Air Fryer Turkey Thighs Recipe

Crispy skin and juicy meat air fryer turkey thighs are ready in 30 minutes for the perfect small holiday dinner. Flavorful and easy to make, a total winner recipe!

This easy air fryer turkey thighs recipe is perfect if you want to make a small thanksgiving dinner for a holiday gathering or serve turkey as a weeknight dinner and want something quick but still delicious.

I love easy turkey air fryer recipes. If you haven’t tried our juicy turkey breast in the air fryer, you need to add it to your regular menu too. Which only has a few ingredients and is packed with a lot of flavors. 

Cooking turkey parts instead of the whole bird can help you make holiday dinner faster and also allow you to add more of your favorite sides to your table. This instant pot turkey thighs stew is a family favorite. 

Are you a dark meat lover? Then you don’t need to wait for the holidays to enjoy this delicious air fryer turkey thighs recipe. Now you can get turkey pieces like thighs and drumsticks all year round, and this recipe can be made any time of the year with spices that you may have in your pantry. 

The combination of savory herbs, garlic, and smoky paprika in the rub is a beautiful complement to the natural flavor of dark meat. Cooking turkey thighs in the air fryer means you’ll get a beautifully tender texture and crisp skin with an exquisite taste.

Ingredients

**Find the full list of ingredients along with the recipe instructions at the end of this post**

Tools use to make this recipe

Air fryer: This Cosori 5.8qt is the one I used for this recipe

Mixing bowls: I love these because they have covers.

Kitchen tongs: it is better to use silicone to avoid scratching the air fryer basket.

How to cook turkey thighs in air fryer

Combine the oregano, marjoram, thyme, rosemary, sage, garlic powder, and smoked paprika in a small bowl. Set aside

Pat dry the turkey thighs with paper towels; place in a large bowl or Ziploc bag, add the olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste along with the spice mix, massage well with your hands until the thighs are well coated.

Place the turkey thigh in the air fryer basket skin side down and air fry to 380ºF for 30 minutes turning halfway through or cooking until an internal temperature reaches 180ºF degrees.

Remove from the basket and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Recipe tips

• Prepare the thighs ahead of time and refrigerate before cooking for 1 hour or overnight. It will help with infusing the flavor.
• This recipe wasn’t tested using frozen turkey thighs. If you choose to cook them frozen, use an instant meat thermometer to ensure the meat is cooked through. 
• Always use a meat thermometer when cooking raw meat in the air fryer.
• Massage with a rub infuses the meat with flavor, but it also helps to tenderize it! So don’t skip over this step too quickly; the longer the massage, the better.
• When working with raw turkey thighs, be mindful of food safety. Always wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling. Ensure that you wash food contact surfaces with hot soapy water before and after contact.

How long to air fry turkey thighs

It usually takes around 30 minutes to cook turkey thighs in an air fryer at 380°F. However, this may vary depending on how big they are. 

To check that the meat is cooked, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part. The meat is cooked when it has reached 180°F.

Where to buy turkey thighs

You can find turkey thighs in your local grocery store's refrigerated or frozen section. 

What to serve with bone-in turkey thighs

My favorite way to serve these is as part of a traditional roast dinner. Try them with air fryer baby potatoes, baby carrots, and green beans for a feast that is guaranteed to please. For a low carb alternative this instant pot mashed cauliflower is delicious.

How to store air fryer turkey thighs

If you have turkey leftovers, the meat will keep well in either the fridge or the freezer. Before storing, ensure that you cool the meat completely and seal it in an airtight container. You should always refrigerate or freeze food within 2 hours.

It will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days and the freezer for three months. If freezing, it’s a good idea to remove any bones and freeze in portion sizes.

More air fryer recipes to try

• Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin Recipe
• Bone in Turkey Breast in Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Turkey Bacon
• Turkey Legs in Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Turkey Wings Recipe
• Air fryer Chilaquiles
• Candied Pecans in the  Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Acorn Squash
• Air Fryer Shrimp

If you’re into low carb check out 65+ of the best low carb air fryer recipes.

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