Air Fryer Chicken Thighs (Skin on - Bone in)

This air fryer chicken thighs recipe is perfect if you enjoy crispy chicken skin, tender and juicy meat, and deliciously seasoned flavours!

Whether cooking for yourself or your family or hosting a party, these chicken thighs are easy to make and guaranteed to impress.

In this blog post, we'll walk you through the simple steps of preparing and cooking chicken thighs with the skin on and bone in so you can enjoy a savoury and healthy dish bursting with flavour.

Jump to:

• How to cook bone-in chicken thighs in the air fryer
• Ingredients
• Equipment
• Instructions
• Serving Suggestions
• 📖 Step by Step Recipe
• Dry Seasonings for Chicken Thighs
• Storage
• Reheating
• More Chicken Recipes
• 💬 Reviews

How to cook bone-in chicken thighs in the air fryer

Press the button below to jump straight to our recipe for how to cook chicken thighs in an air fryer.

However, we encourage you to continue reading to learn tips and tricks for making the best air fryer chicken thighs and even discover some seasoning ideas to elevate the flavour.

Ingredients

With just a handful of simple ingredients, you can create a mouth-watering dish full of flavour and perfectly cooked every time.

Chicken Thighs Bone in - with Skin

Chicken thighs with the bone-in and skin-on make this recipe so delicious. The bone helps keep the dark meat moist and flavorful, while the skin gets crispy and golden brown when cooked in the air fryer.

Always defrost frozen chicken thighs before air frying, and use a paper towel to pat the chicken thighs dry after defrosting. This helps the spice mix to stick to the chicken thigh.

We also have a separate post for boneless thighs in the air fryer, or a whole air fryer chicken if you cant find boned thighs.

Seasoning

We'll be using an all-purpose seasoning mix to add smoky flavor to the chicken thighs. This can include a blend of garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt and black pepper.

However, feel free to adjust the seasoning to your liking or experiment with different spice blends to suit your taste. Or cook plain air fryer chicken thighs and add flavour with our easy recipe for peppercorn sauce drizzled over the chicken thigh at serving.

Here are some more seasoning suggestions.

• BBQ
• Piri Piri
• Italian Herb
• Smoked Paprika and Onion
• Jamaican Jerk spice blend
• Curry Powder
• Cajun
• Your own spice mixture

Oil

You can cook chicken in the air fryer evenly and crisply without oil for the least amount of extra calories the skin will keep the meat moist. Alternatively, use cooking spray oil or a drizzle of olive oil if you prefer.

Fresh Herbs

Herbs such as fresh parsley also make a great garnish and add colour to your dish. You can add other herbs like basil or coriander to your taste.

Equipment

You'll need a few essential pieces of equipment to make these delicious air fryer chicken thighs. The most important one is an air fryer.

We recommend the Ninja Dual Zone air fryer, which cooks food quickly and evenly. Ensuring that your chicken thighs are always perfect. You can cook eight chicken thighs between the two baskets at a time, so perfect for a family meal.

You'll also need a food bag to toss the bone in thighs with the seasoning. This ensures that the chicken is coated evenly with spices and herbs. Eliminates the need to handle too much raw chicken. Or it can be mixed in a mixing bowl instead.

Additionally, you'll need a pair of tongs to move the chicken around in the air fryer. And a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is perfectly cooked.

Instructions

It's easy to make these deliciously crispy air fryer chicken. Take your bone-in chicken thighs, and place them in a ziplock bag.

Sprinkle in the seasoning mixture of your choice. You can also add some olive oil at this point if you choose to. Or use a spray oil just before cooking.

Seal the bag with a little air inside to make it easier to distribute your spice rub. Shake and twist the raw chicken thighs inside the bag until all of the chicken thighs are covered. Or mix together in a mixing bowl.

Place your chicken thighs into the air fryer basket with the skin side facing up. Do not stack chicken thighs inside the air fryer as this will make them cook unevenly, take longer and won't give you a crispy skin.

Add a drizzle or spray of oil to the skin if you wish. (there is plenty of fat already in the skin, so its optional)

Cooking Time

Cook boned chicken thighs in the air fryer for around 25 minutes. Cook time can vary depending on the size of the chicken thighs and different models of air fryers.

Flip Chicken

Flipping halfway during the cooking process is necessary if the basket is full, for example, four large bones in thighs all touch when in the air fryer basket.

But if you are only cooking a few smaller thighs you won't need to flip halfway as the hot air can easily pass around them.

Internal temperature for cooked chicken

We like to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. An instant read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of your chicken thigh should show 74°C (165°F).

If you don't have one, cut a piece close to the bone to check the chicken is cooked throughout. There should be no signs of pink on the meat and the juices.

Cook in the air fryer for longer if needed. Chicken must be fully cooked to prevent the risk of food poisoning.

Rest

Allowing air fryer chicken thighs to rest for a few minutes after cooking is important to ensure that the juices are distributed evenly throughout the meat.

This can help prevent the chicken from becoming dry or tough, and ensure that each bite is juicy and flavorful.

Add a sprinkle of fresh herbs before serving.

Serving Suggestions

We have many side dishes that will make these air fryer chicken thighs a delicious meal.

Seen here served with our air fryer corn on the cob and roasted baby potatoes.

More side dishes

Here are some more ideas for what to serve with your air-fried chicken thighs.

📖 Step by Step Recipe

Storage

Leftover air fry cooked chicken thighs can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for up to three days.

Freezing

You could also store air fry chicken pieces in the freezer for up to six months. Defrost before reheating.

Reheating

While it's best to consume air-fried chicken immediately after cooking for optimal texture (especially the crispy skin). Reheating leftovers in the microwave is a convenient and quick option.

Place the chicken in a microwave-safe container. Add a splash of water and cover, heat in 1 minutes intervals until heated through.

More Chicken Recipes

If you're a chicken lover, don't miss out on these tasty recipes.

Our breaded mozzarella chicken - juicy breasts stuffed with mozzarella and coated with a crispy breadcrumb and Parmesan cheese mixture, cooked with marinara sauce.

Try our pressure cooker chicken biriyani recipe for a different flavour profile. Tender, spiced chicken and fluffy basmati rice cooked in aromatic herbs, spices, and fragrant flavours of India.

And if you like it hot, our salt and pepper wings taste amazing. Coated in a spicy blend of salt, pepper, garlic, and chilli flakes - perfect for game day.

Air fryer chicken thighs are a popular and delicious choice for a quick and easy dinner. They're great because they're crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, without any added oil or fuss of traditional frying methods.

We will be posting more air fryer chicken recipes soon! Let us know in the comments what you serve your air fry chicken thighs with.