These Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside and coated in a delicious seasoning. Serve it with a side of Alabama White Sauce for dunking! They make a great weeknight meal or party appetizer!
Love using your air fryer? Next time try the Air Fryer Burgers recipe!
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Why you'll love this recipe
✔️ This recipe is so simple, yet so full of flavor.
✔️ It's a quick meal that comes together in no time at all. They are an excellent way to get dinner on the table quickly and without much mess at all.
✔️ The hot air in the air fryer makes crispy chicken thighs without all the added fat of deep frying them.
Ingredients
For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Chicken thighs - you can substitute chicken breasts if you prefer.
- olive oil
- smoked paprika
- onion powder
- garlic powder
- salt
- black pepper
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!
- Place the chicken thighs in a large mixing bowl (if the thighs have excess fat cut them as you place them in the bowl)
- Pour the oil and mix to coat the thighs.
- Sprinkle the paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and ground pepper. Mix so all the chicken thighs are coated with spices. You can use a spatula, but I have found out that using my hands works a lot better and faster.
- Place the chicken thighs in the basket of the air fryer, in a single layer. They can touch, but they will shrink as they cook. The number of chicken thighs you can put in the air fryer will depend on its size.
- Cook in the air fryer on a manual setting at 380 degrees for 8 minutes.
Equipment
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FAQ's
It will depend on the size of your chicken thighs. I have found that 8 minutes is the perfect cooking time for air fryer boneless chicken thighs.
For this recipe you don't have to flip them, but can you flip them halfway through if you would like to.
Unfortunately, no. You need to cook the chicken in a single layer for even cooking. If they are stacked on top of each other, the ones on the bottom will not cook as evenly.
The best way to tell if your chicken thighs are done is by using an instant read thermometer to make sure they have reached the correct internal temperature.
The internal temperature should be at 165 degrees F.
Things to know
- The number of chicken thighs you can put in the air fryer will depend on its size.
- It's okay if your chicken thighs touch, however, you will want to make sure that they are not on top of one another in the air fryer basket.
- If you are out of olive oil, avocado oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil would work instead for this easy chicken recipe.
- If you plan to make this recipe often, you can make a big batch of the dry rub and then store it in an airtight container until you are ready to use it.
Variations
- Add some BBQ sauce to the mix for a little sweetness.
- Try using different spices, such as Cajun seasoning or Italian seasoning.
- For a little heat, add in some cayenne pepper or chili powder.
- If you don't have smoked paprika, you can use regular paprika instead.
- You can use bone-in chicken thighs for this recipe if you prefer crispy skin, but you will need to add more cook time to them. Cook bone-in chicken for 18 minutes in the air fryer.
- You can substitute chicken breasts if you prefer; depending on the breast size, it will take 8-9 minutes per side.
Storage
Refrigerate - Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezer - Freeze in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating - There are a few different ways you can reheat your chicken thighs.
- Air Fryer - Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket and cook at 380 degrees for 3-4 minutes, or until heated through.
- Oven - Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the chicken on a baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until heated through.
- Stovetop - Place the chicken thighs in a skillet over medium heat. Cook for 5-7 minutes per side, or until heated through.
Or... use your leftover chicken thighs to make Chicken Spaghetti with Rotel - it's one or favorite meals!
More air fryer chicken recipes
Air Fryer Boneless Buffalo Chicken Bites or Air Fryer Chicken Wings. All you need to add is blue-cheese dip and you have a game day MUST serve!
Related recipes
- If you love chicken recipes, then next time you might want to give this Chicken Spaghetti with Rotel recipe a try. It's a great recipe to make on busy nights.
- Pan Roasted Chicken and Potatoes - this one brings the flavor!
- Apricot Chicken Casserole - sweet and spicy, this casserole only takes 5 minutes prep. It's a great recipe!
- If you have leftover boneless thighs you can use them in this Monterey Chicken Spaghetti. It's an easy recipe that the whole family will rave about.
- Are you looking simple recipe to make this week? If so, this BBQ Korean Chicken is easy and coated in a tangy bbq sauce that is crave-worthy.
Serve with
- These Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes are creamy, and buttery, and taste amazing when served with this air fryer chicken thighs recipe
- These Steamed Green Beans or the Roasted Vegetables Recipe are two or our favorite side dishes.
- This Broccoli Casserole recipe is the perfect side dish to serve when you are craving a comforting and filling meal at the table with your family.
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Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 2 ½ pounds chicken thighs about 6 chicken thighs boneless, skinless
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. Remove any excess fat on the thighs.
- Place the chicken thighs in a large mixing bowl
- Pour the oil and mix to coat the thighs.
- Sprinkle the paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and ground pepper over the raw chicken. Mix so all the chicken thighs are coated with spices. You can use a spatula, but I have found out that using my hands works a lot better and faster.
- Place the chicken thighs in the basket of the air fryer, in a single layer. They can touch, but they will shrink as they cook. The number of chicken thighs you can put in the air fryer will depend on its size.
- Air fry on a manual setting at 380 degrees for 8 minutes.
- Flip the chicken thighs and roast for an additional 8 minutes or until the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees.
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