Description
This flavorful Chicken Thigh Air Fryer recipe delivers crispy, juicy skin-on chicken thighs coated with a perfectly balanced spice rub and a sweet-spicy honey sriracha glaze. Quick to prepare and cooked entirely in the air fryer, it’s an ideal weeknight meal that promises a delicious blend of tangy, spicy, and savory flavors with minimal mess.
Ingredients
Spice Rub
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Chicken
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- Olive oil for spritzing and drizzling
Honey Sriracha Glaze
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 ½ tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon sriracha (adjust to taste)
Garnishes
- Lime wedges
- Fresh cilantro and/or green onions
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Remove the chicken thighs from their packaging and pat them dry thoroughly with paper towels to ensure crispier skin. Place them skin-side-up and let rest for 20 minutes to air dry. Meanwhile, preheat your air fryer to 400°F using the Air Fry setting and spray the basket with non-stick cooking spray.
- Make Honey Sriracha Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, lime juice, low-sodium soy sauce, Dijon mustard, and sriracha until smooth. Set this glaze aside for serving later.
- Make the Spice Rub: Whisk together the baking powder, paprika, garlic powder, salt, onion powder, ground coriander, ground ginger, and pepper in a separate small bowl. Set aside.
- Add Rub to Chicken: After the chicken has rested, lightly drizzle olive oil over each thigh and rub it all over, covering top and bottom. Evenly sprinkle half of the spice rub over the chicken and gently pat it in to avoid clumping. Flip the thighs over and repeat the oil drizzle and rub application with the remaining spice blend.
- Air Fry Chicken: Place the chicken thighs in a single layer skin-side down in the air fryer basket. If they do not fit without touching, cook in batches for optimal crispiness. Air fry for 8 minutes at 400°F, then flip the thighs, spritz with olive oil, and continue cooking for an additional 8 to 15 minutes depending on their size and your air fryer model. Check doneness with an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh without touching bone; it should read 170°F.
- Serve: Allow diners to drizzle the honey sriracha glaze over their chicken individually to maintain the skin’s crisp texture. Garnish with fresh cilantro and/or green onions and serve with lime wedges for a refreshing finish.
Notes
- For boneless chicken thighs, slightly reduce cook time and monitor internal temperature closely to avoid overcooking.
- Using a digital instant-read thermometer ensures perfectly cooked chicken every time.
- If your air fryer basket is small, cook the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding and ensure even crisping.
- Using a fine mist olive oil sprayer helps evenly coat the chicken without adding too much oil.
- The baking powder in the spice rub helps achieve an ultra-crispy skin texture when air fried.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 16-23 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
