Air Fryer Chicken Thighs (Bone-in)

Why we love this air fryer chicken thighs?

Bone-in and skin-on chicken is a wonderfully versatile (and budget-friendly!) protein that's easy to turn into a satisfying main dish. Today we are sharing our no-fail air fryer chicken thighs recipe. Fast, easy, and foolproof... This is sure to be your favorite way to make crisp and juicy thighs every time!

The star is a flavorful marinade made with a combination of basic pantry staples like lemon juice, brown sugar, and dried spices. The blend of rosemary, thyme, spicy cayenne, sweet sugar, and tangy citrus is pure heaven! That being said, you certainly can switch things up with your seasonings of choice.

Whatever spices you choose, there is no actual marinating time here and cleanup is a breeze. Just whip up the marinade in one bowl and coat the chicken pieces right before air frying. The juicy thighs are ready to serve in under 30 minutes, but taste like they have marinated for hours!

Serve perfectly seasoned chicken thighs as part of a healthy meal with rice and veggies, or any favorite side dishes. My recipe is even great to double up and make for a large crowd, or to use for meal preps!

*Here are more quick and easy dinner recipes for you to try:

• Methi Chicken (Fenugreek Chicken Curry)
• Creamy Avocado Pasta with Chicken
• Air Fryer Salmon Bites
• Homemade Chicken Fried Rice
• Air Fryer Salmon Steaks
• Best Tandoori Chicken

• Chicken Thighs: Bone-in and skin-on thighs are the most moist and delicious. And who can resist crispy skin?
• Dried Rosemary and Thyme: This combination is earthy and fragrant.
• Other Spices: Here I use a savory and smoky blend of garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Keep reading for suggestions for other seasoning blends!
• Brown Sugar: The sweetness helps to balance the earthy savoriness of the spices. Also, it caramelizes the chicken skin to crispy perfection in the air fryer.
• Lemon Juice: The bright and tangy acid brings together the spices, sugar, and olive oil to make a smooth marinade.
• Olive Oil: This is foundation of the easy air fryer chicken thighs marinade. Use a high-quality oil for the best taste.
• Plus fresh chopped parsley to garnish, if you like.

How to cook chicken thighs in air fryer?

1. Preheat the air fryer to 400℉ (200℃). Pat dry 4 skin-on bone-in chicken thighs with paper towels and set it aside.

3. Prepare seasoning - add

• 4 large Bone-in Skin-on Chicken Thighs
• ¾ teaspoon Dried Rosemary 
• ¾ teaspoon Dried Thyme
• 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 2 teaspoons Paprika (or smoked paprika)
• ¼ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
• 1 teaspoon Brown Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• ½ teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper

in a bowl or a plate and mix.

4. Add 4 tablespoons lemon juice and 2 tablespoons olive oil to seasoning and mix to make a marinade like paste.

5. Now, place chicken thighs to the seasoning mix and combine to coat well.

Expert Tips

• Pat the chicken dry with a clean towel. You want to remove all excess moisture before cooking chicken thighs in air fryer. This will help the marinade stick to the meat and make the crispiest skin.
• Use equal sized thighs. This makes sure that they will cook evenly.
• Do not overcrowd the basket. Each thigh needs plenty of room to get the crispiest skin.
• Flip halfway. Use tongs to flip the bone-in chicken thighs so they cook evenly all the way through.
• Rest before serving. Set the thighs to the side and let them rest for about 5 minutes after air frying. Do not cut into the chicken while it rests! This allows the juices to settle back into the meat, and keeps the thighs moist.

Seasoning variations

It's easy to change up the flavors of air fried chicken thighs! You can swap the seasonings here with any number of spice blends. If you choose to switch things up, replace all spices listed in the recipe card (except for salt an pepper, which are to taste) with 2 tablespoons of your favorite seasoning blends.

Also, feel free to omit the brown sugar. However, you will need to use the lemon juice to create the smooth marinade.

Here are a few suggestions for different types of seasonings you can use:

• Mediterranean: Greek or Italian spice blend are delicious with the bright lemon juice.
• Tex Mex: Use a store bought taco seasoning blend, or your favorite combination of spices like cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.
• Cajun: Use a traditional Cajun (very spicy), blackening (medium spicy), or Creole (mildly spicy, but still with kick) spice blend.
• BBQ: Swap all spices for your favorite dry bbq seasoning combo. This tastes great with the brown sugar.
• Indian: Garamam masala spice blend is great to use for a smoky and spice-ful dish that isn't spicy.

Serving ideas

Serve air fryer bone-in chicken thighs with rice that matches the flavors of your seasonings. Depending on the spices you use, pair the chicken with saffron rice, steamed white or brown rice, Mexican rice, Indian cumin rice, or savory mushroom rice.

Crispy chicken thighs are delicious with rich and creamy roasted garlic mashed potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes. Or keep things on the crispier side and serve alongside roasted fingerling potatoes, za'atar roasted red potatoes, or simple roasted carrots and potatoes.

They are also great to enjoy with other hearty sides, like beans and veggies. Try these yummy roasted asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cherry tomatoes, or seasonal vegetable medley. And you can't go wrong with a simple fresh green salad!

Storage and Freezing

Store Leftovers: Let the chicken thighs cool completely. Transfer to an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.

Freeze: Place the cooled thighs in an airtight freezer-safe container, like a plastic zipper bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Reheat: You can reheat the chicken in the air fryer or conventional oven. Cook at 350F for 10-15 minutes, until the thighs are warm again to 165F.

If you made my recipe for bone-in chicken thighs in air fryer, please be sure to rate and review it below! I always love hearing from my readers and take your suggestions into account.

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