Description
Crispy and flavorful air-fried chicken thighs cooked to perfection with a light seasoned flour coating, delivering tender, juicy meat and irresistibly crisp skin without the need for deep frying.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 large or 8 small chicken thighs, skin on
Coating
- 1 tbsp sunflower or olive oil
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- Seasoning of choice (salt and pepper, or ½-1 tsp of smoky BBQ, ras-el-hanout, garlic granules, celery salt, or garam masala)
Instructions
- Coat the Chicken: Toss the chicken thighs in the sunflower or olive oil, ensuring each piece is evenly and thoroughly coated to help the flour and seasoning stick.
- Prepare the Flour Mixture: Mix the plain flour with your chosen seasoning until well combined, creating a light yet flavorful coating.
- Apply the Coating: Toss the oiled chicken thighs in the flour and seasoning mixture. Aim for a very light coating, though you may double the flour and seasoning if you prefer a thicker crust.
- Arrange in Air Fryer: Lay the coated chicken thighs in a single layer on the tray of an air fryer, making sure not to crowd them to allow for even cooking and crisping.
- Cook the Chicken: Set the air fryer to cook for 35 minutes. After this time, check doneness by pulling the flesh away from the bone on the underside of one thigh—it should come away easily with no pink remaining.
- Finish Cooking if Needed: If the chicken is not fully cooked, continue cooking for an additional 5-10 minutes until done, ensuring the skin has bubbled and crisped to a golden finish.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the chicken immediately after cooking to prevent steam from softening the crispy skin. Discard any excess fat collected at the base of the air fryer tray.
Notes
- You can vary the seasoning according to your preference to personalize the flavor.
- Ensure the chicken thighs are skin-on for the best crispiness.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer tray to maintain proper air circulation and even cooking.
- Check the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption.
- Discard any fat collected after cooking to avoid greasy residue.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: International
Keywords: air-fried chicken, crispy chicken thighs, easy chicken recipe, healthy fried chicken, air fryer chicken
