Making air fryer lemon garlic chicken thighs is so easy and the flavor is bright, zippy, and just plain delightful! The lemon adds the perfect zip and everyone loves garlic!
We love a quick dinner that doesn’t skimp on flavor and these lemon garlic chicken thighs are just the ticket!
A quick seasoning made of fresh squeezed lemon juice, plenty of garlic, and a touch of honey is the base for this simple chicken dinner and then everything cooks to perfection in the air fryer.
Sure, you could absolutely grill these lemon garlic chicken thighs and that would be tasty too – but we love that the air fryer is ready to go in any sort of weather conditions and that you don’t have to babysit the chicken. Pop it in and let the magic happen.
Our air fryer chicken recipes have been such a huge hit. Our air fryer stuffed chicken breast and our air fryer whole chicken are a couple of reader favorites – I just know these chicken thighs are going to be a favorite too.
Ingredient Notes:
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Chicken – We are going to use four bone-in, skin on, chicken thighs for this recipe. If you prefer boneless, see my notes below. You could also use any other cut of chicken that you like- just adjust cook time accordingly.
Seasonings – We want big, bold flavor so we’re using a nice combo of spices and seasonings. Here’s the list:
- Olive oil
- Honey
- Minced garlic
- Lemon juice
- Paprika
- Cracked pepper
- Salt
- Onion powder
- Parsley and lemon wedges for serving
When you are grocery shopping, consider what to serve with this lemon garlic chicken thigh. I love it with steamed rice and our air fried brussels sprouts or we’ll just throw some frozen vegetables in the air fryer.
How to Make Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs in an Air Fryer:
- Prepare – Pat your chicken thighs dry with a paper towel. Put all of your seasoning ingredients into a small bowl and stir to combine.
- Season – Brush this mixture liberally over the chicken or add it to the bowl and toss it around to coat. You can cook your chicken immediately or you can leave it to marinate in this mixture for a few hours.
- Air Fry – Spritz or brush oil into the bottom of your air fryer basket. Place your chicken thighs in a single layer in the basket. Air fry for 25 minutes at 350 degrees F or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Serve – Sprinkle with parsley and serve with a lemon wedge for squeezing over the chicken.
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FAQ:
Cooking at too high of a heat can cause the skin on your chicken thighs to burn. If you cook at 350 degrees in your air fryer for about 25 minutes they shouldn’t burn. Flip halfway through cooking for best results.
You can store your cooked chicken thighs in your fridge in an airtight container. They should last 3-4 days.
A fresh salad is a perfect pairing to get started. I like to use fresh greens with some veggies in the salad. Roasted vegetables, steamed vegetables, and your favorite potato will also work. My go-to pairing though, is simply white rice!
Recipe Tips!
Not a fan of bone-in chicken thighs? Here are a few other options for you:
Boneless Thighs: Cook at 380 degrees for about 10 minutes, until the temperature reaches 165 degrees.
Boneless Chicken Breasts: Cook at 380 degrees for about 10 minutes, until the temperature reaches 165 degrees.
Chicken Drumsticks: Air fry at 370 degrees for about 20 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking.
Comments & Reviews
Donald says
A really easy way to cook chicken thighs,thank you.
Penny M says
Wow…
Karly and Chad this recipe is ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!
Thank you 🙏 ♥️
The flavour of the chicken was so tasty!
Love this recipe..
you two nailed it !
Your recipes are ALWAYS My Go Too!
They are all always delicious
Thank you 🙏 ♥️
Karly Campbell says
Thank you so much, Penny! Your comment and star rating means so much to us! <3
Dayvid says
Had larger thighs so I cooked longer starting skin down. Turned out tasty, cooked for 40 min, flipped halfway