Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Thighs: A Family-Friendly Feast

Rebecca Silvernale
Feb 17, 2024
5 min read

Dive into the world of delicious, low-carb dinners with these marinated chicken thighs that you can cook to perfection either in your Air Fryer or oven. This recipe is not only family-friendly but also budget-friendly, especially when you snag those chicken thighs on sale. The air fryer works its magic to crisp up the chicken skin beautifully, making for a quick, easy, and utterly satisfying dinner option.

Why This Recipe Shines

Marinated chicken thighs offer a wonderful blend of juicy interior and crispy skin, achieved with minimal fuss in the air fryer. This recipe stands out for its ease of preparation, versatility with different chicken parts, and the ability to infuse rich flavors through a simple yet effective marinade. It's perfect for anyone looking for a delicious dinner option that's both health-conscious and capable of pleasing a crowd.

What Air Fryer Do I Use?

The COSORI Air Fryer TurboBlaze 6.0-Quart is my go-to for quick, versatile cooking. Its compact yet spacious design lets you easily tackle recipes from crispy steak bites to tender baked goods, all with minimal oil. With 9 functions and 5 speeds, it’s perfect for anyone looking to effortlessly roast, bake, or even proof with precision. Make meal prep a breeze and ensure delicious results every time with this efficient kitchen essential.

What You Need for Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Thighs

Creating these succulent marinated chicken thighs requires a combination of simple yet flavorful ingredients and a few kitchen essentials. Here’s a detailed list to ensure you have everything needed for this delicious, low-carb dinner:

Chicken: You'll need bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs as the star of the dish. This cut is preferred for its juiciness and flavor. The skin helps retain moisture during cooking, resulting in a crispy exterior and tender meat.
Olive Oil: A staple in marinades, olive oil not only adds richness and flavor but also helps the seasoning stick to the chicken. It contributes to the crispness of the skin when air-fried or baked.
Lemon Juice: Fresh-squeezed lemon juice is essential for adding a bright, acidic component to the marinade, tenderizing the chicken, and enhancing its natural flavors. Fresh-frozen lemon juice works great too.
Seasonings and Herbs:
Garlic Powder: Adds a robust garlic flavor without the hassle of mincing fresh garlic.
Spike Seasoning or All-Purpose Herb Blend: This brings a complex array of flavors to the chicken. If Spike Seasoning isn't available, any all-purpose herb blend will do.
Dried Basil, Oregano, and Sage: These herbs contribute Mediterranean flavors that are aromatic and earthy, complementing the chicken beautifully.
Onion Powder: Provides a subtle sweetness and depth of flavor, enhancing the overall taste profile of the marinade.
Black Pepper: Adds a slight heat and sharpness, balancing the marinade's flavors.
Kitchen Tools:
Kitchen Shears: Handy for trimming any excess skin or fat from the chicken thighs to ensure even cooking and a perfect presentation.
Ziploc Bag or Container with Snap-Tight Lid: Essential for marinating the chicken, ensuring the flavors thoroughly penetrate the meat.
Colander: Used for draining the chicken after marinating, removing excess marinade before cooking.
Air Fryer or Oven: Depending on your cooking preference, ensure your air fryer is prepped or your oven is accurately calibrated for baking.
Instant-Read Meat Thermometer: Crucial for ensuring the chicken reaches the safe and perfect internal temperature without overcooking.

With these ingredients and tools at your disposal, you’re set to create a dish that’s not only mouthwatering but also healthy and satisfying, proving that nutritious meals don’t have to compromise on flavor.

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Preparing Your Chicken

Trimming: Use kitchen shears to trim away some of the skin and most of the fat from the chicken thighs.
Marinating: Combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, Spike Seasoning (or another preferred herb blend), dried basil, dried oregano, onion powder, dried sage, and black pepper to create the marinade. Make slits in the chicken skin and meat (optional), place the chicken in a Ziploc bag or a container with a secure lid, pour in the marinade, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or up to a full day.
Pre-Cooking Prep: Before cooking, drain the chicken well and let it come to room temperature while you preheat your cooking device.

Cooking Instructions

In the Air Fryer:

Preheat to 360°F (185°C).
Cook chicken skin-side down for 8 minutes, then flip and continue cooking for about 12 minutes more, rearranging if necessary, until the skin is crispy and the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F (75°C).

In the Oven:

Use a baking rack on a baking sheet to allow air flow.
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Cook chicken skin-side down for 10 minutes, then flip and continue cooking for about 25 minutes, until well-browned and crispy, ensuring the internal temperature is at least 165°F (75°C).

Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Thighs Recipe

Yield:	Prep Time:
6 chicken thighs	15 minutes
Cooking Time:	Total Time:
35 minutes	50 minutes

Ingredients

8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
1/4 cup olive oil
2 T lemon juice
2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. Spike Seasoning, or use any all-purpose herb blend
1 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. dried sage
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Instructions to Make Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Preparation of Chicken Thighs:

Use kitchen shears to trim away excess skin and fat from the chicken thighs. Optionally, make shallow cuts in the skin and meat to enhance flavor absorption.

Marinade Preparation:

In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, Spike Seasoning (or another preferred herb blend), dried basil, dried oregano, onion powder, dried sage, and black pepper to create the marinade.

Marinating the Chicken:

Place the chicken thighs into a Ziploc bag or a container with a secure lid. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring each piece is well-coated. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or up to a full day for deeper flavor infusion.

Pre-Cooking Setup:

Drain the marinated chicken in a colander, discarding the used marinade. Arrange the chicken thighs skin-side down in the air fryer basket or on a baking rack, allowing them to reach room temperature as you preheat the air fryer to 360°F (185°C) or the oven to 400°F (200°C).

Cooking in the Air Fryer:

Cook the chicken skin-side down for 8 minutes in the preheated air fryer. Flip the thighs and continue cooking for an additional 6 minutes. Check for any pieces that are browning too much and rearrange as needed to prevent burning. Cook for another 6 minutes, or until the chicken is well-browned with crispy skin and reaches an internal temperature of at least 165°F (75°C).

Cooking in the Oven:

If using an oven, place the chicken skin-side down on a baking rack over a baking sheet for 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Flip the chicken pieces and cook for about 25 minutes longer, or until the skin is crisp and well-browned, and the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F (75°C).

Final Steps:

Whether using an air fryer or oven, ensure the chicken's readiness by checking its internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer. Serve the chicken hot. If cooking in batches in the air fryer for a larger group, keep the first batch warm in a 200°F (100°C) oven while the second batch cooks.

Air Fryer Chicken Thigh Tips and Variations

While this recipe focuses on chicken thighs, you can easily adapt it to use other chicken parts. Chicken drumsticks are a great alternative, especially for kids who love them, and marinated air fryer chicken breasts are ideal for those who prefer white meat. Each variation requires slight adjustments in cooking time to ensure perfect doneness.

Even Pieces: Cut the chicken into even sizes for uniform cooking. I like to use kitchen shears for this, but you could also use a knife.

Marinating Time: Longer marinating times enhance flavor depth and tenderness.

Temperature Check: Use an instant-read thermometer to ensure proper doneness without overcooking. The internal temperature should reach at least 165°F (75°C).

Conclusion

This marinated chicken thighs recipe promises a delightful dinner that combines the ease of air frying with the robust flavors of a carefully crafted marinade. Whether you're gathering around the table for a family meal or entertaining friends, these chicken thighs are sure to be a hit.