Make a delicious and healthy dinner in no time with this recipe for air fryer bone-in chicken thighs. With minimal prep work, simple pantry ingredients, and quick cook times, this recipe is perfect for busy weeknights.
Why you’ll love air frying bone-in chicken thighs
- This recipe is quick and easy to make with minimal prep work and simple ingredients
- Air fryer cooking means a delicious and healthy dinner option using minimal oil
- This recipe can be made with potatoes, for an easy whole-meal option
Using an air fryer makes it easier and more efficient to cook bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. The high heat quickly seals in the juices and the result is a perfectly crispy skin, moist and tender meat on the inside. Say goodbye to dry or overcooked chicken, as this method ensures that your dish will come out mouthwatering each time.
For cooking boneless chicken thighs see my recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Scroll down for the printable recipe card for cooking bone-in chicken thighs in the air fryer, or read on for all the details.
What do you need?
Full ingredients list and quantities are given in the recipe card below.
Bone-in chicken thighs
This recipe uses skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs. The bone adds flavor to the meat and the skin provides a crispy texture when cooked in the air fryer.
You can use skinless chicken thighs if you prefer, but do not substitute boneless thighs without adjusting the cooking times (see: Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs or Air Fryer Chicken Thighs and Potatoes for details).
Oil
The recipe below uses light olive oil, which is my usual cooking oil when air frying. You can substitute another cooking oil with a high smoke point like vegetable oil or corn oil.
When air frying, choose a cooking oil with a high smoke point to reduce the chance of your air fryer smoking.
Seasonings
Use a combination of salt, pepper, rosemary, and garlic powder for a tasty rub mix. Feel free to adjust the seasonings according to your preference.
How to cook bone-in chicken thighs in the air fryer
This recipe is very simple to make, there are just a few key steps to getting it just right:
- Prepare. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F/ 200°C. Pat the chicken thighs dry, then place in a bowl. Drizzle with oil, then add the dried rosemary, garlic powder, salt and pepper, and toss to coat.
If using potatoes, prepare them by cutting into chunks, drizzling with oil and tossing with seasoning. - Place the seasoned chicken thighs in the air fryer basket, in a single layer. Leave some space between each piece to allow proper air circulation. If using, add the potatoes around the chicken thighs.
- Air fry bone-in chicken thighs at 400°F / 200°C for 22-26 minutes, flipping the chicken thighs over half-way through the cooking time so that they cook evenly.
- Check the internal temperature to make sure the chicken cooks through – it should reach at least 165°F/ 74°C in the center of the thickest part. Cook for a few more minutes if needed.
- Rest the chicken. Once the chicken thighs are cooked through, remove them and allow to rest covered with foil for 5-10 minutes before serving. This will help the juices redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring it stays tender and juicy.
- Finish the potatoes. If cooking potatoes, shake the basket to redistribute the potatoes, or quickly flip with tongs. Then air fry them for a final 5-10 minutes, or until crispy, while the chicken thighs rest.
Use an instant read thermometer to measure the temperature in the center of the thickest part of the meat for an accurate temperature reading.
Serving ideas
This recipe for air fryer bone-in chicken thighs is a versatile dish that can be served in a variety of ways. For a healthy and complete meal, serve the chicken thighs with a side salad or a serving of fresh steamed vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, or green beans.
For a comforting and classic pairing, serve the chicken thighs with mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes, and add a hearty gravy.
Here are some easy side dishes to go with this recipe:
Air Fryer Bone-in Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 1½ lb bone-in skin-on chicken thighs (4 chicken thighs)
- 2 tablespoons light olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Optional
- 1 lb baby potatoes [Note 1] cut into bite-sized chunks
- 1 tablespoon light olive oil
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
Directions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F / 200°C.
- Pat the bone-in chicken thighs dry, then place in a bowl, drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the oil, then add the dried rosemary, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Toss to coat.
- Optional: place potato chunks into a bowl with the oil and salt for the potatoes and toss to coat.
- Place bone-in chicken thighs in the air fryer in a single layer so that they are not touching.
- Optional: Place the potato chunks into the air fryer around the chicken thighs in an even layer.
- Air fry bone-in chicken thighs at 400°F / 200°C for 22-26 minutes, flipping the chicken thighs over half-way through the cooking time.
- When the cooking time is up check the internal temperature of the chicken thighs to ensure they have reached at least 165°F / 74°C in the center of the thickest part [Note 2]. Cook for additional 2-3 minute intervals if required, until this temperature is reached.
- Remove the chicken thighs to a plate and cover with aluminum foil to rest for 5-10 minutes.
- If cooking potatoes, shake the basket to redistribute the potatoes, or quickly flip with tongs. Then air fry them for a final 5-10 minutes, or until crispy, while the chicken thighs rest.
Notes
- Choose a waxy variety, baby red potatoes or fingerling potatoes are a good choice.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to check the temperature in several places in the meat of the thigh, without touching the bone (the bone will probably be hotter than the meat and so will give an incorrect reading).
Nutrition
Recommended equipment
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
Welcome to Love Food Not Cooking!
I’m Eliza, busy mom, home cook, and blogger. My goal is to help everyone cook good food. Whether you are short on time, skills, or motivation, there is something here for you! We have dozens of quick and easy recipes for dinner, lunch, side dishes, and more. Our recipes use everyday ingredients, for quick delicious meals your family will love! Read more…
Welcome to Love Food Not Cooking!
I’m Eliza, busy mom, home cook, and blogger. My goal is to help everyone cook good food. Whether you are short on time, skills, or motivation, there is something here for you! We have dozens of quick and easy recipes for dinner, lunch, side dishes, and more. Our recipes use everyday ingredients, for quick delicious meals your family will love! Read more…
Karyn
Thursday 21st of September 2023
So easy!
Alison
Monday 18th of September 2023
What a quick and easy way to bake chicken thighs. I made this for my family and they loved them.
Emma H
Friday 15th of September 2023
They came out perfect! this is such an easy option for those days when you don’t feel like thinking to hard about making dinner.