Recipes · 25 min read
Crispy air-fryer chicken thighs
Shatter-crisp skin, juicy centers, and one dish to wash. The weeknight protein.
By GadgetChef Kitchen · Jul 18, 2026
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Method
- 1
Preheat the air fryer to 380°F (193°C) for 3 minutes.
- 2
Pat the thighs completely dry with paper towels — this is the secret to crisp skin.
- 3
Rub with oil, then coat evenly with salt, paprika, garlic powder, pepper, and onion powder.
- 4
Arrange skin-side down in the basket in a single layer with space between each piece.
- 5
Air-fry 12 minutes. Flip, then air-fry 10 more minutes at 400°F (204°C) until the skin is deeply golden and the internal temperature reads 175°F (79°C).
- 6
Rest 3 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges.
Chef's tips
- Crowd the basket and the skin steams. Cook in two batches if needed.
- Boneless thighs work too — reduce total time to 14–16 minutes.
- Save the rendered fat in the basket to roast potatoes the next night.