Cooking boneless skinless chicken thighs in the air fryer allows you to enjoy moist, tender meat and delicious flavor in a healthy, air-fried dinner staple. These delicious chicken thighs are tender on the inside and have a wonderful crust on the outside, and they are ready fast!
Chicken thighs that are skinless have just 140 calories per 4oz and just about 30 grams of protein. With a little more fat than chicken breasts, they cook up moist, juicy, and tender while still having less fat than pork or beef.
I've found that air-frying chicken thighs is the best way to bring out their flavor and get the skin nice and crispy, while staying juicy on the inside.
Whether you are looking for a quick weeknight dinner, a new meal prep recipe, or an easy lunch, these air fried chicken thighs are the perfect fit. They are healthy, high protein, low carb, and delicious. These chicken thighs make the perfect companion to a side of broccoli or asparagus for an easy and quick meal.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love These Boneless Skinless Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Boneless Skinless Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Video
- Ingredients
- Flavor Variations and Substitutions
- Equipment
- How to Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Tips for the Best Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- How to store air fried chicken thighs:
- What to Serve with Boneless Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
- FAQ
- Related
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Love These Boneless Skinless Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Simple Ingredients: You only need a handful of ingredients to make this delicious recipe.
- Better for You: The only oil used in this recipe is olive oil which is naturally better for you.
- Quick and Easy: These chicken thighs are ready in about 35 minutes from start to finish.
- Bold Flavors: The combination of spices like paprika, cumin, and garlic used in this recipe creates a nice flavor enjoyed by everyone.
Boneless Skinless Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Video
Ingredients
This delicious air fryer chicken thighs recipe only uses a few basic kitchen staples to deliver its bold flavor.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs: I prefer Springer Mountain Farms chicken thighs because they contain zero antibiotics or hormones, and they have no animal by-products in their feed.
- Olive Oil and Chili Olive Oil: I use a combination of Costabile olive oil and chili olive oil to help the spices stick to the chicken and add more flavor. Use Code: 15GOLDENGK for 15% off.
- Spices: I use a combination of chili powder, sweet paprika, ground thyme, cumin, and garlic powder for a bold flavor.
- Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds a little sweetness and balances the heat in the other ingredients. If you are dieting, feel free to use a tablespoon of honey instead of brown sugar.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact quantities.
Flavor Variations and Substitutions
- You can use these same spices with chicken breasts, pork, or even shrimp.
- Play with the spices to create the flavor profile you like best.
- Add red pepper flakes for an extra spicy chicken dish.
Equipment
How to Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
1: Wash the chicken thighs and pat them dry with a paper towel. Then, lay them out on a cutting board.
2: Combine the paprika, chili powder, cumin, thyme, garlic powder, brown sugar, salt, and both olive oils in a small bowl and stir to create a paste.
3: Using a spoon or gloves, evenly distribute the rub on both sides of the chicken thighs.
4: Lightly brush the air fryer basket with olive oil. Then, preheat it to 380 degrees. Place the thighs in the basket in a single layer. Cook in batches if your air fryer is small.
5: Cook the chicken thighs for 8 minutes. Flip them and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Remove fat: Trim any extra fat that may be on the chicken to keep these skinless thighs healthy.
- Substitute the oil: use avocado oil in place of olive oil for another healthy alternative.
- Preheat: Be sure to preheat your air fryer for even cooking and correct cooking time.
- No overlapping: Lay out your chicken in a single layer, leaving space between the thighs so the air fryer can cook them properly.
How to store air fried chicken thighs:
Refrigerator: Store these air-fried chicken thighs in an air-tight container for up to 5 days. Simply warm in the microwave on a plate for 60-90 seconds when you are ready to enjoy them.
Freezer: Wrap the thighs individually in plastic wrap and freeze them for up to 3 months in an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag. Defrost before reheating.
Reheat: Let the thighs sit at room temperature for 10 to 30 minutes. Then, arrange them in a single layer in your air fryer. Cook them at 380 for 2 to 3 minutes until heated through.
What to Serve with Boneless Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
These zesty air fryer boneless skinless chicken thighs are a versatile protein that can be paired with a variety of dishes to create a full, flavorful meal.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
If these chicken thighs are making you hungry, then you'll love these other air fryer chicken recipes.
- Air Fryer Chicken Skewers
- Chili Lime Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer Gluten-Free Chicken Parmesan
- Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Grilled Chicken
- Air Fryer Sweet Chili Honey Garlic Chicken Skewers
- Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
- Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken
FAQ
Boneless skinless chicken thighs should be air-fried at 375 to 380 degrees.
Bone-in chicken thighs should be cooked for about 12 minutes per side, while boneless chicken thighs should be cooked for about 6 to 8 minutes per side.
Absolutely. There's a myth going around out there that air fryers don't have to be preheated. This is untrue. Preheating only takes a few minutes, and it ensures even cooking and proper cooking times.
As long as you don't overcook them, chicken thighs will almost always stay moist on their own. However, a good rub will add tons of flavor and moisture, helping to both flavor the chicken and keep it tender and juicy while it cooks.
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Related
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 6 Springer Mountain Farms boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 2 ½ teaspoon OliveNation sweet paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 ¼ teaspoon ground thyme
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ tablespoon Costabile olive oil
- ¼ tablespoon Cosatbile chili olive oil
Instructions
- Wash the chicken thighs and pat them dry with a paper towel. Then, lay them out on a cutting board.
- Combine the paprika, chili powder, cumin, thyme, garlic powder, brown sugar, salt, and both olive oils in a small bowl and stir to create a paste.
- Using a spoon or gloves, evenly distribute the rub on both sides of the chicken thighs.
- Lightly brush the air fryer basket with olive oil. Then, preheat it to 380 degrees. Place the thighs in the basket in a single layer. Cook in batches if your air fryer is small.
- Cook the chicken thighs for 8 minutes. Flip them and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
Nora says
My family loved this!
Amy Liu Dong says
Thank you for sharing this recipe
Anonymous says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
Anonymous says
My family loved this!