Air fry chicken thighs in ninja foodi

Published: Mar 20, 2020 · by: · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Pull those bone in, skin on chicken thighs out of the refrigerator and make these air fryer crispy chicken thighs tonight!  In under 30 minutes you will have a delicious family friendly dinner.

Air fry chicken thighs in ninja foodi

Related: I get all of my grass fed beef and pasture raised chicken from Butcher Box.  Read my honest review here.

This is the perfect way to cook chicken thighs for that extra crispy skin and no need to heat up the oven.

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  • Just 5 ingredients - chicken thighs, smoked paprika, garlic powder, oregano, and onions powder (plus salt and pepper but those don't count!)
  • Cooks quickly thanks to the air fryer - These take about 25 minutes in the air fryer...which is great!
  • No splatter on the stove top!

Personally, I think the air fryer is the best invention besides a home coffee maker.  I use mine just about everyday!

I love to make burgers, pork tenderloin, crispy pork chops, and even crispy Brussels sprouts.

My method for crispy chicken thigh skin

I start by pre-heating the air fryer before I spray with cooking spray.  I do this only when I want my food to be really crispy.

I make sure the chicken thighs are patted dry and any excess skin is cut away.

Then I mix the chicken thighs with all of the seasonings.

Air fry chicken thighs in ninja foodi

Now we can place the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket skin side down.

I do this so the skin can start to render the fat without browning the skin too much.

I also do this with my Air fryer whole chicken recipe.

Air fry chicken thighs in ninja foodi

My Air fryer has a 6 quart basket so 4 chicken thighs fit perfectly.

If your air fryer is smaller you would need to cook these in batches.

After the chicken thighs cook skin side down, we can flip them over and continue to cook them until the skin is nice and crispy and the internal temperature is 165F.

Making this a complete meal

I like to serve these air fryer chicken thighs with cauliflower Mac and cheese, keto green beans with bacon, or a broccoli salad.

Air fry chicken thighs in ninja foodi

  • 4 Bone in, skin on chicken thighs, trimed of excess fat and skin
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon Oregano
  • ½ teaspoon Onion powder

  • Preheat your air fryer to 380F for 5 minutes. After pre-heating, spray with cooking spray.

  • Add the chicken thighs to a large zip-top bag or a bowl with a lid. Top with the kosher salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, oregano and onion powder. Shake to coat.

  • Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer, skin side down, for 12 minutes.

  • Turn your chicken thighs skin side up and cook for 10 minutes more. If you would like your chicken thighs super crispy. Cook for 4 minutes increments to get your desired crispness.

  • Thighs are done when an internal meat thermometer reads 165F. Serve.

Servings: 4

Calories: 239kcal | Protein: 32g | Fat: 11g

Reader Interactions

How long does it take to cook chicken thighs in a Ninja Foodi?

Set air fryer to 390 degrees and place chicken thighs into the Ninja Foodi air fryer basket spacing them out as much as space will allow. Set to 18 minutes cook time. After 9 minutes, open lid and use tongs to flip the chicken thighs over. Close lid and continue cooking for remaining 9 minutes.

How long does it take thighs to cook in an air fryer?

Preheat a 3.5-quart air fryer to 400 degrees F. Add the chicken thighs to the air fryer basket, skin-side down and without touching. Cook, flipping skin-side up halfway through, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part (avoiding the bone) reads 165 degrees F, about 18 minutes.

Can you roast chicken thighs in Ninja Foodi?

Yes you can use your Ninja Foodi pot as well to make these. It doesn't matter what brand you have, they all basically work the same. Chicken thigh recipes are cheap and so flavorful.

How long do you grill boneless chicken thighs on a Ninja Foodi?

Put your thighs into the marinade and let marinade for at least 20 minutes. Insert removable cooking pot. Insert grill grate into your pot. Press grill button, HIGH, set time to 25 minutes.