Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

These Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are an easy protein to serve with any meal. Batch prep them for salads, sandwiches and balanced meals.

Picture this: it's 5pm, you're getting ready to make dinner, and then you realize you have no protein prepped. Even as a meal prep dietitian, this has happened to me way too many times, and these air fryer chicken thighs are always my solution.

I love an oven baked chicken breast and grilled chicken thigh, but these chicken thighs in the air fryer are the name of the game when it comes to speed. They come out perfectly cooked and crispy in just 10 minutes, meaning your protein is ready in under 15 minutes total.

I like serving chicken thighs with salads, grains, smashed potatoes, etc. They're the perfect protein addition for any balanced meal, and turn out great every time.

Why This Recipe Is Dietitian Approved

1. Perfect for quick dinners. These chicken thighs take just 15 minutes, for those nights you just need something FAST and nourishing.
2. Easy and simple. The air fryer is the best tool for beginners in the kitchen. It's so easy to use and can cook almost anything.
3. Versatile protein. I love having chicken thighs on hand to pair with any veggie and grain/starch. These chicken thighs can be added to salads or bowls as well!

Ingredients

Chicken thighs. Chicken thighs are a great source of protein, iron, and tend to be a bit more flavorful than chicken breast. I typically use boneless and skinless chicken thighs.

Olive oil. We only need a little bit to help lock in the flavour. Olive oil also creates the perfect complement to the acidity of the lemon juice for moist chicken.

Spices. Salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried parsley are all you need for perfectly flavorful chicken.

Lemon juice. This is our acid of choice to help tenderize the chicken while also providing a burst of fresh flavour.

The complete ingredient list with measurements can be found in the recipe card below. 

Instructions

2. In a large bowl add chicken thighs. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Sprinkle with paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and dried parsley. Toss to combine. 

3. Add the chicken thighs to a single layer in the basket or tray of your air fryer (ensure they are arranged in a single layer and are NOT touching. If they are touching you will need to cook the chicken in batches).

3. Air fry the chicken thighs for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway. The chicken is fully cooked when a meat thermometer inserted into the largest part of the thigh reads 165F.

Substitutions and Variations

If you're looking for a yogurt-based marinade, definitely try my Greek yogurt chicken marinade.

The possibilities are really endless when it comes to flavour. You can use any spice blend or marinade of choice and follow the cooking directions below. Here are some of my favorites:

• Lemon parmesan: add 2 tablespoon of fresh parmesan cheese to the blend
• Italian: add ½ tablespoon of italian seasoning to the blend
• Garlic butter: replace the olive oil with 2 tablespoon melted butter and in 1-2 clove of freshly minced cloves and fresh parsley

Equipment

• Air Fryer

Storage

Cooked chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, warm leftovers in a baking dish in the oven at 350F.

Cooked chicken thighs can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Staple Proteins Recipes

If you like this easy air fryer chicken, try these proteins next:

• Grilled Chicken Thighs
• Oven Baked Chicken Breast
• Greek Marinated Chicken
• Ginger Ground Chicken Meatballs

📖 Recipe

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Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

These Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are an easy protein to serve with any meal, ready in just 15 minutes.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Chicken, high protein, Protein

Servings: 4

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• 1 lb chicken thighs boneless, skinless about 4 chicken thighs
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon dried parsley

Instructions

• Preheat the air fryer to 400F.
• In a large bowl add chicken thighs. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Sprinkle with paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and dried parsley. Toss to combine.
• Add the chicken thighs to a single layer in the basket or tray of your air fryer (ensure they are arranged in a single layer and are NOT touching- if they are touching you will need to cook the chicken in batches).
• Air fry the chicken thighs for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway. The chicken is fully cooked when a meat thermometer inserted into the largest part of the thigh reads 165F.

Notes

Every air fryer is different and the cook time may vary slightly.

*I have included an estimation of the nutrition information for this recipe below. However, always remember a recipe is so much more than just nutritional content and these numbers do not need to dictate your food choices. Please don't forget that both your body and soul need nourishment! The owner of this website is not liable for this estimation.

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