Description
This Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Meal Prep offers a deliciously crispy and juicy way to enjoy batch cooking. Perfect for easy meal prep, this recipe delivers tender thighs with golden edges every time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 – 6 boneless and skinless chicken thighs excess fat trimmed off
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ – 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 – 2 lemons for serving
- Fresh parsley finely chopped for serving
Instructions
- Heat your air fryer to 380°F and spray the basket lightly with olive or avocado oil if it is not non-stick.
- Thoroughly dry the chicken thighs and mix smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.
- Rub the seasoning onto both sides of the chicken thighs firmly with your fingers.
- Place the chicken thighs smooth-side down in the basket, making sure they don’t touch to allow airflow.
- Cook for 10 minutes at 380°F then turn each thigh over and air fry for another 4 to 5 minutes until the thickest part reaches 165°F.
- Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving with fresh lemon juice and a sprinkle of chopped parsley.
Notes
- Make sure to pat the chicken thighs completely dry to achieve crisp edges without oil
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking and crispiness
- Use a meat thermometer to pull the chicken at 165°F or cook longer for more tender meat
- For bone-in skin-on thighs, add 5-7 minutes cooking time and crisp the skin at the end
- If you don’t have an air fryer, bake at 400°F for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for 3 months
- Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes to restore crispiness
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 216kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 423mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g + 2g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 31g
- Cholesterol: 148mg