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Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs – Best Easy No Breading Recipe

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These air fryer chicken thighs get perfectly crispy without any breading, using a simple dry rub. Ready in under 30 minutes, they’re juicy every time and perfect for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4–6 boneless, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1.5 pounds total)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken thighs completely dry with paper towels. Let them sit for 5 minutes.
  2. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
  3. In a small bowl, combine salt, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, black pepper, and optional cayenne.
  4. In a larger bowl, drizzle chicken thighs with olive oil and toss to coat. Sprinkle seasoning mixture over chicken and rub into both sides, including under the skin if possible.
  5. Arrange chicken thighs skin-side down in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not touching.
  6. Cook at 400°F for 12 minutes.
  7. Flip the chicken thighs so skin side is up. Cook for another 8-10 minutes at 400°F until deep golden brown and crispy.
  8. Check internal temperature with a meat thermometer; it should be at least 165°F (pull at 170-175°F for thighs).
  9. Transfer chicken to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Pat the chicken skin thoroughly dry for maximum crispiness. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Flip only once. Let chicken come to room temperature for 15 minutes before cooking if possible. Fresh chicken works best; frozen is not recommended.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer chicken thighs, crispy chicken thighs, no breading chicken, easy chicken recipe, keto chicken, gluten-free chicken

Find it online: https://livelybite.com/crispy-air-fryer-chicken-thighs-best-easy-no-breading-recipe/