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Easy Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs with Paprika

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Crispy, juicy air fryer chicken thighs seasoned with smoked paprika and garlic powder. A quick and easy weeknight dinner that delivers shatteringly crispy skin and tender meat in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4–6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 pounds)
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken completely dry with paper towels. Let sit for 5 minutes.
  2. Preheat air fryer to 380°F (193°C).
  3. In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne (if using).
  4. Place dried chicken thighs in a mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and rub all over. Sprinkle spice mixture over chicken and massage to coat evenly.
  5. Arrange chicken thighs skin-side down in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between pieces.
  6. Cook at 380°F (193°C) for 12 minutes.
  7. Flip chicken thighs skin-side up using tongs. Cook for another 8-10 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 170°F (77°C) and skin is deep golden brown and crispy.
  8. Transfer to a plate and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

For extra crunch, add 2 more minutes of cooking time. If cooking in batches, keep finished chicken warm in a 200°F (93°C) oven on a wire rack. Let chicken come to room temperature for 15 minutes before seasoning for more even cooking.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer chicken thighs, crispy chicken thighs, paprika chicken, easy chicken recipe, weeknight dinner, gluten-free, dairy-free

Find it online: https://cookluma.com/easy-crispy-air-fryer-chicken-thighs-with-paprika/