Air Fryer Bone In Chicken Thighs
This post may contain affiliate links.
I make air fryer bone-in chicken thighs when I want super juicy meat and the crispiest skin, but not the mess of deep frying. There’s very little prep work, and a delicious meal is ready to put on the dinner table in less than 30 minutes.
I’ve loved fried chicken for as far back as I can remember, but it is usually so greasy, and loaded with a lot of fat and calories.
Not to mention, until I started cooking it myself, I didn’t realize just how messy it is to make! So when I realized that I could cook bone in chicken thighs in the air fryer, I was a happy mama!
Instant download of our tips to cook the best chicken!
Why This Recipe is a Family Favorite
You won’t believe how quick and easy it is to make this air fryer chicken thighs recipe!
Chicken thighs are super flavorful because they have more fat than breast meat. Even better, they’re more budget friendly than breast meat.
They’re great slow cooked, baked, or grilled, but beyond delicious when they’re air fried!
If you typically cook boneless, skinless chicken, you are missing out on deliciously crispy skin! I’m going to show you how to achieve crispy chicken in the air fryer that isn’t greasy like deep fried foods are.
I hope your family loves this air fryer chicken dinner as much as mine does!
Happy Kitchen Secrets
Here are my mom-tested cooking tips for making this recipe! I’ve made this dish countless times to save you from a failed attempt.
- Be sure to preheat your air fryer. If your model doesn’t have a preheat setting, just turn it to the cooking temperature about 5 minutes before you add the food.
- For the best flavor and crispy skin, use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. I highly recommend the pastured-raised chicken from Porter Road!
- To prevent sticking, spray the basket with non-stick high heat approved cooking spray.
- Use long, long silicone-tipped tongs so you don’t burn your wrists or scratch the basket.
- For extra crispiness, set the chicken thighs in the air fryer skin side up.
Ingredient Notes
For the most flavor, use bone-in chicken thighs with the skin on. I highly recommend the pastured-raised chicken from Porter Road!
You can air fry boneless chicken thighs, but without the skin, they won’t have a crispy exterior. Also, the cooking time will need to be reduced (see the recipe card for exact cooking time).
For a different flavor profile, omit all of the seasonings and substitute 2 teaspoons of BBQ seasoning, ranch seasoning, Greek seasoning, or Italian seasoning. Or, skip individual spices altogether and use this chicken wing seasoning dry rub — it’s a smoky, all-purpose blend that takes just 2 minutes to mix up and works beautifully on chicken thighs.
How to Make Air Fryer Bone-In Chicken Thighs
For the full instructions, scroll or jump to the recipe card! ⬇️
Jump to RecipeBefore you start prepping the chicken, turn on your air fryer so it can preheat.
- Dry off and season the chicken. Use a few paper towels to pat each thigh dry. This allows the oil and seasoning to stick to the skin. Use your hands to rub oil and seasoning on both sides of the pieces.
- Set the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket skin side up. Leave a little space between each piece so that the air can circulate all the way around. This is the key to creating crispy chicken in the air fryer!
Helpful Tips
Be sure to spritz a little oil on the air fryer basket before you add the thighs to it.
Use silicone-tipped tongs with a long handle so you don't burn your wrists or scratch the basket.
- Close the air fryer and cook the chicken. The total cook time will depend on the size of the pieces of chicken and the strength of your air fryer.
Cook Times for Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Bone-In Chicken Thighs: 18-20 minutes.
- Boneless Chicken Thighs: 12-14 minutes.
Close to the end of cook time, open the air fryer basket and use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meat.
👉 Important: Per the USDA, poultry is safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). To accurately take the internal temperature, insert the probe into the thickest part of the meat, without touching the bone.
Meal Prep Instructions
If you'd like to get a jump start on making the recipe, there are two things that can be done in advance:
- Make the seasoning. Keep it stored in a tightly covered container or zip top bag in your pantry.
- Up to 18 hours ahead, use paper toweling to pat the chicken thighs dry, then rub them with oil and seasoning. Set them on a plate and cover it tightly with plastic wrap. Keep the chicken in the fridge until you’re ready to cook.
To make ahead for the week:
Follow the recipe below to fully cook the chicken. Let the pieces cool down a bit, then wrap them well and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Reheating Instructions
There are 2 ways to reheat air fryer bone in chicken thighs:
- Oven or toaster oven: Reheat on a sheet pan in a 350°F. oven for 15 minutes, until they are heated through to 165°F.
- Air fryer: Place them in the basket and reheat at 350°F.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! To prepare it in advance, rub the chicken with oil and seasonings. Cover it tightly and store in the refrigerator until you're ready to cook, up to 18 hours in advance.
I typically recommend turning food over halfway through air frying, but with bone in chicken thighs, it isn’t necessary. To ensure even cooking and achieve crispy skin, place the chicken skin side up in the basket, and leave room for air to circulate between each piece.
If your chicken thighs are dry, they're probably overcooked. Next time, shorten the cook time by a few minutes and remove them from the air fryer basket when the internal temperature reaches 163°F (72°C). Then, allow them to rest for a few minutes. The internal temperature will increase during the rest time.
👉 If you like air frying, be sure to get my free printable Air Frying Cook Times Chart!
After you make it, please leave a comment and star rating below to let me know how it went!
Air Fryer Bone-In Chicken Thighs
Equipment
Video
Ingredients
- 1 lb. chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon thyme
Instructions
- Mix the salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and thyme together in a small dish. Take a few napkins or paper towels and pat each chicken thigh dry on all sides. Drizzle the chicken with the oil, then sprinkle with the seasoning, turning the chicken thighs until they’re coated on all sides.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F (194°C). Once it’s preheated, spray the air fryer basket with a little oil to prevent the chicken from sticking. Carefully set the pieces of chicken into the air fryer skin side up, with a little room between each piece. Close the air fryer and cook the chicken for 18-20 minutes. Close to the end of cook time, open the air fryer basket and use a meat thermometer to check if the internal temperature of the meat has reached 165°F (74°C).Once the chicken is done, carefully remove the chicken and set it on a plate to serve.
Notes
- Use long, plastic-tipped tongs (to prevent burning your wrists or scratching the basket) to move food in and out of the air fryer.
- Leave room between each chicken thigh in the air fryer. This will allow the air to flow and cook the chicken evenly.
- For boneless chicken thighs: Adjust cooking time to 12-14 minutes.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature has reached 165°F (74°C), per USDA by inserting the thermometer into the deepest part of the meat, without touching the bone.
- To prepare the chicken in advance, rub the chicken with oil and seasonings. Cover it tightly and store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook, up to 18 hours in advance.
Nutrition
2026 Update: This recipe is still a favorite of ours! It's been updated to simplify the cooking instructions and include extra cooking tips. We hope you love it as much as we do!
