Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs with Garlic Butter Recipe

About

Juicy bone-in chicken thighs cooked in the air fryer until the skin is shatteringly crisp, then finished with a simple garlic butter glaze for rich, savory flavor.

1. 1

   Preheat the Air Fryer

   preheat 5 min

   Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes. Preheating ensures the chicken skin begins crisping immediately upon contact, which is key to a crunchy result.

2. 2

   Season the Chicken

   prep 5 min

   Pat the chicken thighs thoroughly dry with paper towels — removing moisture is essential for crispy skin. Rub the thighs all over with olive oil, then evenly coat with garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.

3. 3

   Air Fry the Chicken

   cook 25 min

   Arrange the seasoned chicken thighs skin-side down in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not overlapping. Cook at 400°F for 12 minutes, then flip skin-side up and continue cooking for another 10–13 minutes until the skin is deep golden and crispy and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 165°F. While the chicken cooks, start step 4.

4. 4

   Make the Garlic Butter

   cook 4 min

   While the chicken finishes cooking, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, about 1–2 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for 1–2 minutes until fragrant and just turning golden — do not let it burn.

5. 5

   Glaze and Rest

   rest 5 min

   As soon as the chicken thighs come out of the air fryer, use a pastry brush to generously coat the skin and underside of each thigh with the warm garlic butter. Let the chicken rest for 3–5 minutes so the juices redistribute and the glaze sets slightly.

6. 6

   Serve

   serve

   Plate the chicken thighs skin-side up and spoon any remaining garlic butter from the pan over the top. Serve immediately while the skin is at its crispiest.