The most amazing air fryer chicken recipe! These crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are easy to prep and done in 20 minutes. Juicy and delicious, these chicken thighs use no oil, no flour, and are gluten free.
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
I’m often asked how I like my air fryer.
I love my air fryer.
The recipes I’ve created in my air fryer, like my Crispy Air Fryer French Fries and my Pecan Crusted Chicken Tenders are beyond delish.
As for this air fryer chicken thighs recipe, we’re talking so delish! Who remembers Shake’ N Bake? I used to love those seasoning coated packets that were popular so long ago. On my way to the office one morning, I was listening to Beth and Friends, which is a popular local radio station here in Phoenix. Beth had a guest recipe creator on her show who was talking about this amazing sounding Spicy Chicken Thighs recipe. Since I was driving and couldn’t write down the recipe I decided to email Beth, tell her about my food blog, and ask her for the recipe. She gave it to me and told me to share it with my readers here at Recipes Worth Repeating. After I made her baked chicken thighs in the oven, I knew this would be an amazing air fryer recipe.
Why You Should Make These Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Obviously, it’s delicious!!
- I love that these chicken thighs are made with NO OIL!
- They turn out incredibly crispy and juicy.
- They’re done in 20 minutes.
- No pre-heating the air fryer.
- This chicken thighs recipe is healthy.
Ingredients
Beth refers to this recipe as “Spicy Chicken Thighs”, but when you look at the list of ingredients, you’ll see that they aren’t “HOT” spicy…just full of amazing seasoning type of spicy. Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe.
- 5 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- gluten free breadcrumbs or panko
- cumin
- curry powder
- paprika
- chili powder
- salt
- black pepper
How to Make Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs in an Air Fryer
If you’re looking for the quickest way possibly to get dinner on the table, then here’s what you’ll do:
- Remember Shake’ N Bake? That’s what we do here in the first step. Grab a gallon Ziplock baggie and place all the seasonings and chicken thighs in the bag. Shake the bag until each chicken thigh is well coated.
- Next, place the chicken evenly in the air fryer pan. Remember, this recipe does not need any oil. The natural fat from the chicken thighs will serve as the oil needed for the air fryer to do its job.
- On your air fryer, select the chicken option. The air fryer screen will display 20 minutes. Press the start button and sit back while the air fryer does all the cooking.
- The air fryer will turn off after 20 minutes. From there, open the air fryer pan and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Can I Make These Chicken Thighs in the Oven?
Yes! If you don’t have an air fryer or if you just want to make these in the oven instead, here’s how you do it:
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Combine the breadcrumbs and spices in a gallon bag Ziplock baggie.
- Place each piece of chicken in the bag and shake until the mixture is covering the chicken thighs.
- Place the chicken thighs on a baking sheet or pyrex dish and back for 20 minutes.
- Open the oven and turn over each piece. Continue baking for 20 more minutes or until cooked through.
Common Questions and Helpful Tips
Let’s set you up for success and answer a few frequently asked questions.
- How long does it take to cook chicken thighs? I cook chicken thighs for 40-45 minutes, or until an internal thermometer reaches 165 degree fahrenheit.
- Should I rinse the chicken thighs before I bread them with the spice mixture? You don’t have to but you can. Personally, I like to. The added moisture helps the seasonings stick better.
- Should I turn the thighs over when cooking in the air fryer? Nope! There’s no need to. The air fryer cooks evenly through the entire process.
- Can I use chicken breasts or drumsticks to make this recipe? I haven’t made this recipe using chicken breasts, but I would think you can use breasts if you want. They won’t be as juicy as thighs because breasts have less fat. Drumsticks would taste AMAZING in this recipe!
Best Air Fryer Recipes
The air fryer is an amazing kitchen gadget and if you’re looking for more delicious and easy air fryer recipes, you’ll love these:
I hope you love this recipe as much as my family does! If you made this recipe, leave me a comment and give this recipe a star review! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #recipesworthrepeating and tagging me @recipesworthrepeating. I can’t wait to see how it turned out!
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 5 Chicken Thighs, boneless and skinless
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs or Panko, gluten free
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Place all the seasonings and chicken thighs in a gallon Ziplock baggie. Shake the bag until each chicken thigh is well coated.
- Next, place the chicken thighs side-by-side in the air fryer pan.
- On your air fryer, select the chicken icon option. The air fryer screen will display 20 minutes. Press the start button.
- The air fryer will automatically turn off after 20 minutes. Open the air fryer pan and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Oven Baked Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Combine the breadcrumbs and spices in a gallon bag Ziplock baggie.
- Place each piece of chicken in the bag and shake until the mixture is covering the chicken thighs.
- Place the chicken thighs on a baking sheet or pyrex dish and back for 20 minutes.
- Open the oven and turn over each piece. Continue baking for 20 more minutes or until cooked through.
The whole family loved this recipe! Easy, fast and delicious.
Hi Ava! I’m SO glad your family loved it!! This is one is one of our family favorites!! Definitely a recipe worth repeating!!
I want to try this recipe but my air fryer does not have a “chicken” button. At what temperature should I cook it?
Hi Judy! For boneless, skinless chicken thighs, set the air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, turning halfway through until the chicken has reached a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are using bone in thighs with skin, increase cook time for 22-25 minutes at 360 degrees. Then cook on 390 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 more minutes.
Thanks! I will definitely try the recipe
My air fryer doesn’t have a chicken button. What temperature should I set my air fryer at?
Hi Skeeter – For boneless, skinless chicken thighs, set the air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, turning halfway through until the chicken has reached a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are using bone in thighs with skin, increase cook time for 22-25 minutes at 360 degrees. Then cook on 390 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 more minutes.
I hope that helps!