Air fryer boneless chicken thighs are a delicious and healthy way to prepare chicken. The air fryer cooks the chicken quickly and evenly, resulting in a juicy, flavorful, and crispya texture. The air fryer allows you to cook the chicken without any added oil or fat, making it a healthier alternative to deep-frying or baking. Additionally, air fryer boneless chicken thighs are a great meal prep option as they can be cooked in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to four days.
I love eating chicken! I regularly prepare my chicken in the oven or my air fryer because baking chicken in a skillet can easily lead to dry chicken. Here’s a great recipe for air fryer chicken wings and an excellent recipe for super tender oven-baked chicken breast. For this recipe, we will prepare boneless skinless chicken thighs in the air fryer.
Why you will love this recipe
- Air fryer boneless chicken thighs are an incredibly versatile dish that can be enjoyed in many ways.
- They are a great source of lean protein and can be cooked quickly and easily in an air fryer.
- The air fryer helps to lock in moisture and flavor, and the thighs come out tender and juicy.
- They are also incredibly easy to customize to your own tastes – marinating them in your favorite sauces or spices can make them even more delicious.
- Since they are boneless, they can be cut up and used in a variety of recipes.
- Cooking time of only 20 minutes
- This recipe is simple and low-carb
Why make boneless skinless chicken thighs in air fryer?
Cooking boneless skinless chicken thighs in an air fryer is a great way to enjoy a delicious and easy meal. The air fryer helps to lock in all the flavors of the chicken while making it incredibly juicy and flavorful. This boneless chicken thigh recipe is so simple, you can have it ready to go in minutes.
By using an air fryer to make boneless skinless chicken thighs, you’ll be able to create a delicious meal that’s both healthy and flavorful. With an easy recipe like this, you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite dishes without worrying about unhealthy ingredients or increased cooking times. So why not give this delicious chicken thigh recipe a try today?
Air fryer boneless chicken thighs Recipe Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make these air fryer boneless chicken thighs:
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs: for this particular recipe, boneless chicken thighs are used, as they cook faster and more evenly without the bone.
- Smoked Paprika powder
- Garlic Powder
- Salt
- Cayenne powder: to add a hint of spiciness.
- Olive oil or olive oil cooking spray: you can make this recipe without olive oil, but adding this will add a lot more crispiness to your chicken thighs
How to make air fryer boneless chicken thighs: step by step
Pat your chicken thighs dry with a paper towel. They will turn out less crispy if you skip this step.
Mix the smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and garlic powder in a small mixing bowl. Add a little olive oil to turn this mix into a paste.
Next, massage the chicken thighs with the seasoning paste until it is fully covered.
Another option is to rub the chicken thighs with the dry spices (dry rub), then spray with olive oil spray onto them when you have placed them in the air fryer basket.
Place chicken thighs into the air fryer basket and fry them for 10 minutes at 380°F (190°C). Turn over the chicken thighs and then air fry for another 10 minutes at 380°F (190°C).
Your air fried chicken thighs are now deliciously juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and ready to serve!
If you’re not sure that your air fryer chicken thighs are adequately cooked, then you can check the internal temperature of the chicken at the thickest part of the chicken with a meat thermometer. If the temperature is above 165°F (74°C), your chicken thighs are ready.
Serve your chicken thighs with some lemon juice, buffalo sauce, garlic butter, or bbq sauce.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Use kitchen thongs to flip the chicken thighs so that you don’t burn yourself!
- Lay your chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket
- Check the internal temperature of the cooked chicken thighs with a meat thermometer. If the temperature is above 165°F (74°C), then your chicken thighs are ready.
- Don’t skip using oil to make sure that your chicken thighs will have a crispy skin
Storage, Reheating and Freezing
- Storage: store your chicken thighs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days
- Reheating: Reheating chicken thighs is easy when you have an air fryer. To reheat bone-in chicken thighs, place them in the air fryer and cook for 8-10 minutes at 380°F (190°C).
- Freezing: I recommend freezing the chicken thighs when they are still raw (but already covered in the seasoning mix). You can then thaw the raw chicken thighs before preparing them in the air fryer.
Additions & Substitutions for this Air fryer boneless chicken thighs recipe
Boneless chicken thighs: you can use bone-in chicken thighs for this recipe or use chicken breasts instead.
Seasoning: You can adjust the seasoning to your liking. Some other seasoning options that I recommend to add are onion powder, chili powder, or pre-made chicken seasoning.
Olive oil: You can use other vegetable oil like avocado oil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, with this recipe, we don’t add much oil, and we only use spices to add flavor. This results in a healthy, high-protein piece of meat.
I recommend thawing them first. You can put them in the fridge the night before you need them. Or put them in a freezer bag and place them in a bowl of cold water. This is the quickest way of thawing them.
Chicken breasts and chicken thighs are two of the most popular cuts of chicken. Both are versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes. The main difference between chicken breasts and thighs is that chicken breasts are leaner, while thighs are fattier.
Chicken breasts contain more protein than thigh meat, making them an ideal choice for people looking to increase their protein intake. However, this extra protein comes at the cost of flavor, as breast meat has a milder taste than thigh meat.
Thighs have more fat, which gives them a richer flavor and makes them more moist when cooked. Additionally, thigh meat tends to remain juicy even after being cooked for a long time.
Breast meat is far easier to overcook due to its lower fat content; so it must be monitored closely when cooking. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference when choosing between chicken breasts and thighs; both are delicious and nutritious options for meal preparation.
When cooking chicken thighs, it is important to ensure that they are cooked through. The best way to do this is to check the internal temperature of the thickest part of the thigh with a food thermometer.
The temperature should reach 165°F (74°C), so when this temperature has been reached you can be assured that your chicken thighs are cooked through and ready to eat.
If you don’t have access to a thermometer, you can check that the chicken is fully cooked by cutting into it and ensuring that there is no pink meat or blood in the center. Additionally, make sure the juices run clear and that the chicken feels firm but not tough when pierced with a fork or knife. Once these criteria have been met, your chicken thighs should be safe to eat!
Other chicken recipes that you will love
- Simple spicy air fryer chicken wings
- Super tender chicken breast with pesto
- Air Fryer Chicken Strips (No Breading)
Serve these air fryer chicken thighs with these side dishes
- Easy oven baked carrots with thyme
- Easy oven roasted tenderstem broccoli (baby broccoli)
- Easy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes (baby potatoes)
Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
Air fryer boneless chicken thighs are a delicious and healthy way to prepare chicken. The air fryer cooks the chicken quickly and evenly, resulting in a juicy, flavorful, and crispy texture.
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servings5
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Ingredients
4 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon smoked paprika powder
1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Directions
- Pat chicken thighs dry with a paper towel. They will turn out less crispy if you skip this step.
- Mix the smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and garlic powder in a small mixing bowl. Add a little olive oil to turn this mix into a paste.
- Massage your chicken thighs with the seasoning paste until it is fully covered.
- Place chicken thighs into the air fryer basket and fry them for 10 minutes at 380°F (190°C).
- Turn over the chicken thighs
- Air fry for another 10 minutes at 380°F (190°C).
- Serve your chicken thighs with some lemon juice or bbq sauce.
Notes
- Use kitchen thongs to flip the chicken thighs so that you don’t burn yourself!
- Lay your chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket
- Check the internal temperature of the cooked chicken thighs with a meat thermometer. If the temperature is above 165°F (74°C), then your chicken thighs are ready.
- Don’t skip using oil to make sure that your chicken thighs will have a crispy skin