Description
These Air Fryer Fried Chicken Thighs are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and packed with flavor! A quick and easy way to get perfectly golden, seasoned chicken in a fraction of the time. No deep frying needed!
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 small bone-in skin-on chicken thighs (about 1 pound)
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 1/2 teaspoon celery salt, divided
- olive oil cooking spray (or avocado)
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Sprinkle ½ teaspoon of celery salt evenly over the chicken thighs. Set them aside.
- Prepare the coating bowls: In a small bowl, mix cornstarch, leftover 1 teaspoon of celery salt, and all spices.
- Whisk egg: In another bowl, whisk the egg until smooth.
- Coat the chicken: One by one, dredge the chicken thigh and roll it in the seasoning mixture, ensuring it’s evenly coated.
- Egg dip: Using kitchen tongs, dip it into the beaten egg, making sure it’s fully covered.
- Final breading: Roll it again in the seasoning mixture, pressing the mixture gently onto the chicken. Shake off any excess coating. Repeat this process with the remaining chicken thighs.
- Preheat: Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
- Arrange: Place the coated chicken thighs into the air fryer basket, skin side up first. Lightly spray them with cooking oil.
- Air fry: Cook the chicken in the air fryer for 22-25 minutes, flipping each thigh halfway through the cooking time.
- Touch up: If there are a few spots with cornstarch, gently brush them or lightly spray them with cooking oil.
- Check doneness: Use a kitchen meat thermometer to check the internal temperature; it should reach a minimum of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).
- Serve: Once the chicken thighs are crispy on the outside and tender inside, they are ready to be served.
Notes
For extra crispy skin, pat the chicken dry before seasoning or leave it uncovered in the refrigerator to dry out. Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to ensure proper air circulation.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 399 kcal
- Sugar: 0.1 g
- Sodium: 1001 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 183 mg
Keywords: air fryer, fried chicken thighs, crispy chicken, easy dinner, American cuisine