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    Home » Recipes » Main Course

    Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

    Modified: Aug 16, 2023 · Published: Jan 10, 2023 by Angela Lietzke · This post may contain affiliate links · 14 Comments

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    Prepare a delicious and nutritious dinner in under 20 minutes with my favorite air fryer boneless skinless chicken thighs! Made with a handful of simple ingredients, air frying boneless skinless chicken thighs allows them to stay tender and juicy on the inside with a crispy exterior.

    Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs cooked in the air fryer are on parchment paper and sprinkled with fresh green parley.

    Save this Recipe!

    I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!

    Looking for more easy chicken dinner recipes? You will enjoy my Cheez It chicken or juicy panko breaded chicken. And try my air fryer thin pork chops or air fryer turkey tenderloins for more easy air fryer dinner ideas.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love this Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Recommended Tools
    • How to Make Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
    • Pro Tips
    • Swaps & Substitutions
    • What to serve with chicken thighs?
    • Storage & Reheating
    • Easy Air Fryer Recipes
    • Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

    Why You'll Love this Recipe

    Seasoned with paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, and onion powder, these chicken thighs are simple and flavorful. Plus, who can resist crunchy, crispy edges? No joke, boneless skinless chicken thighs in the air fryer is my favorite way to eat chicken.

    I love cooking this chicken thigh recipe for dinner and making enough for meal prep for lunch all week. Add it to salads, tacos, or simply eat with a side of veggies.

    • Quick & Easy! From start to finish, this recipe takes under 20 minutes to cook. Hello, quick weeknight dinner!
    • Crispy & Juicy! Air fried boneless chicken thighs come out magically crisp on the outside and tender on the center every time.
    • Healthy & Flavorful! These skinless chicken thighs in air fryer are packed with flavor without adding excess oil. Plus, with no breading, they are low carb, keto, and gluten-free.
    • High in protein! One chicken thigh without skin is about 28 grams of protein.
    Crispy Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs on parchment paper with fresh parsley.

    Ingredients

    • Boneless skinless chicken thighs. For another recipe using this cut of meat, try my baked chicken orzo for another delicious meal.
    • Olive oil
    • Seasoning blend - smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper

    Recommended Tools

    • Air Fryer - I've had my favorite air fryer for years with no complaints!
    • Meat thermometer - Use an instant meat thermometer to make sure the chicken is fully cooked.
    Ingredients needed to make this recipe: boneless skinless chicken thighs, seasoning blend, and olive oil.

    How to Make Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

    Air frying boneless chicken thighs is super easy with minimal cleanup. Air fry skinless chicken thighs to crispy, juicy perfection in a matter of minutes with very little effort on your part.

    Step 1: First, start by preheating the air fryer. Pat chicken thighs dry with a paper towel. This is an important step to get crispy chicken thighs.

    Step 2: In a small bowl, combine seasonings. Drizzle chicken with olive oil and seasoning blend. Rub oil and seasonings into the meat to fully cover all sides of the chicken.

    Uncooked boneless skinless chicken thighs seasoned with a seasoning blend of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and brown sugar are on parchment paper.

    Step 3: Place chicken thighs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket - this is another key to getting crispy chicken. Cook in batches, if needed. Let chicken thighs rest a few minutes before cutting so they stay moist.

    How long to air fry boneless skinless chicken thighs?

    Air fry boneless chicken thighs at 380°F for about 12-14 minutes depending on the size, until the internal temperature reaches 165 °F . Flip chicken halfway through cooking to ensure all sides get crispy.

    Uncooked chicken thighs in air fryer basket.
    Cooked air fryer chicken thighs in an air fryer basket.

    Pro Tips

    • Cook this chicken thigh recipe in a preheated air fryer.
    • Cook time will vary based on the size of the chicken pieces and air fryer wattage. Cook chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165 °F.
    • Pat chicken thighs dry with a paper towel before adding oil and seasoning.
    • When air frying boneless chicken thighs, there should be a light layer of oil on the chicken to get the perfect crunch. If the chicken gets too dry from the rub, lightly spray with olive oil.
    • Let chicken thighs rest a few minutes before cutting so they stay moist.

    Swaps & Substitutions

    • Make it spicy! Add ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the seasoning blend for a kick of spice.
    • Switch up the seasoning! I like to make these air fryer skinless chicken thighs with my DIY Taco Seasoning or Homemade Blackened Seasoning.
    • Instead of using oil and seasonings, brush chicken with a sauce, like Buffalo, homemade BBQ sauce, or Teriyaki.
    Air Fryer chicken thighs on parchment paper with fresh parsley sprinkled on top.

    What to serve with chicken thighs?

    So many options! Chicken thighs pair well with most vegetables, potatoes, and rice. Look at my favorite air fryer side dishes for a tasty air fryer side dish idea.

    When I make this recipe with taco seasoning, I like to serve chicken thighs with Cauliflower Spanish Rice with Salsa for a low carb Tex-Mex inspired meal.

    Storage & Reheating

    Like I mentioned, I love making air fryer boneless skinless chicken thighs for an easy meal prep. Store air fried boneless chicken thighs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    To reheat, cook in the microwave for 60-90 seconds. You can also reheat chicken in air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes until warm.

    If you want to freeze chicken thighs, store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

    Easy Air Fryer Recipes

    • Air fryer turkey tenderloin on a plate sliced into medallions with a rosemary garnish.
      Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin
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      Easy Shrimp Tacos with Cabbage Slaw (4 Cooking Methods)
    • Air fried Chilean sea bass fillet on a plate with lemon wedges.
      Air Fryer Chilean Sea Bass Recipe
    • Cheez-It chicken tenders on a baking sheet with a small bowl of ranch dipping sauce.
      Cheez-It Chicken (Easy Cheesy Chicken Tenders)

    If you try this recipe or any recipe from Happy Honey Kitchen, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below! Enjoy!

    Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs cooked in the air fryer are on parchment paper and sprinkled with fresh green parley.

    Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

    Angela Lietzke
    Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs are perfect for a quick dinner. Air fried boneless skinless chicken thighs are juicy and crispy.
    4.87 from 22 votes
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    Save this Recipe!

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    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 14 minutes mins
    Total Time 19 minutes mins
    Course Chicken, Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 205 kcal

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer
    • Meat thermometer
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    Ingredients
      

    • 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
    • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
    • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat air fryer to 380°F. Pat chicken thighs dry with a paper towel.
    • In a small bowl, combine seasonings. Drizzle chicken with olive oil and seasoning blend. Rub oil and seasonings into the meat to fully cover all sides of the chicken.
    • Place chicken thighs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook at 380°F for 10-12 minutes depending on the size. Flip halfway though cooking.
    • Chicken thighs should reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove from the air fryer and rest a few minutes before slicing so they stay moist on the inside.

    Notes

    • If you are cooking bone-in chicken thighs, cooking time will be longer. The cook time will vary based on the size of the chicken pieces and air fryer wattage. Cook chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
    • Place chicken in a single layer and don't overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure crispy air fryer chicken.
    • Let chicken thighs rest 5 minutes before cutting so you don't lose the juices in the center.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 205kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 22gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 107mgSodium: 393mgPotassium: 310mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 520IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      4.87 from 22 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Eric L

      March 25, 2025 at 4:19 pm

      5 stars
      Just made this tonight, Only thing I added was a bit of oregano to add more flavor. Everything else was the same. Smells heavenly I know it will be delicious when we get to eat it. Serving with rice and broccoli florets.

      Reply
    2. Darrell

      February 19, 2025 at 6:31 pm

      5 stars
      Really loved the seasoning. Any tips on the best way to reheat them?

      Reply
      • Angela Lietzke

        February 20, 2025 at 6:16 am

        Thanks for the feedback. I'm happy you liked the seasoning. My favorite method is to reheat chicken thighs in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes until warm. You can also heat them in the microwave for 60-90 seconds or covered on the stovetop with a splash of chicken broth.

        Reply
    3. Henry

      July 10, 2024 at 8:42 am

      5 stars
      These are so good!

      Reply
    4. Jenn C

      June 07, 2023 at 5:20 pm

      5 stars
      Easy and Delicious!!
      I omitted the brown sugar and used sweet paprika instead of smoked paprika.
      Thank you!

      Reply
    5. Bill

      March 20, 2023 at 1:52 pm

      5 stars
      At what temperature do I preheat the fryer? What temperature should I set the air fryer to cook the chicken thighs??

      Reply
      • happyhoneykitchen

        March 21, 2023 at 8:49 am

        5 stars
        Preheat the air fryer to 400°F then cook chicken thighs at 400°F. Enjoy!

        Reply
        • Meredith

          March 04, 2025 at 2:48 pm

          It says 380 on the post but you said 400 here. Which one is correct?

        • Angela Lietzke

          March 04, 2025 at 7:37 pm

          Thanks for bringing this to my attention. The correct cook temperature is 380 degrees. I hope you enjoy!

    6. David

      February 26, 2023 at 6:00 pm

      5 stars
      I may have an eyesight problem as I couldn’t find this one thing.
      At what temperature should these be cooked?

      Reply
      • happyhoneykitchen

        February 27, 2023 at 9:49 am

        5 stars
        Cook at 400°F - you can find this in #3 of the "instructions" section in the recipe card. Enjoy!

        Reply
    7. Taylour

      January 15, 2023 at 2:27 pm

      5 stars
      Looks really good! I've been wanting to venture into other air fryer recipes and paprika on anything is amazing!

      Reply
    8. Stacy

      January 15, 2023 at 10:56 am

      5 stars
      This recipe was amazing. The flavour was just right.

      Reply
    9. Healthy Hearty Wholesome

      January 12, 2023 at 8:05 am

      5 stars
      Yum! I love chicken thighs.

      Reply

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    Hey y'all! I'm Angela, the blogger, recipe developer, and foodie behind Happy Honey Kitchen! Born and raised in Texas, I have a passion for Tex-Mex food. Here you'll find easy, approachable Tex-Mex recipes that bring the bold flavors of Texas straight to your table!

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