We make these Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs weekly in our house! The chicken comes out super juicy and tender with a crisp exterior. The honey Dijon marinade doubles as a glaze and has SO much flavor. And thanks to the cook cooking ability of the air fryer, they’re ready in a snap!
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It wasn’t until maybe the fifth or sixth time making these air fryer boneless chicken thighs that I realized, “Hmm. Maybe I should post this recipe on the site?!”
This is one of those recipes that I shared because I make it ALL THE TIME. Basically weekly.
It’s perfect to add to salads, tacos, or with veggies as a healthy meal. It makes the best addition to weeknight meals when you’re short on time but want big flavor.
Why We Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients. Lime juice brings bit of acidity. Soy sauce gives it umami. Honey provides sweetness, and mustard has depth. And the secret ingredients… coriander and curry powder pack an amazing punch!
- The result is tender and juicy thighs with a crispy exterior, much like you’d get from cooking them on the grill. And it’s so much FASTER than baking in the oven!
- The sweet, tangy, and umami-rich marinade doubles as a glaze for the perfect weeknight dinner.
- Easily adjust the ingredients to what you have on hand. No curry or coriander? Try paprika and cumin!
Ingredients
- Chicken thighs. This cut is so rich and flavorful. Be sure to get the boneless skinless kind and trim the fat.
- Sweetener. Depending on your preference, you can choose honey, pure maple syrup, or brown sugar. You don’t need a lot, but you’ll want some!
- Lime juice. Freshly squeezed juice adds a crisp and fresh taste. Lemon juice will work in a pinch.
- Dijon mustard. You can sub yellow mustard if needed, but you’ll lose some of the deep flavor.
- Garlic. Fresh minced garlic is so important! But you can use garlic powder, too.
- Curry powder and coriander. The secret ingredients! You will love what they add to this dish.
How to Cook Boneless Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer
Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.
1. Make the Sauce and Marinate the Chicken
In a medium or large bowl, whisk together the oil, honey, soy sauce, lime juice, mustard, garlic, curry powder, coriander, salt, and black pepper. You will add the boneless thighs to this bowl, so make sure it’s big enough.
Then, carefully place the chicken thighs in the bowl. Spoon the sauce over the meat until it’s completely covered.
Alternately, you can make the sauce in a small bowl. Then, transfer it to a Ziploc bag and combine it with the thighs.
Set the bowl in the fridge and allow it to marinate for at least 30 minutes. You can leave it overnight if needed.
2. Cook in the Air Fryer
Set the air fryer to 380℉ and let it warm up for at least 3 minutes.
Spread the chicken thighs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. It is important that they aren’t touching so each one cooks evenly. Save any extra marinade.
Cook for 14 to 15 minutes in the preheated air fryer, depending on the size of your chicken thighs. About halfway through cooking, use tongs to carefully flip each one. If there was extra sauce, brush it on the tops.
If you want to know if they’re done, insert an instant read thermometer in the thickest part. They’re ready when the internal temperature is 165℉.
3. Serve the Chicken
Serve these chicken thighs with a delicious sauce for an added treat!
Some of my favorites are:
- Chick-fil-a Sauce
- Buffalo Wing Sauce
- Spicy Sriracha Mayo
- Secret Sauce
- Remoulade Sauce
- Avocado Ranch Dressing
- Homemade Ranch Dressing
- Honey Mustard Dressing
FAQs
While chicken thighs are higher in fat than breasts, they can still be incredibly good for you. Using an air fryer makes them especially healthy, as there is little oil or extra ingredients.
Because thighs have more fat than breasts, it can be difficult to know when they’re done. However, they are not harder to cook. Both need to reach 165℉ on an internal thermometer before they’re done cooking.
Yes! It is so quick and easy to cook up thighs in your air fryer. Not only does it save time, but they come out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Recipe Tips
- Use a juicer. A handheld citrus juicer is the easiest way to get the most out of your citrus.
- Get it all. While the ingredient list might seem a little long, don’t leave anything out if you can help it!
- Seal it up. Place the chicken in a sealed, double-layered zip-top bag as it marinates to prevent it from leaking.
- Give a flip. Don’t forget to turn the thighs over halfway through cooking.
- Take the temp. If you can’t tell when the chicken is cooked through, sticking a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh can help.
What to Serve with Boneless Chicken Thighs
You can pick just about anything to serve as the perfect side dish to these thighs.
Brussels Sprouts au Gratin, Curry Roasted Cauliflower with Yogurt Sauce, and Green Beans Almondine are both delicious and impressive.
For a classic side dish, opt for Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes or Crockpot Glazed Carrots.
Of course, you can’t go wrong with Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes or Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower.
More Air Fryer Recipes
The air fryer is a fantastic way to save you SO MUCH time! Try one of these recipes next.
- Air Fryer Meatloaf
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Air Fryer Steak
- Air Fryer Chicken Quarters
- Air Fryer Shrimp
- Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
- Air Fryer Broccoli with Parmesan
- Air Fryer Pickles
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Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
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Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs. chicken thighs boneless and skinless, fat trimmed
- 3 Tbsp. oil avocado or olive
- 2 Tbsp. honey pure maple syrup, or brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp. soy sauce or gluten-free Tamari
- 1 Tbsp. lime juice freshly squeezed
- 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic finely minced
- ½ tsp. curry powder
- ½ tsp. coriander
- 1 tsp. salt to taste
- ¼ tsp. black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the oil, honey, soy sauce, lime juice, mustard, garlic, curry powder, coriander, salt, and pepper to a large bowl. Whisk until well combined.3 Tbsp. oil, 2 Tbsp. honey, 1 Tbsp. soy sauce, 1 Tbsp. lime juice, 2 tsp. Dijon mustard, 1 clove garlic, ½ tsp. curry powder, ½ tsp. coriander, 1 tsp. salt, ¼ tsp. black pepper
- Place the chicken thighs in the bowl and toss until they’re completely coated. Let marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.1 ½ lbs. chicken thighs
- Preheat a 6-quart air fryer to 380 degrees for at least 3 minutes.
- Place the chicken thighs in a single layer and cook for 14-15 minutes. Flip the thighs over using tongs halfway through cooking and brush any remaining marinade on top.
- Serve immediately with your favorite sauce.
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Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These chicken thighs look terrific and easy to cook! Totally making this later on this week! Thank you.
Yay! So happy to hear you want to try the recipe. Let me know how you like it!