12 Minute Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

If you haven’t jumped on the air fryer bandwagon yet, don’t hesitate any longer! It’s been a few months since I have had my Instant Pot brand Instant Vortex 6 QT Air Fryer and I am absolutely in love. Not only does this amazing appliance air fry pretty much anything, it also features other customizable smart cooking programs, such as roasting, broiling, baking, reheating, and dehydrating! I have been playing around with a lot of different recipes lately, but so far, my favorite has to be these 12 Minute Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs.

Although I am brand new to the world of air frying, I am so amazed at how easy it is! Since I started using it, I have been able to cook meals and sides so quickly. Saving time in the kitchen is always a goal of mine, especially on those busy weekdays that leave little time in the evening for cooking.

Chicken thighs are one of my go-to meals on any given weeknight. I love to buy bone-in, skin-on, chicken thighs. That is how you can get that crispy and juicy chicken every time.

These crispy and juicy air fryer chicken thighs are so good. The fact that they are done in 12-14 minutes is going to inspire you to make these every single week! The secret to getting this chicken nice and crispy is by making sure that the chicken thighs have been thoroughly dried with a paper towel before cooking. Also, if you opt for skinless chicken thighs you may not get the result you are looking for.

This 12 minute crispy air fryer chicken thigh recipe calls for minimal ingredients, which is absolutely amazing!

• 4-5 bone in – skin on – chicken thighs
• seasonings
• extra virgin olive oil

One of my favorite things about cooking in my air fryer is that you get quick and healthy meals on your table in such a short amount of time. Especially when you are making some type of protein, like chicken thighs in this case, getting that part of the meal done quickly will save a lot of time.

These Crispy Air Fryer Chicken thighs can be served with so many delicious side dishes, such as Green Beans with Turkey Bacon, a Roasted Corn and Zucchini Salad, Oven Roasted Artichokes, my favorite Vegan Creamy Mushroom Risotto, Classic Potato Salad or these incredibly easy Smashed Potatoes.

How to know the chicken thighs are thoroughly cooked

The simplicity of this recipe is what’s made it into one of my new favorite go-to weeknight dinners. Only three different types of seasoning and a bit of extra virgin olive oil, make these 12 Minute Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs simply perfect.

I know that cooking animal protein, such as chicken, can be a little intimidating from time to time. Especially if you are just getting started with cooking. For me personally, undercooking my chicken was something I often worried about when I first started cooking.

Using a handy dandy tool, like a MEAT THERMOMETER is the best way to ensure that what you are cooking is perfectly safe to eat. Bone-in chicken thighs should cook to be 165 degrees (F)

How to properly defrost bone-in chicken thighs

If you are anything like me, I love to buy certain foods in bulk and freeze for later. This is how we typically buy and store all of our meats (steaks, chicken breast, chicken thighs, sausages, ground meat, etc). Whether we buy our animal protein from Costco, or have it delivered from a food service such as Butcher Box, it always ends up in the freezer.

To safely defrost bone-in chicken thighs, it is best to leave in the fridge for up to 24 hours for it to properly thaw out. If you don’t have enough time, or simply forgot to put it in the fridge, you can also leave in a bowl of cold water for a few hours until. For more information check out this great article by the Food Network on how to Safely Defrost Chicken.

Here is how to make these 12 minute crispy air fryer chicken thighs

You will need 4-5 bone-in, skin on, chicken thighs. If there is too much excess skin on the thighs, use a pair of kitchen scissors to trim them up a little bit.

Use a paper towel to pat dry the chicken thighs. To ensure that the chicken thighs turn out extremely crispy in the air fryer, they need to be completely dry.

Place your chicken thighs in a large glass Pyrex.

Carefully pour about 1-2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil over the chicken thighs.

Using a pair of tongs, turn the chicken thighs over a few times to ensure that they are evenly coated with extra virgin olive oil.

In a separate bowl, combine salt, garlic powder and dry oregano and mix until blended together.

If you would rather use a pre-made seasoning mix, I highly recommend The New Primal Citrus Herb blend, or my personal favorite, their Classic Poultry Seasoning.

Sprinkle seasoning over chicken thighs and evenly coat them.

Place your seasoned and oiled chicken thighs in your air fryer basket. Preheat to 400 degrees and air fry for 12-14 minutes. Be sure to check your chicken thighs with a meat thermometer to make sure it has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Enjoy your delicious, crispy 12 minute air fryer chicken thighs with a yummy side dish of rice or veggies!