Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Juicy on the inside with beautifully crisp, golden skin, these air fryer chicken thighs make an easy weeknight dinner with very little fuss.

Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 20–25 minutes | Serves: 4

Ingredients

  • 8 chicken thighs, skin on and bone in
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp dried thyme
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper

Method

  • Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towel.
  • Rub with olive oil, then season evenly with the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt and pepper.
  • Preheat the air fryer to 190°C for about 3 minutes.
  • Place the thighs in the basket skin-side down, leaving space around them for the hot air to circulate.
  • Air fry for 10 minutes, then turn skin-side up and cook for another 10–15 minutes, until golden and crisp and the thickest part reaches at least 74°C internally.
  • Rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Kitchen Tip

For extra-crispy skin, pat the chicken thighs very dry before seasoning and avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Leaving space around each piece allows the hot air to circulate and crisp the skin evenly.