Air Fryer Fried Chicken Thighs

Name: Air Fryer Fried Chicken Thighs
Prep time: 8 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 38 min
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

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

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.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs on wooden board with parsley in background.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Do I have to preheat my air fryer?

Yes, you will need to preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F for this recipe.

What does spraying the chicken help with?

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.

Do I need to spray my air fryer basket?

Yes! Make sure you spray it well with olive oil spray. This will help the coating of the chicken from sticking to the basket.

What can I serve with this?

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.

When is the chicken done?

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.

Can I double this recipe?

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.

Do I really need buttermilk?

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.

Why do I have to use olive oil nonstick spray?

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.

How do I store leftovers?

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.

Pinterest image of Air Fryer Chicken Thighs on plate with peas and potatoes.

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

Ingredients needed: buttermilk, egg, all-purpose flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, black pepper, bone-in chicken thighs and olive oil 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.

Buttermilk and egg whisked together in glass bowl.

Stir together the flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a medium-sized bowl.

Dry ingredients whisked together in glass nowl.

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.

Chicken being dipped in wet and dry ingredints.

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.

Chicken thighs in air fryer basket sprayed with olive oil spray.

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.