Description
Crispy, golden skin with juicy bone-in thighs seasoned with a smoky paprika-garlic rub. Cooked in an air fryer for maximum flavor and crunch, this recipe delivers restaurant-quality results in 20 minutes with no deep-frying required.
Ingredients
4 skin-on bone-in chicken thighs
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons paprika (standard)
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels to ensure crispy skin
In a small bowl, mix paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper
Rub 1 tablespoon olive oil over the skin side of each thigh, then press spice mixture onto skin
Place thighs in air fryer basket, skin side up (do not flip during cooking)
Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 20 minutes until skin is crispy and internal temperature reaches 165°F
Let rest 5 minutes before serving
Notes
Let thighs rest for gentle juiciness
Can substitute almond flour or cornstarch in the spice blend for thicker crust
Serve with lemon wedges or honey garlic sauce for contrast
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh
- Calories: 530
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 29g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 31g
- Cholesterol: 160mg