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This easy air fryer chicken thighs recipe gives you crispy skin and juicy meat in about 20 minutes. It’s seasoned with simple pantry spices and cooked in the air fryer for a fast, flavorful meal that’s perfect for one person.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: Ready in about 20 minutes with simple steps anyone can follow.
- Crispy and Juicy: The skin crisps up nicely while the meat stays tender and flavorful.
- Minimal Cleanup: The air fryer handles the work without splatter or mess.
- Budget Friendly: Chicken thighs are affordable and easy to find.
These crispy air fryer chicken thighs have become one of my favorite go-to meals. The skin turns golden and crisp, and the meat stays incredibly juicy.
I use a simple blend of spices that I love, but you can easily swap in your own favorites. If you’re looking for a simple, reliable recipe that delivers big flavor without much work, this is one to keep on repeat.
Looking for more single serving air fryer recipes? Try our air fryer pork chop for one, air fryer sirloin steak for one, air fryer baked potato, air fryer asparagus for one, and air fryer shrimp for one.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this single serving air fryer chicken thighs recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
The seasonings listed below are what I use to give the chicken great flavor, but feel free to adjust them to your taste. This combination works well, but you can easily swap in spices you already have or enjoy.
- Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs: These stay moist during cooking and the skin gets crisp in the air fryer.
- Olive oil: Helps the seasonings stick and helps crisp the skin.
- Seasoning Blend (Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper): This combination adds bold flavor. If you don’t have Italian seasoning, you can use a mix of dried basil, oregano, rosemary, or thyme.
How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
These photos and instructions help you visualize how to cook chicken thighs in an air fryer. See the recipe card below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Set the air fryer to 390°F (199°C) and let it preheat for 5 minutes. While it heats, take the chicken thighs out of the refrigerator and pat them dry with paper towels.
- Season the Chicken: In a small bowl, mix the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Rub olive oil over both sides of the chicken thighs, then sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly on both sides. Lift the skin and rub some of the seasoning directly onto the meat.
- Cook the Chicken: Place the thighs in the air fryer basket, skin side down. Cook for 8 minutes.
- Flip and Finish Cooking: Open the basket, flip the chicken, and cook for another 8 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest part of a thigh without touching the bone. The chicken is done when it reaches 165°F (74°C). If needed, cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes and check again.
Want to Bake the Chicken in the Oven Instead of Using an Air Fryer?
Place bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Bake in a 400°F (200°C) oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 170°F. Check out our single serving baked chicken thighs recipe for detailed instructions.
Expert Tips
- Dry Skin Means Crispier Skin: Patting the chicken dry isn’t just a suggestion, it’s key to getting that crisp, golden skin. Moisture on the surface will cause the chicken to steam instead of crisping in the air fryer.
- Don’t Skip the Oil: A small amount of oil helps the skin brown and keeps the seasoning in place.
- Let It Rest After Cooking: Resting the chicken for 3 to 5 minutes before cutting allows the juices to redistribute, keeping the meat moist.
Serving Suggestions
This crispy air fryer chicken makes a great meal on its own, but here are a few simple recipes that pair well with it:
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but reduce the cooking time by about 5 minutes. Check for doneness at 14 to 15 minutes.
Yes, just cut the ingredients in half.
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Wings require a different cooking time and temperature. For best results, use our Air Fryer Chicken Wings For One recipe, which is specifically designed for wings.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this small batch air fryer chicken thighs recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
If you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 bone-in, skin on chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon olive oil
Instructions
- Set the air fryer to 390°F (199°C) and let it preheat for 5 minutes. While it heats, remove the chicken thighs from the refrigerator and pat them dry with paper towels.
- In a small bowl, mix the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Rub olive oil over both sides of the chicken thighs, then sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly on both sides. Lift the skin and rub some of the seasoning directly onto the meat.
- Place the thighs in the air fryer basket, skin side down. Cook for 8 minutes.
- Open the basket, flip the chicken, and cook for another 7-8 minutes.
- Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of a thigh without touching the bone. The chicken is done when it reaches 165°F (74°C). If needed, cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes and check again.
Notes
- Dry Skin Means Crispier Skin: Patting the chicken dry isn’t just a suggestion, it’s key to getting that crisp, golden skin. Moisture on the surface will cause the chicken to steam instead of crisping in the air fryer.
- Don’t Skip the Oil: A small amount of oil helps the skin brown and keeps the seasoning in place.
- Let It Rest After Cooking: Resting the chicken for 3 to 5 minutes before cutting allows the juices to redistribute, keeping the meat moist.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Good recipe
Thank you!