These juicy air fryer fried chicken thighs boast tender meat with perfectly seasoned, crispy skin – all cooked in a fraction of the time it takes in the oven.
While we enjoy easy recipes like Chicken Cacciatore and Creamy Mushroom Thighs, Air Fryer Chicken With Vegetables the air fryer is a lifesaver on time-pressed nights.
Ingredients
- Chicken thighs - for optimal juiciness, and crispy skin, opt for skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks, avoiding boneless, skinless chicken in this recipe.
- Cornstarch - thickens the batter, enhances color, and absorbs moisture for ultra-crispy, golden-brown chicken skin.
- Egg - acts as a binder for the cornstarch, aiding seasoning adherence to the chicken.
- Dry rub/seasonings - a simple blend of garlic powder, paprika, celery salt, black pepper, turmeric, and a touch of cayenne spice.
📋 You can find the full ingredient list in the Recipe Card below the article.
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How To Make Crispy Fried Chicken Thighs
- Season the chicken thighs. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon of celery salt evenly over the chicken thighs. Set them aside. If you prefer boneless chicken thighs, remember to reduce the cooking time accordingly.
- Prepare the coating bowls. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch, leftover 1 teaspoon of celery salt, and all spices (or use your own spice mix). In another bowl, whisk the egg until smooth.
- Coat the chicken thighs. One by one, dredge the chicken thigh and roll it in the seasoning mixture, ensuring it's evenly coated. Then using kitchen tongs, dip it into the beaten egg, making sure it's fully covered. Finally, roll it again in the seasoning mixture, pressing the mixture gently onto the chicken. Shake off any excess coating.
- Repeat this process with the remaining chicken thighs. Things will get ''messy'' in the end, and to make it easier, divide the cornstarch mixture into two bowls.
- Preheat the air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
- Place the coated chicken thighs into the air fryer basket, skin side up first. Lightly spray them with cooking oil. Air fry the chicken thighs. Cook the chicken in the air fryer for 22-25 minutes, flipping each thigh halfway through the cooking time.
- By the time chicken is cooked there may be a few spots with cornstarch, you can gently brush them or lightly spray them with cooking oil.
- Check the chicken's doneness: To ensure the chicken is fully cooked, use a kitchen meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. It should reach a minimum temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) for safe consumption.
- SERVE! Once the chicken thighs are crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside, they are ready to be served. Serve with side salad, pasta or hot sauce for dipping!
Recipe Troubleshoot
Why isn't the chicken skin crispy?
- For extra crispy chicken thigh skin, pat it dry before seasoning. For added assurance, leave it uncovered in the refrigerator to let the skin dry out a bit.
- Check your air fryer settings and ensure it's working at the right temperature; higher temperatures are generally better for achieving crispy skin.
- Don't overcrowd the basket.
- Don’t forget to flip it halfway through.
Why does my coating fall off my chicken?
- After first dredging, pop it on a wire rack for about 10 mins. The coating will cling so much better!
- Shake off extra cornstarch mixture from the chicken. Too much prevents the egg mix from sticking, ruining that crispy ''breading''.
- Just like with any coating ingredients take care to coat the meat evenly from all sides.
Tips
- Preheat the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer for better and consistent results, especially recommended for this fried chicken recipe. Note: Avoid using air-fryer basket liners during reheating to prevent fire risk.
- Whether using cooking spray or a basting brush, a light spritz of oil is sufficient; the chicken doesn't need to be fully covered.
- After cooking, you may have some uncooked cornstarch ''spots'', simply spritz them with oil or brush them off with a basting brush.
Julia's Tip
Turmeric - my secret ingredient! Turmeric adds a warm color and subtle flavor. If you don't have turmeric, you can omit it, or use a pinch of saffron for color.
What To Serve With Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Sauces and dips
- Buffalo sauce
- Green goddess dip
- Mustard sauce
- Bang bang sauce from my air fryer chicken recipe!
Storing Leftovers
- To Store. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
- To Reheat. In air fryer, at 350 degrees F and cook the chicken until piping hot and steaming, about 5 minutes.
- To Freeze. Freeze fried thighs in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months (better flavor if consumed sooner). Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
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Recipe Card
Air Fryer Fried Chicken Thighs
These Air Fryer Fried Chicken Thighs are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and packed with flavor! A quick and easy way to get perfectly golden, seasoned chicken in a fraction of the time. No deep frying needed!
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INGREDIENTS
- 4 small bone-in skin-on chicken thighs , about 1 pound
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 ½ teaspoon celery salt, divided, or regular kosher salt
- olive oil cooking spray, or avocado
INSTRUCTIONS
- Season the chicken thighs. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon of celery salt evenly over the chicken thighs. Set them aside.
- Prepare the coating bowls. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch, leftover 1 teaspoon of celery salt, and all spices (or use your own spice mix).
- In another bowl, whisk the egg until smooth.
- Coat the chicken thighs. One by one, dredge the chicken thigh and roll it in the seasoning mixture, ensuring it's evenly coated.
- Then using kitchen tongs, dip it into the beaten egg, making sure it's fully covered.
- Finally, roll it again in the seasoning mixture, pressing the mixture gently onto the chicken. Shake off any excess coating. Repeat this process with the remaining chicken thighs.
- Preheat the air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
- Place the coated chicken thighs into the air fryer basket, skin side up first. Lightly spray them with cooking oil.
- Air fry the chicken thighs. Cook the chicken in the air fryer for 22-25 minutes, flipping each thigh halfway through the cooking time.
- By the time chicken is cooked there may be a few spots with cornstarch, you can gently brush them or lightly spray them with cooking oil.
- The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the chicken thighs. Ensure they are evenly cooked on both sides. Check the chicken's doneness: To ensure the chicken is fully cooked, use a kitchen meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. It should reach a minimum temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) for safe consumption.
- Enjoy the flavorful fried chicken! Once the chicken thighs are crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside, they are ready to be served. Enjoy!
NOTES
- This recipe makes about 2-4 servings.
- If you prefer boneless chicken thighs, remember to reduce the cooking time accordingly. But I highly recommend using bone-in skin-on chicken here. Check the blog post for more details.
- Things will get ''messy'' in the end, and to make it easier, divide the cornstarch mixture into two bowls.
- Flavor and texture - A satisfying texture that's crisp and golden on the outside, while tender and succulent on the inside. Similar to KFC but way better, so much better and healthier for you. Spices like paprika, celery salt, turmeric, garlic, and smoky cayenne complement the juicy chicken beautifully.
- Why isn't the chicken skin crispy?
- For an extra crispy chicken thigh skin, ensure it's dry before dredging. Pat the chicken dry before seasoning, and for added assurance, leave it uncovered in the refrigerator to let the skin dry out a bit.
- Also, make sure the skin is tightly covering the meat and avoid moving it around excessively during cooking to prevent tearing.
- Check your air fryer settings and ensure it's working at the right temperature; higher temperatures are generally better for achieving crispy skin.
- Don't overcrowd the basket. Cooking too many chicken thighs in the air fryer at once can lead to overcrowding, preventing proper air circulation and even cooking. Ensure there is enough space between the chicken pieces for crispy results.
- Don’t forget to flip it halfway through.
- Why does my coating fall off my chicken?
- Air dry the cornstarch seasoning on the chicken before air frying. After first dredging, pop it on a wire rack for about 10 mins. The coating will cling so much better!
- Shake off the extra cornstarch mixture from the chicken. Too much prevents the egg mix from sticking, ruining that crispy ''breading''.
- Just like with any coating ingredients take care to coat the meat evenly from all sides.
ADD YOUR OWN PRIVATE NOTES
NUTRITION
Calories: 399kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 25gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 183mgSodium: 1001mgPotassium: 335mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 445IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg
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Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on the products used.
Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.
More Air Fryer Recipes
We love to use air fryer to both cook and reheat foods! Salmon, pork chops and chicken drumsticks taste absolutely delicious in the air fryer.
Roseanne
My first attempt at air fried chicken…..husband approved!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
happy you liked it!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Juicy, crispy, flavorful and simply delicious healthier-for-you fried chicken made in air fryer!