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

4.54 from 65 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 28 minutes
Additional Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 33 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 303kcal
Author: Michelle Goth

Equipment

  • GoWISE USA 1700-Watt 5.8-QT 8-in-1 Digital Air Fryer

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning preferably low sodium
  • 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Pat dry chicken thighs with paper towel. Rub olive oil over the chicken thighs and massage the Cajun seasoning over the chicken thighs.
  • Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray. Place chicken thighs in the air fryer basket skin-side down. Close the air fryer and air fry for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
  • After 25 minutes, brush BBQ sauce over the chicken. Air fry for an additional 3 minutes.
  • After 28 minutes of total cooking time. check that juices run clear. Use an instant read meat thermometer to check the internal temperature is at 165 degrees Fahrenheit before removing.
  • Allow to rest for 5 minutes. Serve warm.

Notes

For extra crispy chicken thighs, mix a teaspoon of baking powder with the seasoning and rub onto the chicken. You can also cook the chicken thighs for a few more minutes to help the skin crisp.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 303kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 180mg | Potassium: 332mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1832IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 2mg
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