Description
This recipe delivers ultra crispy skin and juicy, tender chicken thighs cooked quickly in an air fryer, finished with a bright and silky lemon herb butter. Perfect for busy weeknights with simple ingredients and minimal effort.
Ingredients
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 pounds / 900g)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (15ml)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 4 tablespoons butter (56g)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)
- 2 tablespoons fresh herbs (chopped parsley and/or thyme)
- Optional: 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels.
- Rub the chicken all over with olive oil.
- Season generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) if needed.
- Place the chicken thighs skin-side down in the air fryer basket, spaced out.
- Air fry for 10 minutes.
- Flip the chicken skin-side up and air fry for another 10 minutes until skin is golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- While the chicken cooks, melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat.
- Stir in fresh lemon juice, chopped herbs, and lemon zest if using; warm through for 1-2 minutes.
- Transfer cooked chicken to a plate and drizzle generously with the lemon herb butter.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Pat chicken skin dry before seasoning to ensure crispiness. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket to allow even cooking. Flip chicken halfway through cooking for golden, crispy skin. Let chicken rest 5 minutes after cooking to redistribute juices. Leftovers reheat well in a skillet with lemon herb butter to maintain crispiness. If no air fryer, bake at 425°F (220°C) on a wire rack for 35-40 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh
- Calories: 350
- Sodium: 420
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Protein: 28
Keywords: air fryer chicken thighs, crispy chicken, lemon herb butter, quick dinner, easy chicken recipe, weeknight meal, healthy chicken