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5 from 19 votes

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.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Resting time5 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: air fryer, buffalo sauce, chicken, chicken thighs
Servings: 4
Calories: 372kcal
Author: Aimee

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken thighs
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Buffalo Sauce

  • ½ cup hot pepper sauce
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 Tablespoon white vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 400 degrees F.
  • Dry the chicken thighs with paper towels, then salt both sides of each of the chicken thighs. Rub the olive oil onto both sides of the chicken thighs.
  • After air fryer is preheated, add the chicken thighs, skin side up. Cook in the air fryer for 20-25 minutes (16-18 minutes for smaller thighs). Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
  • Once chicken thighs are cooked, let rest for 5 minutes and cook buffalo sauce.
  • Take the pepper sauce, butter, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder and add to a medium skillet over medium heat, cooking until butter is melted, stirring occasionally.
  • Once butter is melted, turn heat to low and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until sauce is hot, but not split/broken (where the butter separates from the sauce).
  • Dip each chicken thigh in the sauce, coating the top and bottom, and then plate.
  • Top as desired and enjoy immediately.

Notes

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.

Nutrition

Calories: 372kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 141mg | Sodium: 1031mg | Potassium: 284mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 492IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg