Turn on the ! These chicken thighs are ready to be cooked to a rich golden color with juicy, tender meat every single time. The seasoning ingredients (just four if you don't count salt and pepper) are so customizable that you could make this  for  any night of the week. Cooking in the air fryer avoids the messy splatter of a pan fry and shaves off nearly half the cook time of an oven roast. Raising the air fryer's temperature after flipping helps the skin become so irresistibly crisp, you'll want to eat it all at once. Think of it like fried chicken, but healthier! 

Round out this main with any

and you've got a  that even the pickiest of eaters will enjoy.

Should you put raw chicken in an air fryer?

Sure! There's nothing wrong with putting raw chicken in an air fryer as long as you cook it properly. This recipe will show you how.

How long do you cook chicken thighs in an air fryer?

It takes about 30 minutes to cook chicken thighs in an air fryer. You'll cook them for 18 minutes first, then flip them and cook for another 10 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the thighs. If they're at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit, they're ready to eat.

If the chicken thighs haven't reached that temperature yet, pop 'em back in the air fryer to cook until they do. 

What seasonings can I use for chicken thighs?

Try swapping the paprika in this recipe for garlic powder, chili powder, or a salt-free Cajun seasoning. The Italian seasoning will play well with any of these spices.

Can I substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs for bone-in, skin-on thighs?

The bone in the helps keep it moist as it cooks in the air fryer. The skin (besides being delicious) also acts as a barrier to keep the meat from drying out. Stick to bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for this recipe.

How do I keep food from sticking to the air fryer basket?

Cooking spray is your friend here. Give the basket (a handy ) a good coat of cooking spray before adding the chicken; then coat the tops of the thighs when it's time to flip (this will help the skin to crisp).

1 1/2 tsp.

seasoned salt

1/2 tsp.

ground black pepper

1/2 tsp.

paprika

1/2 tsp.

Italian seasoning

4

bone-in, skin on chicken thighs (about 2 1/4 lb.)

Nonstick cooking spray

Step  1 In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning. Sprinkle all over both sides of the chicken thighs. Step  2 Spray the base of the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Place the chicken thighs skin-side down in the basket. Cook at 375°F for 18 minutes. Step  3 Turn the chicken thighs skin-side up and spray all over the top with nonstick cooking spray. Cook at 400°F until the skin is crispy and golden and the interior temperature of the thighs is at least 160°F, about 10 minutes more.