Air Fryer Fried Chicken Thighs
These Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are a delicious, quick and easy dinnertime meal. You won’t believe how crispy they are without all the oil!
FRIED CHICKEN WITHOUT ALL THE OIL
The air fryer is one of those kitchen appliances that I have come to appreciate so much. Especially once the school year starts. There are so many different recipes that you can make in them! These Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are a new favorite since I began experimenting with this recipe. They are full of great flavor, so moist and the whole family devours them. If you are wanting a comforting and easy meal then you have to try this Air Fryer Chicken Thigh recipe.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Yes, you will need to preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F for this recipe.
When you spray your chicken before air frying it helps create the crispy and crunchy outer skin on the chicken like you’d get if it were fried in oil. So you want to be generous and spray it liberally.
Yes! Make sure you spray it well with olive oil spray. This will help the coating of the chicken from sticking to the basket.
That depends on how much work you want to do. You could serve it with ITALIAN GREEN BEANS, MAPLE GLAZED CARROTS or just pick up some steam-and-mash mashed potatoes and warm up some green peas.
The best way to tell when the chicken is thoroughly cooked is to use an instant read meat thermometer. The chicken is done when the thermometer reads 165 degrees F.
Absolutely! The more the better, especially if you are wanting to serve more people. You will want to make this in batches because you don’t want to overcrowd the air fryer.
I use buttermilk for all my fried chicken recipes. It just adds so much flavor and moistness to the chicken. Air fryers can dry out meat really easily so the buttermilk is going to ensure it stays moist. You can make your own buttermilk by adding a splash of vinegar or lemon juice to whole milk or heavy cream and let it sit for a few minutes. However, real, fresh buttermilk will always be the absolute best.
Technically you could use your standard vegetable oil spray. But I find nonstick vegetable oil spray gums up the air fryer. It makes it sticky and hard to clean. The olive oil seems to cook well and keeps the basket from getting sticky with continued use.
This Air Fryer Chicken Thigh recipe can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container or a ziptop bag for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, place it back in the air fryer for about 4 minutes until heated through.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- buttermilk
- egg
- all-purpose flour
- cornstarch
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- salt and pepper
- bone-in chicken thighs
- olive oil cooking spray
HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER CHICKEN THIGHS:
Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Place the buttermilk and egg in a medium-sized bowl and whisk to combine.
Stir together the flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a medium-sized bowl.
Dip the chicken in the buttermilk mixture, let the excess drip off. Place the dipped chicken into the flour mixture and pat it down so it sticks.
Spray the air fryer with olive oil spray. Place the chicken into the air fryer, not touching, you may need to cook in batches. Spray the chicken well with the olive oil spray so it is covered.
Cook for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through and spraying with more olive oil spray. Chicken is done when it is golden brown and an internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Remove from the air fryer.
Serve with your favorite side dishes.
WANT MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES?
Air Fryer Fried Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 pounds bone-in chicken thighs
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Place the buttermilk and egg in a medium-sized bowl and whisk to combine.
- Stir together the flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a medium-sized bowl.
- Dip the chicken in the buttermilk mixture, let the excess drip off. Place the dipped chicken into the flour mixture and pat it down so it sticks.
- Spray the air fryer with olive oil spray. Place the chicken into the air fryer, not touching, you may need to cook in batches. Spray the chicken liberally with the olive oil spray so it is completely covered.
- Cook for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through and spraying liberally again with more olive oil spray. Chicken is done when it is golden brown and an internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Remove from the air fryer and serve with your favorite side dishes.
Notes
- Make sure you preheat your air fryer before placing the chicken thighs into the basket.
- You will want to spray the basket well with olive oil spray before frying.
- You can double this recipe, but cook in batches to not overcrowd your air fryer.
- Chicken is done when it reaches 165 degrees F.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Thanks Brandie!
This recipe is amazing!
So many nuances are possible, but the basic ingredients are close to perfect.
Now my only problem is I’m stuck cooking for hours as my family devours piece after piece
I am definitely trying this recipe! It looks fabulous! Quick question-could I use boneless skinless chicken thighs for this? Thanks!
Hi Christy, absolutely! I like the bone just because I think it keeps the chicken just a bit juicier throughout the air frying process. So, if you have time, soak your boneless chicken thighs in the buttermilk overnight. It really makes the meat so juicy! And just keep an eye on the time too. Once it reaches 165F degrees – you’re good to go. Hope you love it 🙂
How can I use this recipe in a NuWave Pro oven.
I’m not familiar with that brand. I’m sorry. Perhaps someone on here is familiar and can help with your question.