Chicken thighs that are easy to make and healthy at the same time!
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There are plenty of ways to prepare chicken thighs, but using an air fryer is surely among the preferred methods. For starters, it’s easy to prepare and doesn’t take up too much of your time. You just have to pat the chicken dry, roll on your spices, and let the air fryer do the rest. Also, since you’re not cooking with grease, you’ll have one of the healthiest chicken meals you can imagine.
More importantly, your taste buds will enjoy the end product. Using an air fryer helps to keep chicken crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. There is also plenty of freedom to play around with the spices, so you can make these chicken thighs taste exactly how you want them to taste. Think of the recipe as a recommendation rather than something to stick to exactly. Allow yourself to have fun with this recipe and try something different each time because there is a good chance that you’ll want to have air fryer chicken thighs again and again.
If you don’t have an air fryer, it might be worth the investment. In the meantime, there are other ways to prepare chicken thighs. For example, there are oven baked chicken thighs. There are also paleo-friendly baked chicken thighs. Of course, if you’re looking for something a little more adventurous and don’t mind a little spice, there is always Chinese five-spice chicken thighs.
Are Boneless Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Healthy?
Chicken thighs cooked in an air fryer are a healthy alternative to fried chicken. In the air fryer, you can avoid all of the grease that often makes fried chicken unhealthy. With skinless chicken thighs, you get a leaner meat, but thanks to the air fryer, you can still get a crunchy layer on the outside. Keep in mind that chicken has several of the vitamins and nutrients that your body craves. Plus, there’s nothing wrong with a spoonful of honey, which is a known anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory food.
Spice it up
While this recipe calls for smoked paprika, dried oregano, garlic powder, and onion powder, those are all just helpful suggestions. Of course, you can’t go wrong with that variety of spices. But you should also feel free to substitute one spice for another or use your own combination of spices.
This is where you can have fun with this recipe and make it fresh every time you make it. You could try buffalo seasoning, cajun seasoning, or even barbecue seasoning. Frankly, anything you find in your spice cabinet could potentially be used to add some flavor to these chicken thighs. The choice is entirely up to you.
INGREDIENTS
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
Prep
Preheat your air fryer to ensure a quick and even cook. Pat the chicken dry for the perfect crispiness.
Season
Drizzle olive oil and rub the homemade honey-spice blend onto the chicken thighs for a burst of flavor.
Cook
Place the thighs in the air fryer basket and let them cook to perfection. No flipping required unless you prefer.
Enjoy
Serve these herbed chicken thighs straight from the air fryer, and indulge in a meal that’s both healthy and delicious.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
If there are leftover chicken thighs or you want them cooked ahead of time, refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to 3 or 4 days. In the freezer, they should be good for at least 3 months.
For crispy chicken, make sure the chicken is dry before rubbing spices on it. Also, try to avoid using too much olive oil.
When using an air fryer, avoid overcrowding so that the chicken cooks evenly. You may need to cook the chicken thighs in multiple batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
To further ensure the chicken is evenly cooked, take any bones out of the thighs and use a meat pounder to flatten the chicken before cooking it.
With an air fryer, there is no need to flip the chicken midway through the cooking process. The air fryer should cook everything evenly as long as there is just one layer of chicken.
Serving Suggestions
There is a wide variety of side dishes that go great with air fryer chicken thighs. Any type of three-bean salad is a great complement to the chicken, including a three bean Mexican corn black bean salad. Homemade mac and cheese is also a classic choice, even if it’s gluten free mac and cheese with zucchini noodles. Finally, you can’t go wrong by cooking the best mashed potatoes.
Boneless Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
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Begin by preheating your air fryer to 400 degrees F. This ensures a quick and even cooking process.
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Using a paper towel, pat the chicken thighs dry. Don’t skip this, it is crucial to achieve a crispy texture.
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Drizzle the olive oil over the chicken thighs.
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In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, smoked paprika, dried oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, and black pepper to create your seasoning.
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Generously rub the seasoning blend over the chicken thighs, covering all sides.
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Lightly grease the air fryer basket with an olive oil spray to prevent sticking. Place the seasoned chicken thighs in the basket, leaving space between them for air circulation.
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Cook the chicken thighs for 12-14 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Don’t forget to flip halfway through.
Nutrition
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