Air Fryer Bone-In Crispy Chicken Thighs

These Air Fryer Bone-In Crispy Chicken Thighs are flavored with a versatile dry rub, then cooked to perfection in the air fryer! It’s a simple main dish chicken recipe that boasts juicy thighs, crispy skin, and goes well with tons of sides!

Of course, we all love the ease of eating chicken without navigating bones, but personally, if it’s cooked well and has a nice crispy skin, I’m down for the bone-in kind too. They both have their place!

Usually, I’ll gravitate more towards boneless because it’s easier to eat, takes up less room in my freezer, and can go into just about any chicken dinner meal.

But when I’ve got bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, this is what I do. Air fryer magic. All it takes is your chicken thighs, a little oil, and some basic seasonings.

If you don’t wanna eat the chicken now, pull it off the bone and save it for another meal. This recipe is perfect for using up your bone-in chicken thighs to enjoy now or prep for a future meal.

Watch how to make these Air Fryer Bone-In Crispy Chicken Thighs (1 min 28 sec):

What are the ingredients in these Air Fryer Bone-In Crispy Chicken Thighs?

This recipe is made with chicken thighs plus pantry staples I bet you already have on hand! It’s a basic but versatile recipe to keep in your back pocket for those times you have bone-in thighs to use up! Here’s what I used:

• bone-in skin-on chicken thighs – I created this recipe specifically for bone-in skin-on chicken thighs! You don’t need to marinate this chicken – the skin and bones lock in the juiciness and give the best flavor! If you’re looking for a boneless chicken thighs recipe, try my Air Fryer Boneless BBQ Chicken Thighs.
• avocado oil – I use avocado oil for most of my cooking, for the neutral flavor and high smoke point. You can also use olive oil if necessary.
• garlic powder, onion powder & paprika – This is the super basic but flavorful spice combo on the chicken. It’s simple: just garlic, onion and peppers (paprika!), but so delicious!
• fine sea salt & fresh ground black pepper – To enhance the flavors even further, be sure to add salt and fresh ground black pepper to the spice mix. The salt also helps the skin crisp up!

How do you make these Air Fryer Bone-In Crispy Chicken Thighs?

Don’t be afraid of raw chicken! Making chicken thighs in your air fryer is quick and easy – you almost can’t mess it up. The basic steps include: preparing and seasoning the chicken, then cooking it in the air fryer.

First, grab a plate, cutting board or large bowl for the chicken. Remove the chicken from the packaging and inspect it to check for fatty portions or lots of extra skin.

Feel free to cut or trim away any parts you don’t want to cook. If there’s lots of extra skin hanging over, I usually do cut some off.

Next, use paper towels to pat the chicken dry as much as possible. This helps the oil and seasonings stick to the chicken, as well as helps the skin crisp up better.

Mix up all the seasonings for the simple dry rub in a small bowl. Coat the chicken with oil, using your hands to rub the oil on both sides of the chicken.

Then cover the chicken with all of the spice rub, again using your hands to thoroughly coat the chicken on both sides. You can use gloves if you want to 🙂

Once the chicken is fully coated, put the chicken thighs into the air fryer basket, skin side down. Air fry for 10 minutes at 380F, then use tongs to flip over so the skin side is facing up. This will help the skin get the most air time and get as crispy as possible.

Air fry for 8-12 more minutes, checking after 8 minutes (total of 18-24 minutes cook time). Use a meat thermometer so you know when the chicken reaches 165F. If the chicken is done but you want a crisper skin, air fry for 2-3 more minutes.

How long does bone-in chicken take in the air fryer?

Bone-in skin-on chicken takes about 18-24 minutes total when cooked in the air fryer at 380F, based on my experience.

The exact time will depend on chicken starting temperature, size of chicken thighs, and your model of air fryer.

I recommend using a meat thermometer for the most accurate measure of doneness.

Can I use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of bone-in?

This recipe was specifically written for bone-in skin-on chicken thighs. But yes, if you want to, you can use boneless thighs for this recipe. Reduce cook time by 5-6 minutes or so.

If you’re looking for a boneless chicken thighs recipe, I recommend my Air Fryer Boneless BBQ Chicken Thighs instead.

Testing notes for Air Fryer Bone-In Crispy Chicken Thighs:

Here are some things I noticed while testing this Air Fryer Bone-In Crispy Chicken Thighs recipe:

• Patting the chicken dry in the beginning is necessary for reducing moisture and helping the oil and seasonings stick to the chicken.
• In general, bone-in chicken thighs take about 18-24 minutes in the air fryer at 380F, while boneless chicken thighs take about 12-13 minutes at 380F. This is based on my experience with my Cosori XL 5.8 qt Air Fryer (affiliate link!).
• I would not recommend using a basket liner for this recipe, as it will reduce air flow and the chicken skin won’t be as crispy. If you don’t care about crispy skin, you can use the liner to help with cleanup.
• The chicken skin is delicious, even if you aren’t someone who normally eats it.

How do you meal prep these Air Fryer Bone-In Crispy Chicken Thighs?

There are a couple ways to save time by preparing all or part of this recipe ahead of time, if that’s your thing! Here are some options:

1. Complete prep: Prepare the recipe from start to finish. Then, store your cooked chicken thighs in an airtight container to reheat and eat during the week.
2. Marinate chicken only: Prepare the recipe through Step 2, then cover and let sit in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Proceed with the recipe when you’re ready!
3. Cook & freeze: Prepare this recipe from start to finish, then remove all the chicken from the bones and freeze in an airtight container or Souper Cubes Trays. Enjoy within 3-6 months.

What should you serve with these Air Fryer Bone-In Crispy Chicken Thighs?

This chicken thigh air fryer recipe can be served as a main dish with delicious sides like mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, green salad, quinoa salad, and more.

Alternative customization ideas:

Instead of the basic garlic, onion, paprika combo, here are some different spice ideas to change it up: lemon pepper, cajun, Italian, buffalo sauce or parmesan garlic!

Which air fryer do you recommend?

The air fryer I have currently, and the one that is pictured in this post is the Cosori XL 5.8 qt Air Fryer (affiliate link!). If you’re going to invest in an air fryer to cook things for 2 or more people, you should opt for a larger size like this one, in my opinion!

I previously had a slightly smaller Philips Air Fryer with a metal grate basket which I liked, but I prefer the larger Cosori model with the nonstick coated basket.

Is this recipe freezer-friendly?

Technically the cooked chicken is freezer friendly, however you will lose the crispy skin texture after thawing.

If you’re planning to freeze this chicken after it’s cooked, I would recommend removing all the chicken from the bones and then freezing in an airtight container or Souper Cubes Trays. Enjoy within 3-6 months.

How to store prepared Air Fryer Bone-In Crispy Chicken Thighs:

Store cooked air fryer bone-in crispy chicken thighs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

How to freeze prepared Air Fryer Bone-In Crispy Chicken Thighs:

In my opinion, the best way to freeze this cooked chicken would be to first remove all the chicken from the bones and then freeze in an airtight container or Souper Cubes Trays. For best quality, enjoy within 3-6 months.

How to reheat prepared Air Fryer Bone-In Crispy Chicken Thighs:

From the fridge: Place cold cooked chicken thighs in the air fryer and cook at 350 for 7-10 minutes or until hot and sizzling.