Air fryer boneless chicken thighs require only a few minutes of prep time and cook in only 15 minutes. The chicken comes out with crispy edges and juicy on the inside. Enjoy it as a main dish, for meal prep, in salads or even to make a flavorful soup.
Looking for more easy air fryer recipes? - try air fryer fish fillets, air fryer fajitas, and air fryer sausage with vegetables, and air fryer turkey meatloaf.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Quick: The air fryer cooks chicken much faster than the oven.
- Perfect textures: these boneless thighs come out slightly crispy on the outside, while the inside remains juicy and tender. You will not even miss crispy skin.
- Versatile: they are good as a main dish or you can add cooked chicken to pasta, salads, or wraps.
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Ingredients
You can find the ingredients quantities in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Chicken thighs - I used boneless skinless thighs.
- Seasonings - you can use any of your favorite seasoning combinations or a store-bought poultry dry rub. But for the best crust with a mild flavor, I use paprika, garlic powder onion powder, chili powder, black pepper, and salt.
- Oil - I used a little bit of extra virgin olive oil to rub onto the meat for better color and crust. You can use avocado, vegetable, or canola oil.
How to cook chicken thighs in air fryer
Step 1 - Remove the chicken from the package and pat it dry with a paper towel. Let it sit at room temperature for at least 10-15 minutes for even cooking.
Step 2 - In a small bowl, mix salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder.
Step 3 - Brush or rub the chicken with a little bit of oil. Now, rub a generous amount of seasoning blend onto the chicken thighs.
Step 4 - Preheat the air fryer for about 5 minutes at 375°F. For best results, spray the basket with cooking spray. Place chicken thighs in the air fryer basket without overcrowding it.
Step 5 - Cook at 375 degrees F for 13 minutes on one side, flip the thighs, and cook them for another 5-7 minutes or until the internal temperature reached 165°F and the desired crispiness is achieved. The cooking time may vary depending on the air fryer and the size of the thighs.
Note: you do not have to flip them, but I think cooking them on both sides made them look more browned.
Serving ideas
Here are some of our favorite ways to serve chicken thighs:
- Main dish - pair it with your favorite sides such as salad, green beans, rice, or sweet potatoes to make a complete and healthy meal.
- Shredded - for making tacos, casseroles, or enchiladas.
- Wraps, salads, sandwiches - you can easily boneless chicken thighs to make a sandwich, wrap or a salad.
- Meal prepping - similar to chicken breasts, you can use the thighs to add to your meal prep lunch box.
Expert tips and variations, leftovers
- Pat dry the chicken: for a golden crust and for the seasoning to stick better, make sure to pat dry meat.
- Do not overcook: use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the meat is not overcooked or undercooked. It needs to reach 165°F.
- Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs: you can use them as well following this recipe and increasing the cooking time by 10 minutes.
- Seasonings: you can use any of your favorite spices and herbs. If you like spicy chicken, add about ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
- Leftovers: store any leftovers in an airtight container for about 3-5 days.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can cook chicken thighs from frozen in air fryer. I have made a separate recipe for frozen bone-in or boneless chicken thighs in air fryer with tested times, and best seasoning tips.
Yes, you can freeze cooked chicken thighs for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw them overnight in the fridge.
Boneless chicken thighs typically take about 15-20 minutes to cook in an air fryer at 390°F (190°C). The cooking time
More easy air fryer chicken recipes
- Frozen chicken breasts in air fryer
- Air fryer whole chicken legs (drumsticks and thighs)
- Air Fryer chicken tenders
- Air fryer chicken wings
- Air fryer lemon-pepper drumsticks
- Air fryer breaded cutlets
- Air fryer chicken bites
- Air fryer chicken breasts (thinly sliced)
📖 Recipe
Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer
Equipment
- 1 Air fryer I used Ninja
- 1 bowl
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt or more by taste
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
- Pat dry chicken thighs with a paper towel. Rub or brush each chicken thigh with olive oil.
- In a small bowl, mix ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon chili powder. Rub the spice mix generously onto the chicken.
- Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes to 390°F. Spray the bottom of the basket with some cooking spray. Arrange seasoned chicken thighs in single layer. Cook at 390°F for 8 minutes, flip it on the other side and cook for another 5-7 minutes or until the internal temperature is at least 165°F.
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