Before You Get Started
- Make sure you’ve got a spray oil that’s safe for use in air fryers. Aerosolized cooking sprays can damage the coating on the air fryer basket, so avoid those at all costs!
How to Make This Recipe
Prep the Chicken
Trim the chicken thighs of any excess fat, then pat them completely dry with paper towels. Rub your spice-blend-of-choice into the chicken thighs, making sure to cover them completely and evenly.
Cheryl’s Tip: Removing the moisture from the surface of the chicken helps them crisp up really nicely. Don’t skip that step!
Into the Fryer
Place the seasoned chicken thighs in the air fryer basket, making sure they don’t touch or overlap. If your air fryer is on the smaller side, you may need to cook the chicken in batches just depending on the size of the chicken thighs. Air fry the chicken thighs 10 minutes, then flip them over and air fry them 4-5 minutes more.
Cheryl’s Tip: A timer is nice, but using a meat thermometer to determine when your chicken’s fully cooked is more reliable. Take the thighs out of the air fryer when they reach 160° Fahrenheit inside!
Rest, then serve
Once you’ve hit your target temp, take the chicken thighs out of the air fryer and set them aside, either on serving plates or a clean cutting board. Let them rest for 5 minutes while you finish up your sides. That rest time is super important – it allows the juices in the chicken to settle, but it also lets the chicken finish cooking to a food-safe temperature.
After the chicken thighs have rested for 5 minutes, serve them however you’d like and enjoy!
What I Love About This Recipe
- I love how effortless cooking boneless, skinless chicken thighs in the air fryer actually is. Sure, you need to trim and season the chicken, but other than that?
- The whole process is pretty quick, too – they only take about 15 minutes to cook through completely. You’ll be enjoying a tasty chicken-thigh dinner before you know it!
- You might be surprised by just how crispy the outside of these skinless chicken thighs can get when you air fry them. That’s largely due to the tasty spice blend you’ll massage into the chicken, but the cooking method deserves some credit, too.
- Since we’re just using chicken thighs and spices, this recipe fits a bunch of different dietary needs. Air fryer boneless, skinless chicken thighs are dairy free. Gluten free. Grain free. They’re keto and low carb. Paleo and Whole30-compatible. Soy free. Seed oil free. Seriously, they’ll work for anyone you might have around your table.
- After air frying the chicken thighs, you can serve them a number of ways! They’re great as-is with your favorite sides, of course. You can also chop them up for a salad, shred them for tacos or wraps, or make them into a tasty chicken sandwich.
Recipe Variations
- Variety is the Spice of Life: So don’t be afraid to use a variety of spices on your chicken thighs!
Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer
Cooking boneless, skinless chicken thighs in the air fryer is an absolute game-changer! Crispy outside, juicy inside, and super flavorful – plus it’s ready in roughly 30 minutes.
(toggle on to prevent screen dimming)Preheat air fryer to 380° Fahrenheit.
- Place 6 medium boneless, skinless chicken thighs on cutting board. Trim chicken thighs as needed, removing any excess fat.
- Add 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepperand 1 teaspoon salt to small mixing bowl. Mix spices together until well blended.
- Pat chicken thighs completely dry on all sides with paper towels. Sprinkle half of spice blend over prepared chicken thighs, then gently rub spice blend into thighs. Flip chicken thighs over and repeat, seasoning other side of chicken thighs completely.
- Remove basket from preheated air fryer and lightly spray basket with neutral-flavored spray oil, making sure to cover bottom and sides of basket.
- Place seasoned chicken thighs in air fryer basket with smooth side of thighs facing up, arranging thighs in one even layer without overlapping or touching.
- Return basket to preheated air fryer. Air fry chicken thighs 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, remove basket from air fryer. Flip chicken thighs over, again arranging thighs in one even layer without overlapping.
- Return basket to air fryer. Air fry chicken thighs 4 minutes.
- After 4 minutes, remove basket from air fryer. Insert internal meat thermometer into thickest area of chicken thighs. If internal temperature of chicken is below 160° Fahrenheit, return basket to air fryer and air fry chicken 1 to 2 minutes more.
- When internal temperature of chicken thighs reaches 160° to 162° Fahrenheit, transfer chicken thighs to serving plates. Set chicken aside to rest 5 minutes, allowing internal temperature to reach 165° Fahrenheit.
- After resting chicken 5 minutes, serve thighs warm with desired sides.
- Internal Temperature: The food-safe internal temperature for boneless, skinless chicken thighs is 165° Fahrenheit. To ensure you don’t accidentally overcook the chicken, remove it from the air fryer when it reaches 160°-162° Fahrenheit. The residual heat will continue cooking the chicken as it rests.
Serving Size: 1servingCalories: 205calProtein: 33gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 162mgSodium: 540mgPotassium: 433mgTotal Carbs: 1gFiber: 0.2gSugar: 0.05gNet Carbs: 1gVitamin A: 206IUVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
Did You Make This Recipe?
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