Easy & Delicious Air Fried Crispy BBQ Chicken Thighs

Just 3 ingredients are needed to create crispy skin BBQ seasoned super juicy chicken thighs. Grab your air fryer & let’s make deliciousness!

The Best Air Fried Chicken

Who doesn’t crave juicy chicken thighs with crispy skin? The perfect blend of tenderness and crunch is irresistible. Thanks to the air fryer, you can create a mouthwatering air-fried BBQ chicken dish with just 3 simple ingredients!

This recipe is quick, easy, and delivers amazing flavor. Whether it’s a weeknight dinner or a weekend gathering, your taste buds are in for a treat.

Grab Your Ingredients

What I love about this dish is that it’s literally just 3 ingredients

• Chicken Thighs – I went with deboned but left the skin on
• Wing Wub Seasoning
• Olive Oil

Coat The Chicken Thighs

1. Coat all thighs in, olive oil then sprinkle on the Wing Wub Seasoning. Cover and allow to rest for 30 minutes in the fridge.

If you’ve seen my other videos and in my newsletters, I’ve been recommending this Oxo BBQ grill prep and carry set. I use mine all the time! It’s the perfect size to marinate and prep larger items plus smaller items like these thighs.

Into The Air Fryer

Since they first came out, I’ve tested countless air fryers. The Engineer in me owes it to you. It’s important to me as I will never put my name or brand behind a product that I don’t love and use. It has to meet a certain set of standards and criteria. Repeatable quality is everything to me.

This Instant Vortex Air Fryer is the best I’ve ever used!

2. Preheat the air fryer to 380F. Remove the basket(s) from the air fryer, lightly mist it with olive oil, and place the chicken thighs, skin side down in a single layer.
3. Air fry for 17 minutes. Flip the thighs and air fry for 9-12 minutes more or until the internal temperature reads 170F.

Chef’s Tip: Air Fry Chicken Skin-Side Down

I’ve tried it both ways meaning starting with the skin-side up and down and I found that starting with the skin-side down produces better results.

• By starting with the skin side down, you render the fat and keep the meat moist
• It makes it easier to flip.
• When you flip the thighs, you’re now giving the skin a “second” air fry which is the secret to making it super crispy!

GBDC – Golden Brown Delicious & CRISPY!!!

Seriously LOOK at that skin there! I mean you know it’s insane when you get that crispy skin bubble like that!

That Crispy Chicken Skin

You know you’ve done an amazing job and are going to have the crispiest skin when you see those little bubbles form!

Boneless vs Bone-In Chicken In The Air Fryer

• Bone-In – when it comes to chicken thighs, I’ve not seen a difference in cooking time. The most important thing to rely on is a meat thermometer. I prefer to cook dark meat at 170F while white meat I take to 165F.
• Skinless and Boneless Thighs – These will cook faster. Air fryer for 10 minutes, flip, and air fry another 4-7 or until the internal temp reads 170F
• Boneless Breasts – this is where size does matter *If it has skin, still start with skin-side down

  • Small (5-7 ounces) – 7 minutes, flip then another 2-4 minutes or until internal temp is 165F
  • Medium (8-9 ounces) – 9 minutes, flip then another 2-4 minutes or until internal temp is 165F
  • Large (10+ ounces) – 10 minutes, flip then another 7-9 minutes or until internal temp is 165F

Ways To Serve Crispy Air Fried Chicken Thighs

• Entree – I’m such a fan of this served with mashed potatoes, buttered peas, cheesy corn casserole, and fresh bread.
• Sandwich 1 – crispy bacon, sliced avocado, smoked gouda, arugula, and parmesan peppercorn dressing
• Sandwich 2 – crusty roll and diner-style coleslaw on top
• Salad – roughly chopped and put on top of this salad or this salad

Recipe Substitutions & Additions

Since I’ve already addressed using bone-in and chicken breasts above, the only thing you have the freedom to change is the seasoning

• Italian – I’m not kidding when I say that this Chupacabra Italian Seasoning is the best I’ve ever tasted
• Fajita – season with Chupacabra Fajita Seasoning and serve in tacos or tortillas
• Classic Chicken – seriously Chupacabra Cluckalicous is what got me hooked on their entire seasoning line

Easy & Delicious Air Fryer Crispy BBQ Chicken Thighs

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Just 3 ingredients are needed to create crispy skin BBQ seasoned super juicy chicken thighs. Grab your air fryer & let’s make deliciousness!

• Author: Lori
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4-6 thighs
• Category: air fryer, fried chicken, boneless thighs, easy dinner, healthy chicken, meal prep chicken
• Method: air fryer
• Cuisine: air fryer, fried chicken, boneless thighs, easy dinner, healthy chicken, meal prep chicken

Ingredients

• 4–6 chicken thighs (boneless but with skin)
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons Wing Wub Seasoning

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Instructions

1. Coat all thighs in the olive oil then sprinkle on the Wing Wub Seasoning. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes in the fridge.
2. Preheat the air fryer to 380F. Remove the basket(s) from the air fryer, lightly mist it with olive oil, and place the chicken thighs, and skin side down in a single layer.
3. Air fry for 17 minutes. Flip the thighs and air fry for 9-12 minutes or until the internal temperature reads 170F.
4. Remove from the basket(s) and enjoy!

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