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My Air-Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs recipe is perfect for a juicy and flavorful dinner. You can use it for meal prep, sandwiches, pasta, or salads. You'll be eating well in 15 minutes!
If you need a few ideas for what to serve with these delicious chicken thighs: Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Baked Sweet Potato, Collard Greens, Southern Green Beans, or Baked Mac and Cheese.
When I had my meal prep company, I always believed in serving clients boneless skinless chicken thighs because they packed more flavor, were less expensive, and played well with any flavors I used, from lemon pepper to just a simple salt and black pepper chicken.
Regardless of how you season them, cooking chicken thighs thoroughly without drying them out is the secret. I adapted this recipe from the oven, so if you do not have an air fryer, don't worry. You can whip these up in your oven for the same time but 10 minutes longer.
Cooking boneless chicken thighs is really simple. Let me show you how to whip up some succulent air fryer chicken thighs.
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Air-Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs Ingredients
Look at this list of ingredients to make sure you have everything you need for a delicious meal prep or an easy weeknight dinner idea.
Chicken Thighs
You can buy whole thighs and save a few dollars by removing the skin and bones yourself, or grab a pack of boneless skinless chicken thighs.
Savory Cajun Seasoning
This is my favorite seasoning to use on chicken thighs because it seasons anything to perfection and is low in sodium.
Baking powder
A little baking powder will help make crispy chicken thighs.
Cooking spray
I love using a cooking spray with avocado oil in it. Avocado oil is healthy and has a high smoke point (it won't burn at high temperatures). Olive oil spray is good too.
Italian parsley
Chopped parsley is a great garnish but also adds great flavor for those family members on a no-salt or low-salt diet.
How to make Air-Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
I wanted my air-fryer chicken thighs recipe to be juicy, crispy, and loaded with flavor! I use my Creole sauce to top it off but feel free to use your favorite sauce or finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
First, take your boneless chicken thighs out of the fridge 10 minutes before cooking them. Room-temperature proteins cook better.
In a small bowl, mix Cajun seasoning and baking powder. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
Season each chicken thigh evenly with seasoning on both sides. Spray chicken thighs with cooking spray. This is a major step to helping the thighs get crispy. Place chicken thighs skin side down on the air fryer basket.
Air fry at 400°F for 15-20 minutes until the juice run clears or a meat thermometer reads 165°F in the thickest part of the chicken thigh. Serve hot, garnish with chopped Italian parsley, and enjoy with the sides of your choice.
Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks
Here are a few things to keep in mind while you whip up this delicious chicken thighs recipe.
- Let your chicken thighs set on the counter for 15 minutes. Room-temperature proteins cook more evenly than food fresh out of the fridge.
- Feel free to use your favorite all-purpose seasoning instead of Savory Cajun Seasoning.
- Smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and cayenne pepper are all wonder seasonings for your air fryer boneless skinless chicken thighs.
- Make a herb chicken marinade with some of the seasonings above with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
- Thicker thighs will take longer to cook. Increase cooking time by 5 minutes.
- You can swap the thighs out for boneless skinless chicken breasts. I recommend pounding the breast out so it cooks faster and evenly without drying out.
- If you use chicken breasts, reduce the time by 5-10 minutes, depending on the size of the breast.
- If you use skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs, increase the cooking time by 10 minutes.
- Wash your chicken thighs in white vinegar to remove any impurities. Pat dry before you begin cooking.
- You can use olive oil spray instead of avocado.
FAQs
Here are the top questions readers have about air-frying chicken thighs.
Boneless skinless chicken thighs are incredibly versatile and can be served with a variety of sauces. They pair well with chimichurri, kale pesto, honey bbq sauce, cajun ranch dressing, and pineapple mango salsa.
Cooking chicken thighs in the air fryer usually takes between 15-20 minutes to cook at a temperature of 400°F (204°C) in the air fryer, depending on the size of the chicken thighs.
Add the chicken in a single layer to the air fryer basket, do not overcrowd it, and cook in a preheated air fryer at 400°F (204°C) for 8-12 minutes. Flipping the chicken halfway through cooking will ensure even browning. Check that the internal temperature of the chicken is 165°F (74°C) before serving.
For boneless skinless chicken thighs, air fried at 400°F (204°C) should be cooked for 15-20 minutes. Flipping the chicken halfway through cooking for even browning. Check the chicken's internal temperature before serving to ensure it has reached 165°F (74°C).
Boneless chicken thighs are best cooked at 400°F (204°C). At this temperature, the chicken will cook quickly and evenly. When cooked at 350°F (177°C), the chicken may take longer and be less likely to get a nice crisp texture.
To get crispy chicken in an air fryer, add ¼ teaspoon of baking powder to both sides of the chicken and start by cooking it skin side down. The last side up will be the crispiest.
It's also essential to cook it at a high temperature of 400°F after preheating the air fryer. Don't forget to flip it halfway through cooking for even browning and check the internal temperature of the chicken before serving to ensure it's 165°F (74°C).
To cook chicken in an air fryer, set the temperature to 400°F (204°C) and ensure that the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) before serving.
You can use bone-in chicken thighs with skin for this recipe. I recommend cooking them at the same temperature, 400°F (204°C), for 25 minutes.
Start with the skin side down, flipping it after 10 minutes. The size will depend on if you need to add more time; juices will run clear when chicken thighs are fully cooked.
Air-fried chicken thighs will remain fresh for 7 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
Freeze chicken thighs in an airtight container that's freezer safe for 2 months.
To reheat chicken thighs, place in the air-fryer at 350°F for 8-10 minutes or until hot.
More Air-Fryer Recipes
If you love using your air-fryer as much as I do, you'll want to check out these recipes!
- Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
- Hash Browns
- Garlic Asparagus
- Brussel Sprouts
- Green Tomatoes
- Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Before You Begin
Before getting started, here are the steps I use to get organized.
Step 1: Place your boneless skinless chicken thighs on the counter 10-15 minutes before cooking.
Step 2: Measure everything out.
Step 3: Follow the instructions to prepare a delicious recipe for boneless chicken thighs using an air fryer.
Making air fryer boneless chicken thighs is a great way to enjoy a delicious meal with minimal effort in a short time. This recipe is easy to follow, and the result is perfectly-cooked chicken that will satisfy. Don't forget to leave a comment and star rating after you make this dish, and tag me on social media! #LezEat
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📖 Recipe
Air-Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Savory Cajun Seasoning
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- Avocado cooking spray
- 8 chicken thighs
- 2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley
- 2 cups Creole sauce
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix Cajun seasoning and baking powder. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Season each with 1 ½ teaspoons Cajun seasoning on each side, then spray chicken thighs with cooking spray. Air fry at 400°F for 15-20 minutes. The thicker the thighs the longer the cook time will be.
- Pour a generous amount of Creole sauce over each boneless chicken thighs and garnish with parsley before serving.
Notes
- Let your chicken thighs set on the counter for 15 minutes. Room-temperature proteins cook more evenly than food fresh out of the fridge.
- Feel free to use your favorite all-purpose seasoning instead of Savory Cajun Seasoning.
- Smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and cayenne pepper are all wonder seasonings for your air fryer boneless skinless chicken thighs.
- Make a herb chicken marinade with some of the seasonings above with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
- Thicker thighs will take longer to cook. Increase cooking time by 5 minutes.
- You can swap the thighs out for boneless skinless chicken breasts. I recommend pounding the breast out so it cooks faster and evenly without drying out.
- If you use chicken breasts, reduce the time by 5-10 minutes, depending on the size of the breast.
- If you use skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs, increase the cooking time by 10 minutes.
- Wash your chicken thighs in white vinegar to remove any impurities. Pat dry before you begin cooking.
- You can use olive oil spray instead of avocado.
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