Keto Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are perfectly seasoned and cooked to their optimal crispiness in the air fryer. They are perfect for weekly meal prep and taste great the next day. (keto, gluten free, whole30, paleo)
Do you have an air fryer yet? I know, I know, you don't want another appliance to fill your kitchen counter but I am enjoying mine. It definitely gives that crispy fried flavor without all the deep fried fat. 🤛
An air fryer is basically a convection oven that cooks on the countertop by using a fan to push air around your food while it's cooking. This is what gives it the deep fried quality without the fat. It's fairly simple to use and to clean up. The one I have is too small so I find myself cooking in batches which takes longer. I would recommend this one from Amazon if you are looking to get one.
The air fryer is also great for heating any frozen foods like fries, chicken nuggets and mozzarella sticks. I think they taste better in the air fryer than they do in the oven and my kids give them a thumb's up.
Instructions
Trust me an air fryer is not as tricky as an Instant Pot. You pretty much just put the chicken thighs in there and walk away. You do have to flip them halfway through, but that's about it. I like to spray the basket so nothing sticks.
One key here is to have the right-sized air fryer for your family. You need space around the chicken so the air can circulate and cook it to nice crispy perfection. I recommend a 5.5 quart.
So, heat up your air fryer to 350 degrees then cook your chicken for 20 minutes. After 10 minutes flip it to the other side. Crispy goodness coming soon!
Health Benefits of Chicken
Chicken thighs are a great source of lean protein. There's been a longstanding debate about the chicken breast versus the fatty chicken thighs but I'm a fan of eating both. Chicken thighs do have three times more fat than the breast but a lot of that fat is in the skin. I wouldn't make a regular habit of chowing down on the skin but every once in a while is okay. Generally, I use skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts. To learn more about the healthy benefits of chicken refer to the USDA Choose My Plate.
AND in my opinion chicken thighs have more flavor than chicken breasts.
Let's talk about the spice rub! This rub is the bomb. I use it on everything from fish to steak to roasted veggies. Once you try it you'll want to keep a batch made up in the pantry at all times. Oh, I also put it in my chili sometimes.
Need More Chicken Recipes?
- Shoyu Chicken - delicious stovetop chicken thighs slathered in a sweet sauce
- Four Ingredient Soy Glazed Chicken Thighs - So easy and savory!
- Mediterranean Skillet Chicken with Greens - eat more veggies!
- Slow Cooker Chicken with Olives and Peppers - salty, savory and delicious
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs, skin on
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Toss all seasoning together in a small bowl.
- Pat chicken thighs dry with a paper towel and drizzle bother sides with olive oil. Then sprinkle both sides with the seasoning. Be generous!
- Heat the air fryer to 350 degrees.
- Place chicken in the air fryer basket so they are not touching. You don't want to overcrowd them or they won't cook right.
- Set timer for 20 minutes and flip the chicken at 10 minutes. The internal temperature should reach 165 degrees.
Irina
I love this chicken recipe made in 25 minutes. It is a treasure! Bookmarking to make it!
Paula Montenegro
it's recipes like this one that make me want to buy an air fryer! It looks so incredibly crispy! Really, it must be one of the best inventions ever!
Pam Greer
Wow, I love how easy and healthy these chicken thighs are! So easy and no mess on the stove! Delicious!
Dannii
The air fryer just cooks chicken perfectly, doesn't it.
Emily Liao
This recipe is definitely a go to weeknight meal! I love how easy this is and yet its so delicious 🙂
Tom
The cooking time needs to be extended to 30 min. in order to reach 165* temp.