Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs are a great way to get in that addictive buffalo wing flavor, but with chicken thighs instead. These air fryer chicken thighs crisp up perfectly in the air fryer while the inside stays tender and juicy.

These air fryer chicken thighs are made with a homemade buffalo sauce that coats the chicken for a delicious and perfectly spicy chicken dish.

I'm such a fan of buffalo wings. But I never buy wings at the store. However, I do buy chicken thighs all the time. And lately, my favorite way to cook chicken thighs is in my air fryer.

I've used my air fryer to make my popular Air Fryer Greek Chicken Thighs, so I figured I needed a buffalo sauce version to cure my cravings, especially during football season. And these did not disappoint. A nice, spicy and vinegary buffalo sauce that literally had me licking my fingers paired with crispy, juicy chicken thighs. SO good.

What is buffalo sauce?

Buffalo sauce is a vinegary hot sauce that paired a lot with chicken, especially chicken wings. It's slightly spicy, but has a acid punch from the vinegar and a slight creaminess from the butter.

I also love drizzling buffalo sauce over potatoes, like with these buffalo crispy smashed potatoes.

What type of air fryer to use?

If doing four large chicken thighs, I recommend a large air fryer, otherwise you may need to do them in batches of two. I have a Cosori Max air fryer and love it.

Why cook chicken thighs in an air fryer:

• So much quicker than in an oven!
• Skin gets so crispy with a small amount of oil.
• Can put them in the air fryer and forget them until they are done.

Cooking tips:

• All air fryers cook differently. I recommend using a meat thermometer to check for doneness. I like to cook my chicken thighs to a temperature of 175-180 degrees F.
• Cooking times may vary based on the size of your chicken thighs. For smaller thighs, it may only take 16-18 minutes, while large ones may take 20-25 minutes.
• These chicken thighs don't require any flipping.
• Let the chicken thighs rest for 5 minutes before placing in the buffalo sauce.
• To simplify the recipe, you can use store-bought buffalo sauce and heat it up before using.
• You can serve as is, or with a side of blue cheese or ranch dressing, or topped with blue cheese and some green onions.

What to serve with the chicken:

• Crispy Air Fryer Squash
• Battered French Fries
• Oven-roasted Green Beans
• Peach Panzanella

How to make:

Preheat your air fryer for 5 minutes at 400 degrees F.

Take your chicken thighs and pat dry with paper towels. Salt the chicken thighs, then rub the olive oil onto both sides of all the chicken thighs. Place in the air fryer, skin side up, and cook until internal temp reaches 175-180 degrees F.

Let the chicken thighs rest while making the buffalo sauce.

In a skillet, heat the pepper sauce, butter, white vinegar, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce over medium heat.

Once butter melts, heat over low heat for an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently. Don't let the sauce split, make sure to turn off heat once sauce is hot.

Add the chicken thighs to the sauce, dipping both the top and bottom in the sauce.

Plate, then serve with blue cheese and sliced green onions if desired.