Marinated Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer Recipe

Bursting with savory and tangy flavors, this marinated chicken thighs in air fryer recipe is super indulgent and will be your family favorite!

Crispy from the outside, tender and juicy within, you’ll love the texture of these marinated chicken thighs in the air fryer. These boneless skinless chicken thighs make an incredible main dish that you can serve with a variety of side dishes like air fryer asparagus and baby potatoes in the air fryer, etc. 

Air fryer marinated chicken thighs need just 20 min of cooking time. It’s almost half the time it takes to cook using an oven. Get an extra crispy and melt-in-mouth version of chicken thighs using an air fryer in less time!

High in Protein and low in fat, you would devour these lip-smacking chicken thighs made in an air fryer using an addictive marinade of orange juice, garlic, oregano, and paprika. With simple pantry staples, this recipe of chicken thighs is a breeze to make.

What are the Ingredients to marinate chicken thighs

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

For chicken:

• Chicken thighs- I have used boneless and skinless as they are tender and cook faster. Feel free to trim off the thigh fat for a healthy bite. You may use bone-in thighs as well.
• Salt and pepper-  Salt and pepper create a balance of flavors. I love adding freshly ground black pepper.

For marinade:

• Garlic- Freshly minced garlic works best for this recipe. It adds a buttery and bold flavor. You may use garlic powder too. 
• Onion- Fresh Onion adds a mildly sweet and umami flavor. You may swap it with onion powder. 
• Lime juice- Lime juice adds a tart and zesty sour flavor and helps blend all the flavors together.
• Orange juice- Orange juice adds a mild sour and sweet flavor. You may swap it with lime juice or white wine. Tamarind can also be used, though it's very acidic and should be added mildly.
• Fresh cilantro- Fresh cilantro makes this dish vibrant. You may add parsley, thyme, or basil leaves (dried or fresh).   
• Dried oregano- adds perfect aroma and earth notes to this recipe. If you need more flavor, add fresh oregano too. 
• Fresh rosemary- Fresh rosemary added in small quantities adds an amazing rich citrus flavor and aroma. You may use fresh sage, thyme, or basil too.
• Smoked paprika- adds depth to the flavor and deep red color of these chicken thighs. You may adjust the heat as per your taste.  
• Ground cumin- adds an earthy and warm flavor. You may use ground coriander or fennel seeds as well.
• Olive oil-Olive oil is a light oil and works best for this recipe. You may swap it with any vegetable oil or avocado oil. 

How to cook marinated chicken thighs in the air fryer

Step 1 Make the marinade: In a food processor, add garlic, onion, lime juice, orange juice, cilantro, oregano, rosemary, paprika, and cumin; blend until well incorporated. With the food processor or blender still running, pour in the olive oil, and blend until smooth.

Step 2 Refrigerate the Chicken: In a gallon-size ziplock bag or a large bowl add the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Pour one cup of the marinade, seal the bag, and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 4 to 6 hours.

Step 3 Air fry: Place the marinated chicken tenders in the air fryer basket and cook to 380ºF for 20 minutes turning halfway through, or cook until an instant meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part registers 165ºF.

Step 4 Serve: Remove from the air fryer basket and serve with your favorite dipping sauce or side dishes. Enjoy!

Recipe tips

• When using an air fryer, if the quantity of chicken is more, you may need to air fry in batches.
• Refrigerating the marinated chicken longer than 6 hours can toughen the meat.
• The chicken shall be devoid of moisture and dry before air frying it. It helps make it crispy.
• Make sure to flip the chicken thighs midway through for uniform cooking.
• Always use a meat thermometer to check that the chicken has reached a safe internal temperature of 165°F before serving.

What to serve with marinated chicken thighs

• Air Fried Sweet Potato Cubes
• Instant Pot Mashed Cauliflower
• Instant Pot Brown Rice 
• Air Fryer Garlic Green Beans
• Air Fryer Broccoli Parmesan

How to store leftover chicken thighs 

Fridge: Store leftover chicken thighs in the refrigerator in an airtight container or freezer bag within 2 hours of cooking to avoid bacteria growing. For the best quality, keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Freezer: You can store the thighs in single servings in a ziplock bag or an airtight container to avoid making a meat clump which helps you to defrost them once you’re ready to reheat. Keep in the freezer for up to 4 months. 

How to reheat chicken thighs in the air fryer and the oven

Reheat in the air fryer: Using an air fryer makes the reheating process super easy, as you don’t need to thaw or defrost the frozen chicken thighs. Preheat the air fryer to 370°F and place the leftover marinated chicken thighs, and air fry for about 4 minutes on each side. You might need an additional 8-10 minutes for frozen chicken thighs while heating in the air fryer. 

Reheat in the oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F for about 10 min. Place the chicken on a wire rack over a baking sheet and heat for about 15 minutes. To heat the frozen chicken in the oven, you must defrost it before heating it.

You must always use an instant meat thermometer to ensure that the chicken has reached a safe internal temperature of 165°F before serving.

FAQ’s

What happens if you marinate chicken too long?

The recommendation for marinating the boneless chicken using this recipe is up to 6 hrs. Since this marinate involved adding both lemon and orange juice, the chicken would have a lot of acids, and going beyond 6 hrs would mean the acids would start breaking down the protein making the chicken tender and mushy, which would be chewy when cooked. This statement doesn’t apply if you freeze the chicken with the marinade.

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