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Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe Perfect Golden Skin at Home

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This recipe delivers crispy, golden skin chicken thighs with juicy, tender meat using an air fryer for a quick, fuss-free dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1.5 lbs or 700g)
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme or rosemary (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat each chicken thigh’s skin side thoroughly with paper towels to remove moisture. Let rest uncovered in the fridge for 15-30 minutes if possible.
  2. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (205°C) for about 5 minutes.
  3. Drizzle olive oil over the chicken and rub evenly all over the skin and under it if possible. Sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, and dried herbs if using. Coat thoroughly.
  4. Place the thighs skin-side down in a single layer inside the air fryer basket. Avoid overcrowding. Cook for 10 minutes.
  5. Flip the thighs skin-side up using tongs. Cook for another 10-12 minutes at 400°F (205°C).
  6. Check doneness with an instant-read thermometer; it should read 165°F (74°C). If not, cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
  7. Remove the thighs and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Drying the skin thoroughly and resting the chicken uncovered in the fridge before cooking is key to achieving crispy skin. Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to allow proper air circulation. Flip halfway through cooking to crisp skin evenly. Rest chicken after cooking to lock in juices. For reheating, use the air fryer or oven at 350°F to maintain crispiness. Variations include adding cayenne pepper for spice or gluten-free panko for extra crunch.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer chicken thighs, crispy chicken, easy chicken recipe, quick dinner, golden skin chicken, healthy chicken, gluten-free chicken

Find it online: https://emmaoven.com/crispy-air-fryer-chicken-thighs-recipe-perfect-golden-skin-at-home/