The Best and Fastest Way To Cook Chicken Thighs
You can cook almost anything in the air fryer—sandwiches, salmon, veggies, bacon, burgers, hot dogs, baked potatoes—name it. However, many people still avoid using their air fryer to cook chicken and opt for an oven or stovetop instead because they are used to those methods or do not believe that their air fryer can properly prepare chicken according to their taste buds.
In fact, cooking your chicken like this is one of the simplest and tastiest ways of doing it. We have a great recipe for cooking the best air fryer chicken thighs ever.
And so why should you use an air fryer to make chicken thighs? The first reason is that it’s just one of the simplest methods. All you need to do is switch it on put your thighs in its basket set timer and go about with your day as usual.
Beyond its simplicity, the food cooked in this machine is made through the convection method where hot hair circulates around them as they are being prepared.
This means that the outside will be crispy while the inside remains moist. In other words who wouldn’t want the crispiest juiciest chicken thighs at the touch of a button?
To find out how one can obtain the perfect air fryer chicken tight recipe we had a conversation with Isla Zoey; proprietor of Air Fryer Mag. While her simple go-to recipe was quite helpful for us
Continue reading to learn how you can make your own batch of Chicken Thighs in an Air Fryer.
Gather Your Ingredients
Before cooking your chicken thighs grab your seasoning for both your chicken and any spicing you have at home when you’re going to put them together. Presently these are what Zoey has employed during his preparation of broiler-fried chickens:
Ingredients:
• Chicken legs
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for a bit of heat)
Some of these spices can be replaced by any other you like or existing premade rubs. All you need is an air fryer, chicken thighs, oil, and some form of flavoring spice.
Prepare the Chicken Thighs
Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. Using dry paper towels remove any excess moisture on the chicken thighs and then put them aside.
Make your seasoning. In a small bowl mix together garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, thyme, oregano salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (if desired). If using packaged spice blend skip this step.
Coat the chicken legs with olive oil ensuring they become well coated after this apply the season mix equally on its skin and meat while rubbing it in. Zoey suggests that if one wishes to get extra crispy skin they should “spray chicken with cooking spray before air frying.”
Cook the Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer
Once you have seasoned it is now time to cook!
Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket without overlapping each other. In case of overcrowding cook them in batches.
12-15 minutes are needed when cooking flip over halfway through
Keep cooking for at least another 12-15 minutes or until the inside temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit and the skin becomes crispy and golden brown.
Allow Chicken to Rest After Cooking
“Once your chicken thighs are cooked through, take them out of the air fryer,” Zoey advises. “Let them rest for five minutes before serving.” She adds, “This is because it helps to redistribute juices, making meat tender and juicy.”
Extra Tips to Remember
Now that your air-fried chicken thighs are ready, just go ahead and serve them now! I served mine with rice and a homemade kale Caesar salad while Zoey added that you can also “serve with sides like roasted vegetables, salad, or mashed potatoes.”
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• Use a meat thermometer to determine if the chicken has been fully cooked internally by checking its internal temperature.
• Roasted veggies, salad, or mashed potatoes are some of your favorite side dishes to serve with this dish.
And so there you have it! A quick meal of chicken thighs made in an air fryer. Enjoy!