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Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs: The Best Game Day Appetizer

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These crispy air fryer chicken thighs are the ultimate game day appetizer—juicy, tender meat with shatteringly crisp skin, ready in under 30 minutes with minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6–8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2–2.5 lbs / 900-1100g)
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons (10g) kosher salt (Diamond Crystal preferred; reduce to 1½ tsp if using table salt)
  • 1 teaspoon (2g) freshly ground black pepper
  • 1½ teaspoons (4g) garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons (4g) smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon (2g) onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon (0.5g) dried thyme (optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon (0.5g) cayenne pepper (optional, adjust to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon (4g) aluminum-free baking powder

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken thighs dry thoroughly with paper towels until the skin feels tacky. Let them sit uncovered on a plate for 10 minutes to allow remaining moisture to evaporate.
  2. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3-5 minutes. Meanwhile, combine kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, dried thyme, cayenne, and baking powder in a small bowl; whisk with a fork to break up clumps.
  3. Drizzle olive oil over the chicken and rub it into every surface, including under the skin. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over all sides and toss gently to coat, massaging the seasoning in well.
  4. Arrange the thighs skin-side down in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving at least ½ inch (1.25 cm) of space between each piece. Work in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
  5. Cook for 12 minutes skin-side down without opening the basket.
  6. Flip the thighs using tongs and cook for another 10-12 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 170°F (77°C) in the thickest part away from the bone. For extra-crispy skin, increase the temperature to 420°F (215°C) for the final 2 minutes.
  7. Transfer the thighs to a cutting board and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute.

Notes

Pat the chicken extremely dry for maximum crispiness. For even better results, leave thighs uncovered in the fridge for an hour before cooking. Let chicken come to room temperature for 20 minutes before cooking. If skin isn’t crispy enough, return to air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 400°F. Leftovers can be reheated in the air fryer at 375°F for 3-4 minutes to restore crispiness.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer chicken thighs, crispy chicken thighs, game day appetizer, easy chicken recipe, air fryer recipe, chicken thighs, crispy skin

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