Bone-in chicken thighs in the air fryer are one of those dinners I make when I want something easy but still really satisfying. The skin gets crispy, the meat stays juicy, and you only need a few simple seasonings.
Most of the time I just season the chicken, place it in the air fryer, and dinner is ready in about 20 minutes. It's one of the simplest ways to cook chicken thighs without turning on the oven.
Below I'll show you the time and temperature I use so the chicken thighs come out crispy on the outside and juicy inside every time.
Bone-in chicken thighs take a little longer to cook than boneless thighs, but they stay very juicy because the bone and skin help protect the meat while it cooks.
How Long to Cook Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer
Bone-in chicken thighs usually cook in the air fryer at 390°F for about 20-24 minutes, depending on their size. I like to flip them halfway through cooking so both sides get evenly crispy.
The best way to know when they're done is to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. Chicken should reach 165°F in the thickest part before serving.
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Time and Temperature
I usually cook chicken thighs at 390°F because it gives crispy skin while keeping the meat juicy.
The cooking time mostly depends on the size of the chicken thighs, so the chart below shows the general cooking time based on thigh size.
| Chicken Thigh Size | Temperature | Cook Time |
| Small Thighs | 390ºF | 18-20 minutes |
| Medium Thighs | 390ºF | 20-22 minutes |
| Large Thighs | 390ºF | 22-24 minutes |
Ingredients you need
These are the simple ingredients I use most of the time when making air fryer chicken thighs.
- Chicken thighs: Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs cook beautifully in the air fryer. The skin gets crispy while the meat stays juicy and flavorful.
- Minced garlic: adds a simple savory flavor that pairs really well with chicken and the herbs in this recipe.
- Sage: brings a warm, slightly earthy flavor that works especially well with roasted or air-fried chicken.
- Rosemary: adds a fresh, aromatic flavor that makes the chicken taste like it was slow roasted.
- Melted butter: helps coat the chicken and adds extra richness while helping the herbs stick to the skin.
How to Season Chicken Thighs for the Air Fryer
Chicken thighs are very flavorful, so they don't need much seasoning to taste good. I usually start with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper, then add herbs or spices depending on the flavor I want.
Best Seasonings for Chicken Thighs
Once you know the basic cooking method, you can easily change the flavor with different seasoning blends.
- Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs: sweet and savory with a sticky glaze.
- Buffalo Chicken Thighs: spicy and tangy, perfect if you like bold flavors.
- BBQ Chicken Thighs: smoky and slightly sweet with classic barbecue seasoning.
- Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs: bright and fresh with citrus flavor and black pepper.
- Cajun Chicken Thighs: bold seasoning with a little heat.
How to Choose the Best Chicken Thighs
When buying chicken thighs, look for pieces with smooth skin and a fresh pink color. Try to choose thighs that are similar in size so they cook evenly in the air fryer.
Bone-in, skin-on thighs are ideal for the air fryer because the skin protects the meat while it cooks and helps it stay juicy. The bone also helps distribute heat through the meat so the chicken cooks evenly.
Tools you may need
How to Make Chicken Thighs (Bone-In, Skin-On) in the Air Fryer
Once the chicken is seasoned, cooking it in the air fryer only takes a few simple steps.
Step 1
Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season.
Next step 2
Place the thighs skin side down in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Step 3
Cook at 390°F for 10-12 minutes.
Step 4
Flip the thighs and cook for another 10-12 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Recipe Tips
- Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving. This helps keep the juices inside the meat.
- Pat the chicken dry before seasoning. Removing extra moisture helps the skin crisp better in the air fryer.
- Cook the thighs in a single layer. This allows the hot air to circulate and cook the chicken evenly.
- Flip halfway through cooking. This helps both sides cook evenly and prevents the skin from burning.
- Use a meat thermometer. Chicken thighs are done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Why Chicken Thighs Are Great for the Air Fryer
Chicken thighs are one of the best cuts of chicken to cook in the air fryer. Because they contain a little more fat than chicken breast, they stay juicy while the skin becomes crispy.
The air fryer circulates hot air around the chicken, helping the skin crisp up while cooking the meat evenly inside.
How to Get Crispy Skin on Chicken Thighs
For crispy skin, start by patting the chicken thighs dry before seasoning. Removing extra moisture helps the skin crisp better in the air fryer.
I like to start cooking the chicken skin side down so the fat can render and the skin begins to crisp. After about 10-12 minutes, flip the thighs and continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
If you want extra crispy skin, increase the temperature to 400°F for the last 2-3 minutes.
Can You Cook Frozen Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer?
Yes, frozen chicken thighs can be cooked in the air fryer, but they will take longer. Frozen bone-in chicken thighs usually take about 30-35 minutes depending on their size. Always cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
What to Serve With Chicken Thighs
You can serve these air fryer chicken thighs with sides like instant pot mashed cauliflower, air fryer green beans, or a simple green salad or some air fryer sweet potato cubes.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Frozen Chicken Breast
Frozen Chicken Drumsticks
Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
How to store air fried chicken thighs
Store in the fridge
Store the air-fried bone in chicken thighs in the fridge in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking to avoid bacteria growth. Keep it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Store in the Freezer
Store the thighs in a freezer bag labeled with the date and recipe name. Keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to reheat crispy chicken thighs
The best options to reheat meat that's still on the bone are the air fryer or the oven. You can warm up the thighs without changing the flavor of the meat pretty quickly. You can reheat them in the microwave, but the skin won't get crispy, and the chicken won't taste the same.
Below are the instructions to reheat chicken thighs bone-in skin-on using either the air fryer or the oven.
Reheat in the air fryer
Reheating chicken thighs in the air fryer is as easy as cooking them in the air fryer. Add the leftover chicken thighs inside the air fryer basket and reheat to 400ºF for 3-5 minutes. You don't need to preheat the air fryer, but if you do preheat the air fryer, reheat for 2-3 minutes.
Reheat in the oven
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Place the chicken thighs in a baking dish or sheet pan, add a couple of spoons of water to cover with foil. Transfer to the oven and reheat until the chicken thighs reach an internal temperature of 165ºF. Remove the foil set to broil to get the skin nice and crispy.
FAQ'S
Yes. Chicken thighs cook very well in the air fryer and usually take about 20-24 minutes at 390°F, depending on their size.
Most chicken thighs cook best at 390°F, which helps the skin crisp while keeping the meat juicy
Bone-in chicken thighs usually take 20-24 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking.
If the thighs are overcrowded in the basket, the air cannot circulate properly. Cook them in a single layer for the best crispy skin.
More air fryer chicken thighs recipes you'll love
- Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
- Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
- Marinated Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs
- Bacon Wrapped Chicken thighs Air Fryer Recipe
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Easy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Bone-in, Skin-on
Making air fryer bone-in skin-on chicken thighs is very simple, and you get crispy chicken thighs on the outside while still being juicy on the inside.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb. bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 teaspoon melted unsalted butter
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pat chicken dry with a paper towel, place the chicken in a large bowl, and season with garlic, sage, rosemary, butter, salt, and pepper, toss to combine.
- Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket with skin side down; cook to 380ºF for 12 minutes each side or until an instant meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the chicken without touching the bone register 165ºF
- Serve chicken thigs with your side dishes of choice.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1 pieceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 252Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 148mgSodium: 198mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 27g
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is calculated using a nutrition facts calculator. It is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on products used. When the recipe list salt to taste the amount of salt is not calculated, only the sodium in the other ingredients is calculated.
