Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to cook thighs in an air fryer? ›

Set the air fryer to a temperature of around 375°F (190°C) and cook the chicken thighs for approximately 20-25 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Cooking times may vary depending on the size of the thighs and the specific model of your air fryer.

Baking Temperature and Timing

While chicken thighs only need to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees as read by a meat thermometer, I recommend you bake them until they reach 180 – 190 degrees. This takes 30-40 minutes at 400 degrees.

The chicken breasts stuck together and ended up unevenly cooked, soggy and practically inedible. Stacked chicken thighs and nuggets cooked with similarly disastrous results. Much like chicken breasts, their flat sides fit together snugly, preventing air circulation.

If you get impatient and heat up your chicken thighs by cranking the temperature all the way up, your chicken will be too dry, which is the last thing you want. Instead, you want to keep your chicken thighs slowly cooking on a low temperature, thus allowing the meat to marinate in its juices and gradually tenderize.

Place chicken thighs in a baking dish; season both sides with garlic powder and onion flakes. Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink at the bone and juices run clear, about 30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh, near the bone, should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

The USDA guidelines lists approximate cooking times of 40 to 50 minutes for 4-to-8-ounce chicken thighs roasted at 350 degrees. In our basic meal prep boneless chicken thighs recipe, they take about 25 to 30 minutes baked at 425 degrees F.

The Directions

Place chicken thighs skin side down in the air fryer basket. Air fry chicken thighs for 16 to 22 minutes at 400 degrees F, flip halfway through. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. Let rest for 5 minutes.

The key to achieving perfectly cooked chicken thighs is baking them at 375F (190C) or until the internal temperature reaches 175F (80C). The oven's temperature is just right for the chicken to cook evenly and get that golden brown glow.

The key is temperature, not color. If you have a meat thermometer, aim for 165-170°F (74-77°C), keeping in mind that meat will continue cooking for 5-10°F (3-6°C) once it's pulled and allowed to rest for 5 minutes.

The great news about air fryers is that you can use foil along with parchment paper to cook your food in an air fryer. Just remember that if it's safe and effective to use in a conventional oven, it will work just fine in an air fryer.

How many pieces of chicken can you put in an air fryer? ›

You can cook as many chicken breasts at a time as will fit in the basket of your Air Fryer. You just don't want them overlapping.

Multiple cooking zones

Simply put, these air fryers have different compartments, so you can cook two delicious dishes at once - ideal for a complete meal. Some have two layers, while others have both a pot and a removable basket (ideal for chips).

While the breast is very low in fat, chicken thighs are higher in fat, and in cooking, fat equals flavor. It also means the thighs are more tender and less likely to dry out than chicken breasts—in other words, they are very easy to cook and very difficult to ruin.

Chicken thighs deliver an exceptional value. Not only do they deliver the most flavor of any cut of chicken, but they are also far cheaper than chicken breast.

Using a meat thermometer to gauge your progress is the best way to make sure your meat is cooked to a safe 165 degrees F without worrying about overcooking. Use your favorite spice rub and marinade, follow the instructions above, and you'll have delicious grilled chicken thighs in no time.

Is it better to bake chicken thighs at 350 or 400? It is recommended to bake chicken thighs at 400ºF. This medium-high heat ensures the juiciest results! Chicken thighs should be roasted in the oven at 400ºF for 40-45 minutes, then broiled for 2 more minutes to get juicy meat and crispy skin!

How Long To Preheat an Air Fryer. Much like with ovens, smaller air fryers will preheat faster than larger ones. So, while a small air fryer may preheat pretty well in two to three minutes, you may want to go for four to give minutes of preheating time in a larger air fryer.