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Air fryer buffalo chicken thighs
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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 delicious buffalo wing flavor, but with chicken thighs instead.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Resting time5 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: air fried buffalo chicken thighs, air fryer, air fryer buffalo chicken bites, air fryer buffalo chicken thighs, buffalo sauce, chicken, chicken thighs
Servings: 4
Calories: 372kcal
Author: Aimee

Equipment

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