Why Are My Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Dry And Though
Here are a few things that caused them to be dry and tough:
- You didnt bring the chicken out of the fridge for 20 minutes before cooking: This is key for even cooking!
- The thighs were overcooked: Make sure to take them out of the air fryer as soon as they reach an internal temp of 165° F . By overcooking bone-in thighs you may even get their skin too brown.
- After air frying them, you didnt allow the chicken thighs to rest for 5 minutes before cutting them. The resting time will re-distribute the juices and lock the moisture in.
How To Make Bone
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The Most Important Tool For Cooking Meat
While using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs gives you better protection from dry meat than if you were to use boneless skinless chicken thighs, you can still overcook chicken thighs. For best resultsuse an instant read thermometer.
- Good Budget Option. This instant read thermometer costs less than $15 and will save your dinner.
- Best Option. This one is well-worth the price tag if you cook often. It reads results immediately and is dead accurate.
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How Long To Cook Chicken Thighs In The Air Fryer
The cook time will depend on the size of the chicken pieces, whether or not they have a bone, and could also depend on your model of air fryer. These cook times are estimates. The best way to tell if your chicken is done is to use an instant read thermometer. Chicken should be cooked to 165° F measured at the thickest part, not touching the bone.
- Air fry bone-in chicken thighs at 400° F for 12 minutes, then flip and cook for 7-12 more minutes.
- Air fry boneless chicken thighs at 400° F for 11-15 minutes. You do not need to flip them during the cook time.
Air Fryer Bone In Chicken Thighs
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These mouthwatering air fryer bone in chicken thighs are crispy and buttery on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, and an absolute breeze to prepare. This recipe is easy to make and pairs well with all of your favorite side dishes.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, please read my disclaimer.
This air fryer chicken thigh bone in recipe is perfect for a hearty, satisfying and crowd-pleasing weeknight meal.
One of the many great things about chicken is how incredibly versatile it is, and this recipe is no exception. You can enjoy these air fryer chicken thighs with salads, pastas, rice, quinoa, potatoes, or any other vegetable under the sun.
This air fryer bone in chicken thighs recipe just so happens to be gluten-free, keto, and paleo, so any friends or family with these dietary restrictions can relax and enjoy.
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Making The Best Keto Green Beans With Bacon
Cook your diced bacon in a hot skillet until it is nice and crispy, then remove it from the pan with a slotted spoon. You can drain the bacon on paper towels, or just scoop them out into a bowl and set them aside.
Be sure to use a large skillet with a lid so we can cover the green beans when we go to cook them.
We need to remove all of the bacon grease from the pan except for 2 tablespoon.
Now we can add the green beans to the pan along with the soy sauce. Toss them around for a few minutes over medium-high heat to give them some color.
Now we can reduce the heat to medium and cover them with a lid. Let them cook for about 8 minutes, stirring them occasionally.
The key to these green beans being seasoned properly is soy sauce . I like to cook with kosher salt but it doesn’t stick to green beans very well. It all just ends up on the bottom of the skillet. Soy sauce is the perfect salty alternative…so throw it in there!
Right before serving, toss in the garlic and season with freshly ground black pepper.
Now we can top them with the bacon and serve.
There you have it! A perfect and simple low carb side dish for the Thanksgiving table!
How Long Does It Take To Cook Frozen Chicken Thighs In An Air Fryer
How long do you cook thighs in an air fryer? Remember that the amount of time that it will take for your chicken to become done all the way through will depend on various factors. Cook times will change according to how many chicken thighs you place in the air fryer basket at once, how thick your chicken thighs are, and at what temperature you air fry the chicken.
As indicated in previous sections, we suggest that you air fry bone-in chicken thighs at around 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Boneless skinless thighs at 385 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that bone-in chicken thighs will take around 30 minutes to become cooked all the way through. Thinner and easier-to-cook boneless skinless thighs may take as little as 15 minutes.
It really just depends on the type of chicken you are cooking, whether or not the chicken is fresh or frozen, and the temperature that you are cooking it on.
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How To Make Air Fryer Bone In Chicken Thighs
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Preheat your air fryer to 380 degrees F.
STEP TWO: Drizzle your chicken thighs with olive oil and season them with salt and pepper. Then, combine the poultry seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl. Rub the meat with the seasoning mixture until it is completely covered. You may end up with extra seasoning.
STEP THREE: Place your chicken thighs in the air fryer basket. Cook for 12 minutes, flip, and cook for another 6 to 7 minutes. Thighs are done when a meat thermometer reads an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
STEP FOUR: Allow the meat a few minutes to rest before serving. You can garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
STEP FIVE: Serve and enjoy!
What To Serve With Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Crispy chicken is good, but it really shines when you add a tasty side dish or two. From creamy pasta to a crisp chopped salad, here are a few of my favorite things to serve with crispy air fryer chicken thighs.
- Salad: My favorite chopped salad might just be Shopska . Made with cucumber, tomato, onion, bell pepper, and feta cheese, its so refreshing and healthy, with a juicy burst of fresh veggie flavor in every bite.
- Creamy Pasta: This Creamy Asparagus Pasta Recipe is a comforting, yet healthy pasta dish that goes beautifully with chicken I even like to put my chicken in the pasta! The sweet pop of peas and mellow, nutty flavor of fresh asparagus are a winning combo in a light garlic and cream sauce.
- Garlic Rosemary Mashed Potatoes: Garlic Rosemary Mashed Potatoes are amazing with almost anything, but chicken thighs are truly perfect.
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Frozen Chicken Thighs In Air Fryer
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Craving chicken for dinner but only have some thats frozen? Frozen chicken thighs in the air fryer are an option!
Similar to how youd make fresh chicken thighs in the air fryer, these frozen thighs turn out just as juicy, crispy, and oh so tasty!
How Long Should I Bake Chicken Breasts At 400
How To Bake Chicken Breast Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Toss the chicken breasts with olive oil, herbs, and spices . Lightly grease a baking dish or pan so the chicken breasts dont stick. Bake chicken breasts for 22-26 minutes or until they reach 165°F. Rest them before you slice or pull them.
Also Check: Cook Temperature For Chicken Breast
How Long Does Bone
Bone-in skin-on chicken takes about 18-24 minutes total when cooked in the air fryer at 380F, based on my experience.
The exact time will depend on chicken starting temperature, size of chicken thighs, and your model of air fryer.
I recommend using a meat thermometer for the most accurate measure of doneness.
Ingredients For Making Chicken Thighs In An Air Fryer
- Chicken Thighs Youll want about 2½ pounds of bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. If you use chicken breasts, you will need to adjust the cooking time. I recommend using a meat thermometer to ensure a perfect cook!
- Seasoning A simple mixture of oregano, thyme, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper will bring out the natural flavors of the thighs. Smoked paprika is also an option.
- Oil For cooking Chicken Thighs in the air fryer, I recommend using avocado oil due to its high smoke point. You could use olive oil, but I do not recommend extra virgin olive oil.
Read Also: Lemon Pepper Marinade For Chicken
What Can You Not Cook In An Air Fryer
Things You Should Never Cook In An Air Fryer Dont attempt typical fried foods with a wet batter in an air fryer. Broccoli gets dry in an air fryer. Skip entire roasts or whole chickens in an air fryer. Cheese melts into a mess in an air fryer. Air fryers wont result in a perfect medium-rare burger. Air fryers can t cook foods like rice that need a lot of liquid.
How Long To Cook Chicken Thighs In Air Fryer
Every part of the chicken is delicious, but the thigh is an especially tender and tasty part. The meat practically falls off the bone if its cooked right while being full of savory flavor at the same time. It is common to roast chicken thighs in the oven. But the result is equally fantastic when cooking chicken thighs in the air fryer. The air fryer chicken thighs time and temperature are important for a excellent result. If you havent had the opportunity to try making air fried chicken thighs yet, this is your chance. The best temperature to air fry chicken thighs is 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Many people ask this. How long to cook chicken thighs in air fryer? In this post, lets touch on this and hear tips on the recipe for cooking chicken thighs in air fryer.
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Chicken Thighs Vs Chicken Breasts
Both chicken thighs and breasts are great sources of lean protein, but they differ in both the type of meat and the location in which it comes from in the chicken itself.
Chicken thighs come from the thigh of the chicken and are a dark cut of poultry. Because of this, it is a fattier cut of meat but still packs great protein. For a 3.5 oz. chicken thigh: 209 calories.
Chicken breasts come from the breast of the chicken and are a white cut of meat. Because white meat is leaner than dark meat, youll find that chicken breasts have less fat and calories than the same size chicken thigh. For a 3.5 oz. chicken breast: 165 calories.
Tips For Perfect Air Fryer Chicken
- Air fryers can vary, so adjust cooking times and temperatures if needed.
- Preheat the air fryer for best results.
- Let chicken rest 5 minutes before serving.
- Be sure that the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F before serving. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the meat, making sure it doesnt touch the bone.
Read Also: Marie Calender Chicken Pot Pie
Our Dry Rub Recipe For Chicken
Rub thighs with olive oil, then mix:
Other idea is to use our amazing chicken dry rub you can use on thighs.
Massage chicken thighs with olive oil, then use:
- Or mix even amounts of salt, pepper, and garlic powder
- Another option is to go simple with a sprinkle of Lawrys seasoning
- Marinating is great too. We did this with our sheet pan chicken thighs.
Soak your thighs in your favorite type overnight in the fridge.
If making our brown sugar chicken rub the top skin will get dark brown because the sugar is going to caramelize. Not to worry.
We did 10 minutes time once the skin was facing up and everyone in the house agreed that they were amazing!!
What Can I Eat This Recipe With
This chicken thigh recipe is excellent as a standalone dish when paired with your favorite sauce. Some great options are buffalo sauce, BBQ sauce, or African pepper sauce. You can also drizzle some keto gravy on it.
Enjoy this air fryer bone-in chicken thighs recipe with some coleslaw or veggies like broccoli.
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Tips For Crispy Chicken Thighs
Using an air fryer, makes this super simple. This recipe is the perfect but you can vary it as you desire. Its so versatile and easy to customize. There are a few tips I have discovered in cooking this recipe that will help it turn out gorgeous!
- Seasoning: Because the air fryer uses circulating air to cook the chicken, you dont want your spices to go flying off the chicken. That why we use a tiny bit of oil to help the spices adhere to the chicken. Only use enough to have the seasoning stick.
- Over Crowd: Since the air is circulating you dont want to over crowd your air fryer and overlap the chicken too much. It will prevent the air from being able to circulate around all the chicken and it wont get done evenly. You may have to cook it in batches. Keep the other batches warm by covering them with foil.
- Know your Air Fryer: Every air fryer is a little different. Make sure you read your instruction manual and follow their suggestions for cooking. My suggestions are just that, suggestions. Adapt the time and temperature as necessary for your particular make and model.
- Make sure its done: No matter what you temp or how long you cook it at, make sure the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Use an instant read thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh to check.
- Vary the Seasoning: Vary the seasoning for your tastes and purposes.
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Bone In
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These Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Bone In will be the juiciest chicken thighs you have ever eaten. It takes about 20 minutes to air fry and serve your chicken dinner.
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Also Check: Baking Chicken Legs And Thighs
Can I Bake Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs In The Oven:
Absolutely! If you dont own an air fryer or if you simply prefer baking chicken thighs in the oven, feel free to do so.
Transfer the chicken thighs to a large casserole dish and bake at 425 degrees F. for 20 minutes, or until the chicken thighs reach 165 degrees F on the inside.
For crispy chicken thighs, turn on the broil setting and select High. Broil for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the chicken thighs are crispy on top.
If you love cooking boneless skinless chicken thighs, also check out my Asian Baked Boneless Chicken Thighs recipe!
Enjoy this simple, flavorful boneless chicken thighs recipe!
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My Method For Crispy Chicken Thigh Skin
I start by pre-heating the air fryer before I spray with cooking spray. I do this only when I want my food to be really crispy.
I make sure the chicken thighs are patted dry and any excess skin is cut away.
Then I mix the chicken thighs with all of the seasonings.
Now we can place the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket skin side down.
I do this so the skin can start to render the fat without browning the skin too much.
I also do this with my Air fryer whole chicken recipe.
My Air fryer has a 6 quart basket so 4 chicken thighs fit perfectly.
If your air fryer is smaller you would need to cook these in batches.
After the chicken thighs cook skin side down, we can flip them over and continue to cook them until the skin is nice and crispy and the internal temperature is 165F.
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