Skip to Content
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

Bone in Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Best bone in air fryer chicken thighs with dry rub is an easy way to cook crispy chicken in an air fryer or Ninja Foodi that’s tender and juicy inside. For this you’ll need defrosted meat, if not follow our air fryer frozen chicken thighs timing.

A close-up view of several pieces of golden-brown, bone-in air fryer chicken thighs with crispy skin on a wooden surface, accompanied by a few roasted garlic cloves. The deliciously well-cooked chicken promises a savory experience.

These air fryer chicken thighs bone-in were our latest meal. Yes, I have been obsessed with creating easy air fryer recipes lately! For breakfast, lunch and dinner our handy crisping machine comes out great. Using our sweet dry rub, everyone gave it a thumbs up. (affiliate links present)

Bone-in Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer

Yes you can use your Ninja Foodi pot as well to make these. It doesn’t matter what brand you have, they all basically work the same. Chicken thigh recipes are cheap and so flavorful.

That is what we started with and now we have a few different machines. Yes it is true. I like to try out different sizes and brands so that I can honestly say whether it works for them all. The only real difference is how many pieces you can fit in at the same time. For this 4-5 is about right for each round.

If you love easy air fryer recipes too, here are some resources to start with:

  • My Favorite Air Fryer is a Cosori or for a dual machine, the Foodi.
  • You can find more easy air fryer recipes here, we have Ninja Foodi recipes as well; bookmark them both!
  • If you are active on Facebook we have a page specifically for sharing easy air fryer recipes.

A close-up photo of a hand pulling out the basket of an open air fryer on a light-colored surface. The interior of the air fryer basket is empty and features a mesh design, perfect for cooking your favorite dishes like bang bang shrimp. The edge of the air fryer has a latch mechanism for securing the basket.

Ninja Foodi Chicken Thighs

We have shared how to cook Air fryer frozen wings to crispy here which is possible with this darker meat but you will get a better result overall when thawed ahead of time. Here are a few questions you might have before getting started with this one:

How long does it take to cook leg quarters in an air fryer?

I didn’t do quarters, rather just thighs and separately cooked air fryer chicken legs another time. If you cook together it takes approx. 20 minutes at 350 degrees F.

How long do you air fry frozen chicken thighs?

I prefer to defrost first but you can at 360 degrees F for 25 minutes, then 5 minutes at 400 to crisp skin. Air fryer frozen wings work out quite well though.

Why do we love air fryer chicken thighs??

  1. Thighs are really cheap
  2. The meat inside is super moist
  3. If you use bone-in with the skin on the tops will get deliciously crispy

They’re done start to finish in about 30 minutes which makes for a quick and delicious meal for sure.

A Ninja countertop appliance is shown behind a package of uncooked fresh, bone-in, air fryer chicken thighs labeled Signature Farms. Two small spice jars labeled "Lawry's" and "Chili" and a stainless steel oil dispenser with a green top are also in the image.

Chicken Thighs Air Fryer No Breading

This is what we started with here. I bought basic store brand bone-in chicken thighs with the skin on. They are the cheapest cuts of chicken ever and overlooked a lot I feel. Once they’re done they’ll be packed with flavor, tender on the inside and crispy skins on the outside. No breadcrumbs required here.

  • 4 chicken thighs – can use more but 4 fit perfectly without overlapping
    • We used bone-in with the skin on
    • If using boneless minutes would need to be adjusted for less time
  • Olive oil
  • Spices
    • Use what you normally would use to coat a whole chicken and bake it.

We also have a recipe below for a sweet brown sugar mixture you can try, or use our marinated chicken air fryer sauce. I love using an air fryer grill pan too sometimes.

A glass bowl containing various seasonings, including brown sugar, garlic powder, paprika, and salt. A metal object and a container of spices are partially visible in the background on the white surface—perfect for flavoring bone-in air fryer chicken thighs.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Dry Rub

Rub thighs with olive oil, then mix together our amazing chicken dry rub you can use on thighs, or the few items we have listed below.

  1. Brown sugar – optional
  2. Salt
  3. Garlic powder
  4. Paprika
  5. Chili powder
  6. Black pepper can be added too if you like

Massage chicken thighs with olive oil, then use:

  • Salt free seasoning
  • Or mix even amounts of salt, pepper, and garlic powder
  • Another option is to go simple with a sprinkle of Lawry’s seasoning
  • Marinating is great too. We did this with our sheet pan chicken thighs.

Soak your thighs in your favorite type overnight in the fridge.

Image of raw, bone-in air fryer chicken thighs seasoned and placed inside an air fryer, ready to cook. The text above the image reads "Air Fryer Chicken Thighs.

If making our brown sugar chicken rub the top skin will get dark brown because the sugar is going to caramelize. Not to worry. We did 10 minutes time once the skin was facing up and everyone in the house agreed that they were amazing!!

What temperature do you cook chicken in an air fryer?

It depends but this one is perfect set to 375 degrees. Other Ninja Foodi chicken recipes may be set to a bit lower or higher depending on whether the pieces are breaded or not and how thick they are.

  • Total cook time for our chicken thigh recipe was 25 minutes. Timing will vary slightly depending on how large each piece is. Our total weight for 4 pcs. was 2.3 lbs.
  • For baked teriyaki chicken thighs it is closer to 16 minutes for boneless.

Something like a Cornish hen in air fryer takes longer since it is a whole bird, but much smaller. Use this air fryer cook times printable for more info.

A cooking time chart for meat and seafood in an air fryer, featuring items like chicken breast, whole chicken, drumsticks, thighs—including bone in air fryer chicken thighs—and various types of seafood. The chart lists specific temperature and time requirements for each item.

It is important to flip them halfway through so you get a nice golden brown on both sides.  You’ll cook chicken thighs in the air fryer basket you have. Always ensure the internal temperature of your piece of chicken is at least 165. Similar to air fryer chicken leg quarters. A great choice if you want larger pieces. The air fryer cooks fried chicken without oil which we love!

How Long to Cook Bone-In Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer

Here is a quick rundown of how to air fry thighs easily. I have a printable version at the bottom of this post as well.

  1. Mix brown sugar and all spices together well in a bowl. (or if you want to just sprinkle with salt and pepper, skip this step)
  2. Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees for at least 5 minutes.
    Trim any excess fat hanging off the sides of your chicken thighs (ours were bone-in with skin on). Rub olive oil on each thigh.
  3. Rub herbs and spices on top and bottom. Any you’d like. If you want to try our brown sugar mixture, first rub olive oil on outside of each, press meat on to rub so it sticks, do this on both sides.
  4. Place thigh on to trivet that has been sprayed with non stick spray turned upside down, with skin side down. Do this for all 4 thighs. Try not to overlap in the air fryer.
  5. Always ensure your chicken reaches a safe 165 degrees internal temperature before eating.

Set to 375 degrees and cook for 15 minutes. Then open lid and flip all chicken thighs over so skin side is now facing up. Cook at 375 degrees for an additional 8-12 minutes. Check at 8 minutes to see if you want it browner and/or chicken is done inside. Other ways of cooking chicken thighs

If you have a smoker I would make our Traeger smoked chicken thighs with a teriyaki marinade for dinner.

Grilled bone-in chicken thighs with crispy, browned skin are arranged on a wooden cutting board. Garlic cloves, also roasted, are placed next to the chicken pieces. The background features a wooden surface with a rustic appearance.

How to Cook Crispy Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer

If you want really crispy skin the key is olive oil spray. Like we do with our air fried fried chicken which include different pieces on the bird, you can add another minute or so after re-spraying to get it really really golden brown to your liking.

Find more ideas on our Ninja Foodi recipes post and air fryer dinner recipes too. Here are a few more resources if you have a Foodi: We have the original and first Ninja Cooking system which works just great You’ll find more Foodi air fryer recipes here too.

Can you reheat leftover chicken thighs in the air fryer?

Yes, with chicken breast recipes you can do the same thing but add more time since those are thicker. We love all the parts and pieces of this bird in our hot air fryer! This is how to reheat chicken in air fryer to crisp up the outside so the texture is pleasant again.

A close-up of a fork holding up a piece of cooked chicken breast, showing its tender and juicy interior. The chicken is slightly golden with some herbs and seasoning visible on the surface, reminiscent of bone-in air fryer chicken thighs. The background is blurred with hints of green.

Looking for air fryer side dishes? We will start out with saying that our crunchy Air fryer tater tots are the bomb! We love to serve with Brussel sprouts in the air fryer and a healthy duo is made.

What are disadvantages of an air fryer?

I haven’t found many at all myself other than some models have a pretty small basket. I like large air fryer with shelves, it’s perfect for large families.

Is air fried chicken healthy?

Absolutely! It requires less oil than if you deep fried the pieces or whole bird. This makes the pieces generally healthier than oil immersed counterparts. Using an air fryer to cook bone in chicken thighs can cut calories and fat content.

Below is a printable recipe that lists nutritional information as well. Calories, saturated fat and other amounts will vary depending on the cuts you choose, and size.

Before you go I want you to sign up for my free newsletter!! You will get all my new recipes emailed to you a few times a week that will help with meal planning for the week.

Want to see a few of my favorite things that I am totally obsessed with?? Take a peek and see how many you might already have…twinsies!

Looking for more easy family recipes and tips? LIKE The Typical Mom Facebook page because we share all our new creations there every single day. And follow me on Pinterest for more inspirations! 😉

***** If you LOVED this recipe give it 5 Stars below and let everyone know what you thought about it. 😉

the typical mom
Bone in Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Print Pin
4.93 from 13 votes

Bone in Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Best bone in air fryer chicken thighs with dry rub for chicken to make sweet and crispy chicken in an air fryer that's tender and juicy inside. Yum! 
Course Entree, Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword air fryer, chicken thighs
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 368kcal
Author The Typical Mom

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Mix brown sugar and all spices together well in a bowl. (or if you want to just sprinkle with salt and pepper, skip this step)
    Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees for at least 5 minutes.
  • Trim any excess fat hanging off the sides of your chicken thighs (ours were bone-in with skin on).
  • Rub olive oil on each thigh and put herbs and spices on top and bottom. Any you'd like. If you want to try our brown sugar mixture shown above then:  Pour spice mixture on to a plate. Rub olive oil on outside of each chicken thigh, top and bottom.
  • Press thigh on to plate so spice mixture sticks, do this on both sides. Place thigh on to trivet that has been sprayed with non stick spray turned upside down, with skin side down.
  • Do this for all 4 thighs. Try not to overlap in the air fryer.
  • Set to 375 degrees again and cook for 15 minutes. Then open lid and flip all chicken thighs over so skin side is now facing up. Cook at 375 degrees for an additional 8-12 minutes. Check at 8 minutes to see if you want it browner and/or chicken is done inside.
  • ** You can brush on bbq sauce the last few minutes to caramelize if you like.

Video

Nutrition Facts
Bone in Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Amount Per Serving (3 oz)
Calories 368 Calories from Fat 225
% Daily Value*
Fat 25g38%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 110mg37%
Sodium 1260mg55%
Potassium 268mg8%
Carbohydrates 15g5%
Sugar 13g14%
Protein 18g36%
Vitamin A 260IU5%
Calcium 20mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
A plate of four bone-in chicken thighs with a crispy, browned coating. The text above reads, "Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer!" A deliciously easy meal made perfect in your air fryer.
A clear glass bowl filled with raw bone-in chicken thighs is placed on a wooden surface. Behind the bowl, there is a package of butter, a bottle of olive oil, and other kitchen items. The text at the top reads "How to Cook Chicken Thighs in an Air Fryer.
4.93 from 13 votes (1 rating without comment)
Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Kathleen Speare

Sunday 7th of May 2023

Excellent recipe. Really enjoyed the flavor.

Willard

Wednesday 26th of April 2023

Wife and I enjoyed the chicken done from the recipe. She said it was the best.

Jeff

Sunday 5th of March 2023

Recipe worked as described. Chicken was really good. Thanks.

The Typical Mom

Monday 6th of March 2023

So glad

Candy

Sunday 18th of September 2022

These were great. Followed the recipe with the rub. Fantastic! The next day my husband asked when we were having it again! The chicken was moist and I loved the skin.

The Typical Mom

Friday 23rd of September 2022

Oh yay!!

Jaison

Friday 16th of July 2021

Great recipe and love this website

The Typical Mom

Friday 16th of July 2021

Glad they were a hit, and thank you!!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.