Air Fryer Chicken
This air fryer chicken is simply no-fuss, no nonsense, yielding golden brown, juicy, moist, ultra-tender, flavorful chicken in just 15 min!
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- Avocado oil spray, for spraying
Equipment
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, paprika, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels; season with the spice rub and sprinkle with cornstarch in an even layer, shaking off any excess.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. Place chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches, if needed. Spray with avocado oil spray.
- Air fry, flipping halfway, until cooked through and golden brown, reaching an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 14 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Dry it off. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, removing as much surface moisture as possible. This will help achieve that perfectly crispy exterior (rather than steaming the chicken!).
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Arrange the chicken thighs in a single layer, allowing for some space between the pieces for air to circulate properly and efficiently. Cook in batches if needed.
- Add a light spray of oil before air frying. Apply a light coating of olive or avocado oil spray to achieve that golden brown crust. Avoid commercial cooking sprays such as Pam (contains lecithin) that can damage and strip the nonstick coating of the air fryer basket.
- Flip halfway. Flip the chicken thighs halfway through cooking. This will ensure that the chicken will cook and brown evenly on all sides.
- Use an instant-read thermometer for the most accurate results. The internal temperature should reach 165°F.
- Let your meat rest. Let the chicken rest for at least 5 minutes prior to serving, allowing the juices to redistribute – this will allow for maximum flavor and juiciness.