This easy air fryer chicken thighs recipe is perfect when you want crispy, juicy chicken without much effort. It’s full of flavor from lemon, garlic, and herbs. All you need is a few simple ingredients and about 25 minutes. Great for dinner or meal prep.
Jump to RecipeIngredients Needed:
- 6 chicken thighs, with bone and skin
- 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried herbs, such as herbs de Provence or dried oregano
How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Thighs?
- Add lemon juice: Squeeze half of the lemon over the chicken thighs. Make sure all the pieces are coated well.
- Season the chicken: Sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and dried herbs on both sides of the chicken.
- Rub in the spices: Gently rub the seasoning into the chicken so it sticks to the skin.
- Place in air fryer: Put the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket, skin side down.
- Cook: Air fry at 200°C for 12 minutes, then flip and cook for another 12 minutes until the skin is crispy and the meat is fully cooked.

Recipe Tips:
- Dry the chicken first: use paper towels to pat the skin dry before adding lemon juice or seasoning. This helps the skin get extra crispy in the air fryer.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer: leave some space between the chicken thighs so the hot air can cook them evenly and crisp the skin properly.
- Use the lemon juice first: always add the lemon juice before the spices so the seasoning sticks better and the flavor goes deeper into the meat.
- Check for doneness with a thermometer: chicken thighs should reach 74°C in the thickest part. This keeps them juicy but fully cooked.
- Let them rest before serving: after air frying, rest the chicken for 5 minutes. This helps keep all the juices inside and makes each bite more tender.
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers?
- Refrigerate: First, let the leftover air fryer chicken thighs cool until they reach room temperature. Then place them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Let the chicken cool down fully, then wrap each piece or place them in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months.
- Reheat: Reheat at 175°C for about 5–6 minutes. This helps bring back the crispiness while warming the inside evenly.
Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 290 kcal
- Total Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
- Sodium: 430mg
- Potassium: 270mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 2g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugars: 0g
- Protein: 22g
Try More Jamie Oliver Recipes:
Jamie Oliver Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Course: DinnerCuisine: BritishDifficulty: Easy4
servings5
minutes24
minutes290
kcalThis easy air fryer chicken thighs recipe is perfect when you want crispy, juicy chicken without much effort. It’s full of flavor from lemon, garlic, and herbs. All you need is a few simple ingredients and about 25 minutes. Great for dinner or meal prep.
Ingredients
6 chicken thighs, with bone and skin
1 lemon
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried herbs, such as herbs de Provence or dried oregano
Directions
- Add lemon juice: Squeeze half of the lemon over the chicken thighs. Make sure all the pieces are coated well.
- Season the chicken: Sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and dried herbs on both sides of the chicken.
- Rub in the spices: Gently rub the seasoning into the chicken so it sticks to the skin.
- Place in air fryer: Put the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket, skin side down.
- Cook: Air fry at 200°C for 12 minutes, then flip and cook for another 12 minutes until the skin is crispy and the meat is fully cooked.
Notes
- Dry the chicken first: use paper towels to pat the skin dry before adding lemon juice or seasoning. This helps the skin get extra crispy in the air fryer.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer: leave some space between the chicken thighs so the hot air can cook them evenly and crisp the skin properly.
- Use the lemon juice first: always add the lemon juice before the spices so the seasoning sticks better and the flavor goes deeper into the meat.
- Check for doneness with a thermometer: chicken thighs should reach 74°C in the thickest part. This keeps them juicy but fully cooked.
- Let them rest before serving: after air frying, rest the chicken for 5 minutes. This helps keep all the juices inside and makes each bite more tender.