Air fryer garlic chicken thighs are to die for. I made these today, took photos and five minutes after I was done, my boys fell over them and they were GONE!!
These air fryer garlic chicken thighs are coated in a homemade garlic-ginger paste, then roasted to crispy perfection in the air fryer. It is a simple yet satisfying appetizer or meal option that takes just minutes to put together.
In my opinion, you can never go wrong with air fryer garlic chicken thighs. They are tender, juicy and totally delicious. By the way, Chicken thighs are half of a chicken leg in case you’re wondering. The other half is the drumstick.
Crispiest and Juiciest Air Fryer Garlic Chicken Thighs
I love good and crispy chicken, but I don’t love all of the hassle and mess that comes along with deep frying. These air-fried garlic chicken thighs are perfectly crispy and golden brown, and loaded with plenty of flavor.
If you want delicious crispy air fryer garlic chicken thighs straight out of your kitchen, look no further. These seasoned and savory thighs make an excellent simple meal.
What is an Air Fryer?
An air fryer is a kitchen appliance that fries by circulating hot air around the food using the convection mechanism. It is a downsized version of the convection oven.
Are Air Fryer Garlic Chicken Thighs Healthy?
Air-fried garlic chicken thighs may be healthier than deep-fried chicken thighs in several ways. They are lower in fat, calories and even some potentially harmful compounds that are found in traditionally fried foods.
Things You Need for Air-Fried Garlic Chicken Thighs
- Chicken thighs
- Garlic-ginger paste
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Paprika powder
- Chili powder / cayenne powder
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Olive oil
- Italian mixed herbs
Making Air Fryer Garlic Chicken Thighs
- First of all, preheat the air fryer to 400° F (approx. 200°C) for a few minutes and coat the air fryer tray with cooking spray.
- Meanwhile, place the chicken thighs in a large bowl along with the oil. Toss to coat evenly.
- To that, add garlic-ginger paste and the spice mix to the bowl. Toss the thighs with the marinade until they’re coated.
- After that, arrange the chicken thighs in a single layer in the air fryer tray.
- Last but not least, air-fry for 15 minutes, open and flip the thighs and fry again for 10 to 15 minutes until golden brown. (Big chicken thighs need about 30 minutes while small chicken thighs need about 25 minutes total)
- Finally, rest the air-fried garlic chicken thighs for 5 minutes before serving.
Storing Air Fryer Garlic Chicken Thighs
Refrigerate air fryer garlic chicken thighs for 3 to 4 days. Make sure the temperature of your refrigerator is set to 40˚F (approx. 4.5°C) or colder.
To Freeze, place them in a large, freezer-safe container. Seal tightly, and keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To re-heat, let the air fryer garlic chicken thighs thaw in the refrigerator. Once thawed, place in an air fryer at 400°F (approx. 200°C) for 5 minutes or until heated through.
How Do You Make Chicken Thighs Crispy?
The trick to getting crispy baked chicken thighs is to air-fry them at high heat.
Air Fryer ensures that the heat will circulate all around them, and any liquid released from the thighs will drip away so that the thighs roast instead of steam.
How Long To Air Fry Chicken Thighs?
Air fried garlic chicken thighs should be cooked until crispy and golden brown. This will take about 25 minutes in an air fryer at 400° F. You will want to keep an eye on them to make sure the seasoning does not burn.
Tips
- Pat the thighs with paper towel before seasoning.
- For big chicken thighs, air fry at 400°F (approx. 200°C) for 30 minutes.
- For small chicken thighs, air-fry for approx. 25 minutes.
- Flip halfway through for even cooking.
- Resting the air-fried garlic chicken thighs allows the juices to be redistributed into the chicken.
I know the turning and flipping may sound like a hassle but the chicken thighs air-fry more evenly, helping to avoid one side being too dry.
I hope you guys enjoy this simple air-fried garlic chicken thighs recipe as much as we do.
Other Chicken Recipes you might like:
Air Fryer Garlic Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 2 kg chicken thighs
- 2 tbsp garlic-ginger paste
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp seasoning powder
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp paprika powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400° F (approx. 200°C) for a few minutes and coat the air fryer tray with cooking spray.
- Place the chicken thighs in a large bowl along with the oil. Toss to coat evenly.
- Add garlic-ginger paste and the spice mix to the bowl. Toss the thighs with the marinade until they’re coated.
- Arrange the chicken thighs in a single layer in the air fryer tray.
- Air fry for 15 minutes, open and flip the thighs and fry again for 10 to 15 minutes until golden brown.
- Rest the air-fried garlic chicken thighs for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Pat the thighs with paper towel before seasoning.
- For big chicken thighs, air fry at 400°F (approx. 200°C) for 30 minutes.
- For small chicken thighs, air-fry for approx. 25 minutes.
- Flip halfway through for even cooking.
- Resting the air-fried garlic chicken thighs allows the juices to be redistributed into the chicken.
If you enjoy this air-fried garlic chicken thighs recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with Star rating. I would love to hear from you.
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Yum and truly crispy. My family loved it, definitely a keeper.
Awesome Kristan. I am glad you all loved it so much.
I love how delicious and crispy these chicken thighs look.
And they are delicious and crispy. Try them.
These fried chicken wings look sooo delicious and yummy. I will definitely try them. Keep up the good job!
Do try them Anniken. Thank you so much for sharing.