The Best Simple Air Fryer Chicken Thigh Recipe

This JUICY Simple Air Fryer Chicken Thigh recipe is one of my favorite chicken Air Fryer creations.

This Simple Air Fryer Chicken Thigh recipe is so easy to make and goes with EVERYTHING! This recipe does SO well in an air fryer, and once you try it you will know why I love it so much! As a mom of three, I love being able to create easy healthy meals in less than 30 minutes with the help of my air fryer. If you aren't Team Air Fryer yet, don't worry, You can also easily make my Juicy Simple Air Fryer Chicken air fryer recipe in your oven at 380 deg for 30-35 minutes.

What is the SECRET to Juicy Simple Air Fryer Chicken?

The secret to this Juicy Simple Air Fryer Chicken thigh recipe is the secret or not so secret ingredient. I LOVE using sour cream for this recipe because in addition to making the chicken extra juicy, it also adds an extra layer of flavor compared to yogurt. Yogurt is a healthier option, and sometimes I also use greek yogurt to substitute.

Every Air Fryer is Different.

I have 3 Air fryers, and my newest one is a BEAST. I would recommend checking at 20 minutes the internal temp with a meat probe. You might need another 5 mins at 400 to finish the cook or brown up the chicken some more

No Air Fryer? No Problem!

I try to always include alternate cooking instructions, and these chicken thighs are also great oven cooked. For making huge batches I actually do prefer using the oven.

Not using bone-in chicken thighs? Here are some cooking times and instructions for different cuts:

Boneless Chicken Thigh:

Air Fryer (18-20 minutes total) - 380°F for 18-20 minutes skin side up.

Oven (20-25 minutes total) - 380°F for 10 minutes skin side down, flip over and cook an additional 10-15 minutes skin side up.

Bone In Chicken Thigh:

Air fryer (20-25 minutes total) - 380°F for 10 minutes skin side down, flip over and cook an additional 10-15 minutes skin side up.

Oven Bone in Chicken Thigh:(30-35 minutes total) - 380°F for 10 minutes skin side down, flip over and cook an additional 20-25 minutes skin side up.

Drumsticks:

Air Fryer (20-25 minutes total) - 380°F for 6 minutes, flip over and cook another 6 minutes and flip again and cook for another 8-10 minutes.

Oven (30-35 minutes total) - 380°F for 20 minutes and flip over and cook another 10-15 minutes.

Chicken Breast:

Air Fryer (16-19 minutes total) - 360°F for 10 minutes, flip and cook another 6-9 minutes.

Oven (20-25 minutes total) - 380°F for 10 minutes, flip and cook another 10-15 minutes.

If you LOVE this Simple Air Fryer Chicken, here are some other Air Fryer recipes you might like. Check out these other Easy Air Fryer recipes:

• Hot Honey Wings
• Cha siu pork
• Honey Teriyaki Pork Belly

Equipment

• Air Fryer
• or Stove Top
• or Oven

Ingredients

• 2.5 lbs Chicken (I used Bone In Thighs)
• 1 ½ tsp Garlic salt
• 1 tsp Onion powder
• 1 tsp Seasoned salt
• 1 tsp Smoked paprika
• ½ tbsp Italian Seasoning
• 4 tbsp Sour cream (or sub yogurt)
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• Parsley (garnish)

Instructions

• Combine the following ingredients with the chicken and set aside for at least 10 minutes. The flavors will be even more amazing if you marinate overnight! (½ tablespoon Italian Seasoning, 1 ½ teaspoon Garlic salt, 1 teaspoon Onion powder, 1 teaspoon Seasoned salt, 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika, 4 tablespoon Sour cream (or sub yogurt), 2 tablespoon Olive oil)

Air Fryer Cooking Instructions: (Oven Cooking instructions below)

• Preheat air fryer to 380, and add in the chicken skin side down and flip, at the 5 minute mark. Depending on your air fryer, it may take 20-25 minutes to cook fully for chicken thighs. If your chicken thighs are not too thick, you can cook the full time with the skin side up for a crispier skin. **Please see below for cooking times for other cuts of chicken.
• Drumsticks: Air Fryer (20-25 minutes total) - 380°F for 6 minutes, flip over and cook another 6 minutes and flip again and cook for another 8-10 minutes.
• Bone In Chicken Thigh: Air fryer (20-25 minutes total) - 380°F for 5 minutes skin side down, flip over and cook an additional 15-20 minutes skin side up.
• Boneless Chicken Thigh: Air Fryer (18-20 minutes total) - 380°F for 18-20 minutes skin side up
• Chicken Breast: Air Fryer (16-19 minutes total) - 360°F for 10 minutes, flip and cook another 6-9 minutes.
• Once your chicken reaches internal temperature of 165 deg, It's ready!
• Garnish with parsley and enjoy!

Oven Cooking instructions

• Preheat your oven to 380°F and cook for 35-40 minutes
• Boneless Chicken thigh: (20-25 min total) - 380°F for 10 minutes skin side down, flip over and cook an additional 10-15 minutes skin side up.
• Bone in Chicken Thigh:(30-35 minutes total) - 380°F for 10 minutes skin side down, flip over and cook an additional 20-25 minutes skin side up.
• Drumsticks:(30-35 minutes total) - 380°F for 20 minutes and flip over and cook another 10-15 minutes.
• Chicken Breast:(20-25 minutes total) - 380°F for 10 minutes, flip and cook another 10-15 minutes.
• Once your chicken reaches internal temperature of 165 deg, It's ready!
• For extra crisp skin, turn up the heat to 400 until desired brownness is reached
• Garnish with parsley and enjoy!

Stovetop Instructions

• Boneless Chicken Thighs - Skin Side down 5 mins, flip and cook 5-6 min skin side up
• Bone In Chicken Thighs - 10 Minutes skin side down, flip and cook 5-8 min skin side up
• Drumsticks - 8 Minutes larger skin side down, flip and cook 8 mins skin side up
• Once your chicken reaches internal temperature of 165 deg, It's ready!
• Garnish with parsley and enjoy!

📖 Recipe Card