Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
These Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs are tender, juicy, and packed full of flavor. With an incredible seasoning blend, these chicken thighs are incredibly versatile, great for meal prep and can be enjoyed on their own or with a salad, wrap, bowl etc. 
Boneless chicken thighs are a staple that we have year round in our fridge to add to salads, rice bowls etc for quick lunches and dinners throughout the week. I love how easy air fryer chicken thighs are to make, cooking them in the air fryer takes all of the guess work out of worrying whether they are cooked through, they end up juicy, moist and perfectly cooked every single time. These chicken thighs are coated in a simple blend of pantry staple ingredients that result in chicken thighs that are slightly sweet, slightly spicy and loaded with flavor. It’s also an incredibly versatile recipe and you can swap out some of the spices (or up the spices for even more flavor), add herbs like thyme or oregano or use honey, coconut sugar or maple syrup to give the chicken thighs a delicious caramelization on the edges. This air fryer boneless chicken thighs recipe is a staple in my house and will hopefully become a favorite in yours too!
Why You Will Love These Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
- Enjoy these tender, juicy chicken thighs on a salad, in a wrap, or in a rice bowl.
- The deliciously caramelized edges are so addictive your whole family will love it!
- These days, with high grocery bills, this one is economical with simple ingredients.
- The quick and easy convenience of the air fryer makes the clean-up process so simple for this less than 30-minute meal.
- This air fryer boneless chicken thighs recipe is for you if you eat dairy-free, gluten-free, or grain-free, and it is so easy to make Paleo, Whole30, and Specific Carbohydrate Diet legal.
Ingredients You Will Need
- Chicken thighs: I recommend using boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe because they will cook much quicker and give you the juiciest chicken. You can also use boneless, skinless chicken breasts if you prefer white meat.
- Olive oil: Olive oil has a high smoke point and works wonderfully as a rich yet neutral flavored oil. You can also use avocado oil.
- Seasonings: This chicken is bursting with flavor, with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and sweet paprika. Feel free to add cayenne or chili powder to give it a delicious spicy kick.
- Brown sugar: I like using brown sugar or coconut sugar but it can be substituted for maple syrup or honey.
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Air Fryer
- Large Bowl
- Measuring Spoons
- Tongs
- Instant Read Meat Thermometer
How To Make These Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, add the boneless thighs along with all of the other ingredients and toss to coat well.
- Arrange the chicken thighs in the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the chicken in two batches.
- Cook for 10 minutes, and then flip each piece of chicken over using tongs and cook for an additional 5 minutes to get dark coloring on both sides until internal temperature reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can find step-by-step instructions in the recipe card below
Modifications and Dietary Customizations
- Change up the seasoning—add your favorite herbs or Italian seasoning, or if you want a spicy Cajun seasoning, add cayenne pepper.
- If you want to skip the sugar, you certainly can, or use coconut sugar, maple syrup to make this Paleo or use honey to make it Specific Carbohydrate Diet-friendly.
- Skip the garlic if you are on the FODMAP diet.
Can I Make This in the Instant Pot?
Absolutely! Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towel. Rub the seasoning all over the chicken pieces and place them in the instant pot with olive oil using the saute option. Brown the chicken to get a crispy exterior and release all the delicious flavor in the seasoning. After browning, remove the chicken thighs from the pot and set them aside. Add 1 cup of chicken broth or water to create steam and build pressure. Return the chicken to the instant pot and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Once the cooking time is complete, allow the Instant Pot to release pressure for 5 minutes naturally, then perform a quick release to let out any remaining steam.
Can I Use Other Chicken Pieces?
Yes! Whichever cut of chicken you use, you’ll always want to flip them halfway through and make sure the inside temperature, at the thickest part, reaches 165 degrees F. For chicken breasts, I would recommend boneless, skinless chicken breasts cooked at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes. For chicken drumsticks, air fry at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes. You can use bone-in chicken thighs, but you will need to adjust the cook time. Bone-in thighs will be a little juicier and will take about 5 minutes longer to cook.
How To Serve These Chicken Thighs
Use this chicken in so many of your favorite ways. Here are a few of my go-to ways to use these air-fried chicken thighs:
- Slice these air fryer boneless chicken thighs and enjoy them in a taco with crunchy slaw and Chipotle Lime Mayo.
- Enjoy with tons of fresh veggies in a rice bowl or quinoa bowl. To keep it low carb, cauliflower rice is incredible.
- Wrap it up in your favorite whole wheat wrap or a crispy, Romaine or Butter lettuce.
- This is an easy dinner in itself, too. Enjoy it with a side salad or with veggies like these Sheet Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Butternut Squash, Bacon & Red Onion or One-Pan Green Beans with Bacon recipes.
- Don’t forget a side of Parmesan and Truffle Fries or sweet potato wedges are always a good idea.
Can I Make This in Advance
This is the perfect chicken recipe to make on meal prep day. You can make them 3-4 days in advance and then store in an airtight container after bringing it to room temperature. You can store the air fryer boneless chicken thighs whole, or slice each piece and have it ready for salads, wraps, and more on busy weeknights.
What About Leftovers
Place the leftover cooked chicken thighs in an airtight container to keep them fresh. If you don’t have a container, you can wrap the chicken tightly in plastic wrap or foil and then store it in a resealable plastic bag. Store the chicken in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, air fry at 375 degrees F for 5-7 minutes or on the stovetop.
Here are more delicious Air Fryer recipes you’ll love…
- Air Fryer Roast Beef
- Cajun Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
- Air Fryer Halibut with a Creamy Lemon Garlic Sauce
- Korean Air Fryer Chicken Bites
- Air Fryer Firecracker Chicken Bites
- Air Fryer Lamb Chops with Mint Sauce
If you make this Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thigh recipe let me know in the comment section below, I would love to hear what you think or take a photo and tag me (@everylastbite_) on Instagram, I love seeing your photos!
Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp brown sugar (or honey or coconut sugar)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 minutes.
- Meanwhile in a bowl add the chicken thighs along with all of the other ingredients and toss the thighs to ensure that they are all well coated.
- Arrange the chicken thighs in the air fryer (smooth side down) ensuring that they do not overlap and are in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer you may need to cook the chicken in two batches.
- Cook the chicken for 10 minutes, and then flip each piece of chicken over using tongs and cook for an additional 5 minutes until cooked through (check using a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken has an internal temperature of 165º Fahrenheit)
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