Air Fryer Paprika Chicken Thighs

Air fryer paprika chicken thighs cook up perfectly in the air fryer and are juicy and flavorful. These chicken thighs are so easy to make and are perfect for a weeknight dinner.

Chicken thighs might be my favorite thing to make in the air fryer. The chicken stays juicy while the skin crisps up perfectly. I just love adding spices to it to give it different flavors.

And this recipe for air fryer paprika chicken thighs is quick and easy. No marinading needed! All you do is prep your chicken, add your spice rub, then pop in your air fryer.

Super easy (and quick!) for a weeknight dinner, but delicious enough for date night at home.

Not a fan of spice? Check out our classic recipe for air fryer bone in chicken thighs.

Ingredients

• Chicken thighs
• Olive oil
• Smoked paprika - you can also use regular paprika if you don't like the taste of smoked paprika
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Salt

Recipe tips

• I always dry my chicken thighs thoroughly with a paper towel. This makes sure the chicken is dry before I add oil or spices, helping it to crisp up perfectly.
• All air fryers cook differently (and different sizes of chicken thighs may need more or less time), please make sure your chicken is cooked properly before serving! Chicken is technically cooked at 165 F, but chicken thighs are a little juicier when cooked to a temperature of 175-180 F, so that's what I usually do.

How to make air fryer paprika chicken thighs

First, add your spices to a small bowl and mix together.

Dry your chicken thighs with a paper towel.

Drizzle the olive oil over your chicken thighs, then rub so that the olive oil has a chance to coat the thighs. Next, toss your chicken thighs with the spice mixture until coated.

Preheat your air fryer for 5 minutes at 400 degree F. Add your chicken thighs, skin side down, in a single layer to the air fryer basket. (Note, if you have a small air fryer, you may only be able to cook 2 thighs at a time).

Cook for 12 minutes, then flip and cook for another 10-12 minutes at 400 degrees F. Make sure chicken thighs are cooked through (A meat thermometer helps with this!)

Let rest for 5 minutes, then enjoy!

What type of paprika to use

I use smoked paprika in this recipe, because I love the flavor it gives the chicken thighs. However, you could use regular paprika if that's what you have or prefer. It just won't have that same smoky flavor that smoked paprika has.

Can you use boneless, skinless thighs?

Yes, you can! However, boneless, skinless thighs require less cook time than bone-in, skin-on thighs.

Cook time for boneless, skinless thighs will be more around 12-14 minutes, however always check with a meat thermometer. Internal temperature of the thighs should be ideally 175-195 degrees F.

Equipment needed

Air Fryer - This is an air fryer recipe, so you'll need an air fryer to make it! Not sure which one is right for you? Check out 5 Things to Consider Before Buying an Air Fryer.

Air Fryer Parchment Paper - This is optional, and you can see I didn't use it in this recipe, but I do for many recipes when I want to make sure something doesn't stick, or I just want to keep my air fryer cleaner.

Meat thermometer - I always use my meat thermometer when cooking chicken to make sure it's cooked properly and to a safe temperature. This is the meat thermometer I have.

Air fryer chicken recipes

• Air Fryer Greek-inspired Chicken Thighs
• Air Fryer Chicken Thighs with Crispy Skin
• Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
• Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs
• Air Fryer Southwest Chili Lime Chicken Thighs