These juicy air fryer fried chicken thighs boast tender meat with perfectly seasoned, crispy skin – all cooked in a fraction of the time it takes in the oven.
While we enjoy easy recipes like Chicken Cacciatore and Creamy Mushroom Thighs, the air fryer is a lifesaver on time-pressed nights.
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Ingredients
- Chicken thighs - for optimal juiciness, and crispy skin, opt for skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks, avoiding boneless, skinless chicken in this recipe.
- Cornstarch - thickens the batter, enhances color, and absorbs moisture for ultra-crispy, golden-brown chicken skin.
- Egg - acts as a binder for the cornstarch, aiding seasoning adherence to the chicken.
- Dry rub/seasonings - a simple blend of garlic powder, paprika, celery salt, black pepper, turmeric, and a touch of cayenne spice.
The full recipe and ingredients can be found in the recipe card below this post.
Turmeric - my secret ingredient! Turmeric adds a warm color and subtle flavor. If you don't have turmeric, you can omit it, or use a pinch of saffron for color.
How to Make Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Season the chicken thighs. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon of celery salt evenly over the chicken thighs.
Set them aside.
Prepare the coating bowls. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch, leftover 1 teaspoon of celery salt, and all spices (or use your own spice mix).
In another bowl, whisk the egg until smooth.
If you prefer boneless chicken thighs, remember to reduce the cooking time accordingly.
Coat the chicken thighs. One by one, dredge the chicken thigh and roll it in the seasoning mixture, ensuring it's evenly coated.
Then using kitchen tongs, dip it into the beaten egg, making sure it's fully covered.
Finally, roll it again in the seasoning mixture, pressing the mixture gently onto the chicken.
Shake off any excess coating.
Repeat this process with the remaining chicken thighs.
Preheat the air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
Things will get ''messy'' in the end, and to make it easier, divide the cornstarch mixture into two bowls.
Place the coated chicken thighs into the air fryer basket, skin side up first.
Lightly spray them with cooking oil.
Air fry the chicken thighs. Cook the chicken in the air fryer for 22-25 minutes, flipping each thigh halfway through the cooking time.
By the time chicken is cooked there may be a few spots with cornstarch, you can gently brush them or lightly spray them with cooking oil.
Check the chicken's doneness: To ensure the chicken is fully cooked, use a kitchen meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.
It should reach a minimum temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) for safe consumption.
SERVE! Once the chicken thighs are crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside, they are ready to be served.
Serve with side salad, pasta or hot sauce for dipping!
- Related: Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
Recipe Troubleshoot
Why isn't the chicken skin crispy?
- For extra crispy chicken thigh skin, pat it dry before seasoning. For added assurance, leave it uncovered in the refrigerator to let the skin dry out a bit.
- Check your air fryer settings and ensure it's working at the right temperature; higher temperatures are generally better for achieving crispy skin.
- Don't overcrowd the basket.
- Don’t forget to flip it halfway through.
Why does my coating fall off my chicken?
- After first dredging, pop it on a wire rack for about 10 mins. The coating will cling so much better!
- Shake off extra cornstarch mixture from the chicken. Too much prevents the egg mix from sticking, ruining that crispy ''breading''.
- Just like with any coating ingredients take care to coat the meat evenly from all sides.
Tips
- Preheat the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer for better and consistent results, especially recommended for this fried chicken recipe. Note: Avoid using air-fryer basket liners during reheating to prevent fire risk.
- Whether using cooking spray or a basting brush, a light spritz of oil is sufficient; the chicken doesn't need to be fully covered.
- After cooking, you may have some uncooked cornstarch ''spots'', simply spritz them with oil or brush them off with a basting brush.
What To Serve With Air Fryer Fried Chicken
- pasta salad
- sauteed cabbage
- Caesar salad
- lime cilantro rice
- braised cabbage
- Brussels sprouts
- asparagus
- glazed carrots
Sauces and dips
Storing Leftovers
- To Store. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
- To Reheat. In air fryer, at 350 degrees F and cook the chicken until piping hot and steaming, about 5 minutes.
- To Freeze. Freeze fried thighs in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months (better flavor if consumed sooner). Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Delicious Chicken Seasoning Ideas!
- Lemon Air Fryer Chicken Thighs - add Lemon Pepper Seasoning or whole lemon zest to the spice mixture.
- Taco Seasoning
- Old Bay Seasoning
- All Purpose Chicken Seasoning - this is something you'd easily find in the store.
- Italian Air Fryer Chicken Thighs - add Herbs de Provence (Italian seasoning).
- Smoky Chipotle Seasoning - for some serious bold and smoky flavors.
- Ranch Seasoning
- Garlic Parmesan Seasoning - combine grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, dried parsley, and a pinch of salt for a cheesy and savory coating.
- Everything Bagel Seasoning
- Cajun Seasoning
More Chicken Recipes
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Recipe
Air Fryer Fried Chicken Thighs
INGREDIENTS
- 4 small bone-in skin-on chicken thighs , about 1 pound
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 ½ teaspoon celery salt, divided, or regular kosher salt
- Cooking spray
INSTRUCTIONS
- Season the chicken thighs. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon of celery salt evenly over the chicken thighs. Set them aside.
- Prepare the coating bowls. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch, leftover 1 teaspoon of celery salt, and all spices (or use your own spice mix).
- In another bowl, whisk the egg until smooth.
- Coat the chicken thighs. One by one, dredge the chicken thigh and roll it in the seasoning mixture, ensuring it's evenly coated.
- Then using kitchen tongs, dip it into the beaten egg, making sure it's fully covered.
- Finally, roll it again in the seasoning mixture, pressing the mixture gently onto the chicken. Shake off any excess coating. Repeat this process with the remaining chicken thighs.
- Preheat the air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
- Place the coated chicken thighs into the air fryer basket, skin side up first. Lightly spray them with cooking oil.
- Air fry the chicken thighs. Cook the chicken in the air fryer for 22-25 minutes, flipping each thigh halfway through the cooking time.
- By the time chicken is cooked there may be a few spots with cornstarch, you can gently brush them or lightly spray them with cooking oil.
- The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the chicken thighs. Ensure they are evenly cooked on both sides. Check the chicken's doneness: To ensure the chicken is fully cooked, use a kitchen meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. It should reach a minimum temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) for safe consumption.
- Enjoy the flavorful fried chicken! Once the chicken thighs are crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside, they are ready to be served. Enjoy!
NOTES
- This recipe makes about 2-4 servings.
- If you prefer boneless chicken thighs, remember to reduce the cooking time accordingly. But I highly recommend using bone-in skin-on chicken here. Check the blog post for more details.
- Things will get ''messy'' in the end, and to make it easier, divide the cornstarch mixture into two bowls.
- Flavor and texture - A satisfying texture that's crisp and golden on the outside, while tender and succulent on the inside. Similar to KFC but way better, so much better and healthier for you. Spices like paprika, celery salt, turmeric, garlic, and smoky cayenne complement the juicy chicken beautifully.
- Why isn't the chicken skin crispy?
- For an extra crispy chicken thigh skin, ensure it's dry before dredging. Pat the chicken dry before seasoning, and for added assurance, leave it uncovered in the refrigerator to let the skin dry out a bit.
- Also, make sure the skin is tightly covering the meat and avoid moving it around excessively during cooking to prevent tearing.
- Check your air fryer settings and ensure it's working at the right temperature; higher temperatures are generally better for achieving crispy skin.
- Don't overcrowd the basket. Cooking too many chicken thighs in the air fryer at once can lead to overcrowding, preventing proper air circulation and even cooking. Ensure there is enough space between the chicken pieces for crispy results.
- Don’t forget to flip it halfway through.
- Why does my coating fall off my chicken?
- Air dry the cornstarch seasoning on the chicken before air frying. After first dredging, pop it on a wire rack for about 10 mins. The coating will cling so much better!
- Shake off the extra cornstarch mixture from the chicken. Too much prevents the egg mix from sticking, ruining that crispy ''breading''.
- Just like with any coating ingredients take care to coat the meat evenly from all sides.
ADD YOUR OWN PRIVATE NOTES
NUTRITION
Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.
Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.
More Air Fryer Recipes
We love to use air fryer to both cook and reheat foods! Salmon, pork chops and chicken drumsticks taste absolutely delicious in the air fryer.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Juicy, crispy, flavorful and simply delicious healthier-for-you fried chicken made in air fryer!