Air frying bone-in chicken thighs is an easy way to serve up delicious, juicy-yet-crispy chicken thighs in 30 minutes or less! Budget-friendly, easy clean-up, and energy efficient. What could be better than that?
Jump to:
- Watch the Video
- Ingredients
- How to Air Fry Bone-in Chicken Thighs
- Toaster Oven Style Air Fryer Instructions
- Recipe Tips
- What temperature are chicken thighs done?
- What does it mean to score chicken thighs?
- What to Serve with Chicken Thighs
- Storage Instructions
- FAQ
- Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
- New to air frying? These guides will help you!
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs (Bone-In)
- Feedback
Watch the Video
After plenty of experimenting with this recipe to achieve the best results possible, we have all the pointers you need to air fry chicken thighs perfectly! Roasting chicken thighs has never been easier than with this recipe for air fryer bone-in chicken thighs. You can make enough for four servings in 30 minutes or less! No need to turn on the oven.
Ingredients
- Chicken Thighs: We're using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. While you can air fry boneless chicken thighs, you will need to adjust the timing as they will take less time to cook through. Whether you're air frying bone-in or boneless chicken thighs, make sure to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.
- Oil Spray: We're using avocado oil in a spray bottle. Avoid using commercial cooking sprays in a can, as these often have additives that will break down the non-stick coating of your air fryer over time. See our guide to air frying oils.
- Chili Rub Seasoning: This is our signature chili blend of spices that we love to pair with everything. It calls for chili powder, garlic powder, sugar, kosher salt, and ground black pepper. While you can use your favorite seasonings, we recommend giving our chili rub a try. It's fantastic and the flavors complement crispy chicken beautifully! As an alternative, try Cajun seasoning.
How to Air Fry Bone-in Chicken Thighs
Step 1
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. (200°C) Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels.
Step 2
Using a sharp knife, score the tops of the chicken thighs by making small, parallel cuts through the skin and into the meat. This allows the seasoning to get into the meat of the chicken, ensuring the juiciest, most flavorful chicken thighs.
Step 3
Spray each chicken thigh with oil. Sprinkle each one with chili rub seasoning.
Step 4
Place the chicken thighs in your pre-heated air fryer basket skin-side down in a single layer.
Step 5
Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 25 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time, turn each chicken thigh over so they are skin-side up. Use silicone-tipped tongs for air fryer safety. Set a timer to remember to flip the chicken thighs if your air fryer doesn't have a built-in timer.
Step 6
Use an instant read meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken thighs. Do this by inserting the thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh meat without touching the bone. The chicken is done when the thigh meat registers between 165-175°F. Continue cooking until the proper temperature is reached, if needed.
Step 7
Remove the chicken thighs from the air fryer and rest for 10 minutes. Serve, and enjoy!
Toaster Oven Style Air Fryer Instructions
Toaster oven style air fryers require a longer cooking time. If you have a toaster oven style air fryer, such as the Breville Smart Oven Air, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook the chicken thighs skin-side down on the air fryer tray for 35 minutes. Carefully flip the chicken thighs skin-side up halfway through the cooking time using silicone-tipped tongs.
Recipe Tips
- Use an oil sprayer filled with your preferred oil. Avoid using pressurized cooking sprays with additives as they might damage the air fryer non-stick surface. See our guide to air frying oils.
- If you like crispy skin, be sure to preheat the air fryer. This is key to achieving crispy chicken skin.
- Always cook to the proper temperature as listed in the recipe.
- Cook time may vary depending on your specific air fryer; all air fryer brands are different. As always, use the cook time as a guide until you are more comfortable with your specific brand of air fryer.
- If cooking in multiple batches, be sure to check on the remaining batches early, as they may cook more quickly.
What temperature are chicken thighs done?
There is a wide range for the safe temperature for chicken thighs. Bone-in chicken thighs are safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 165°F. However, chicken thighs, and all chicken dark meat, have a better texture and taste better when cooked to a higher temperature.
Air frying to 170°F-175°F will result in a more tender and juicy chicken thigh because at this temperature the collagen melts, resulting in a deliciously tender and exceptionally succulent texture with rich flavor.
Allow the chicken thighs to rest for 5-10 minutes to allow them to finish cooking while the juices redistribute.
What does it mean to score chicken thighs?
To score chicken thighs is to make small, parallel cuts through the skin and into the meat. Scoring the chicken thighs ensures the flavor of the seasoning penetrates the meat instead of just seasoning the skin, so we recommend you do not skip this step.
What to Serve with Chicken Thighs
Below are some of our favorite dishes to serve with chicken thighs. You can prepare all of them in the air fryer for a quick, full dinner with easy clean-up! For more ideas, see all of our Air Fryer Side Dishes.
Storage Instructions
- After cooling, store leftover chicken thighs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in the air fryer for crispy results.
FAQ
Putting skin on chicken into a preheated air fryer is the best way to sear the skin and get it extra crispy. You don't need to preheat for everything when air frying, but definitely preheat when you want crispy skinned chicken thighs. We do the same for bone in chicken breasts.
Absolutely. We have a guide to air frying frozen chicken thighs here: Frozen Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer.
Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Thin Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Chicken Sandwich
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken
- See all of our Air Fryer Chicken Recipes →
New to air frying? These guides will help you!
- Air Fryer Tools and Accessories: Where to Start
- How to Clean an Air Fryer, How Often, and Why
- Air Fryer Safety Precautions
- What is an Air Fryer, and How Does it Work?
Leave a comment and review for us below if you enjoyed this recipe, or if you have questions about any of our air fryer recipes!
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs (Bone-In)
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs bone in and skin on
- oil spray
- 1 Tablespoon chili rub seasoning divided
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. (200°C)
- Pat the 4 chicken thighs dry with paper towels.
- Using a sharp knife, score the tops of the chicken thighs by making small, parallel cuts through the skin and into the meat. This allows the seasoning to get into the meat of the chicken, ensuring the juiciest, most flavorful chicken thighs.
- Spray each chicken thigh with oil spray. Sprinkle each one with 1 Tablespoon chili rub seasoning (divided between each chicken thigh).
- Place the chicken thighs in your pre-heated air fryer basket skin-side down in a single layer.
- Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 25 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time, turn each chicken thigh over so they are skin-side up. Use silicone-tipped tongs for air fryer safety. Set a timer to remember to flip the chicken thighs if your air fryer doesn't have a built-in timer.
- Use an instant read meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken thighs. Do this by inserting the thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh meat without touching the bone. The chicken is done when the thigh meat registers between 165-175°F. Continue cooking until the proper temperature is reached, if needed.
- Remove the chicken thighs from the air fryer and rest for 10 minutes. Serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- Use an oil sprayer filled with your preferred oil. Avoid using pressurized cooking sprays with additives as they might damage the air fryer non-stick surface. See our guide to air frying oils.
- If you like crispy skin, be sure to preheat the air fryer. This is key to achieving crispy chicken skin.
- Always cook to the proper temperature as listed in the recipe.
- Cook time may vary depending on your specific air fryer; all air fryer brands are different. As always, use the cook time as a guide until you are more comfortable with your specific brand of air fryer.
- If cooking in multiple batches, be sure to check on the remaining batches early, as they may cook more quickly.
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