Bone-in chicken thighs in the air fryer usually need 18–24 minutes at 375–380°F, cooked until the thickest part reaches 165°F.
If you love crispy chicken but do not want to hover over a skillet, the air fryer can feel like a small miracle. Bone-in thighs are especially friendly here, with juicy meat and golden skin that works well for quick weeknight meals and lazy weekend plates alike.
How Long To Cook Bone-In Chicken Thighs In Air Fryer? Time Breakdown
Most bone-in chicken thighs cook in an air fryer in about 18–24 minutes at 375–380°F. Smaller pieces land near the lower end of that range, while thick, meaty thighs sit closer to the upper end. The real goal is an internal temperature of at least 165°F in the thickest part, not the clock alone.
Before dropping thighs into the basket, preheat the air fryer for 4–5 minutes. That warm start helps the skin render and brown properly and keeps your timing more predictable. Arrange the thighs in a single layer, with a little space around each piece so hot air can move freely.
| Thigh Size | Air Fryer Temperature | Approximate Cook Time |
|---|---|---|
| Small, 4–5 oz each | 375°F | 16–18 minutes |
| Medium, 5–6 oz each | 375°F | 18–20 minutes |
| Large, 6–8 oz each | 375°F | 20–24 minutes |
| Medium, 5–6 oz each | 380°F | 17–19 minutes |
| Large, 6–8 oz each | 380°F | 19–23 minutes |
| Family pack mixed sizes | 375–380°F | 18–24 minutes, remove small pieces early |
| Well chilled from fridge | 375–380°F | Add 2–3 minutes to times above |
Times in the chart above line up with many trusted air fryer chicken thigh recipes that cook bone-in pieces around 375–380°F for about 18–24 minutes, always with a final temperature check near the bone before serving.
If you often ask yourself how long to cook bone-in chicken thighs in air fryer, think in two stages instead of one big block of time. Start with about 10 minutes skin side down, flip skin side up, then cook in shorter bursts until the center reaches at least 165°F and the skin looks the way you like it.
Bone-In Chicken Thigh Air Fryer Times By Temperature
Your chosen temperature shapes both timing and texture. Lower heat keeps more moisture but needs extra minutes, while higher heat shortens the cook and deepens browning. Pick the range that matches your schedule and skin preference.
Cooking At 360–370°F
If you prefer a gentler cook, 360–370°F works well. Expect 22–26 minutes for average bone-in thighs, with a flip at the halfway point. This range suits air fryers that brown quickly on the outside and gives you a little extra buffer before the meat dries out.
Cooking At 375–380°F
For many home cooks, 375–380°F hits the sweet spot. Most bone-in thighs cook in 18–24 minutes here. Start checking with a thermometer around minute 17. Thin pieces may already hit 165°F, while thicker ones might need a couple of short extra bursts.
Recipes from experienced testers often recommend about 18–24 minutes at 380°F for bone-in chicken thighs in the air fryer, with a flip halfway through and a thermometer check before serving.
Cooking At 400°F
Some air fryer models promote 400°F as the default. At this setting, bone-in thighs often finish in 16–22 minutes, but they can brown fast. Watch the skin, especially toward the end, and be ready to drop the heat or shorten the last burst if the surface darkens too quickly.
Step-By-Step Method For Air Fryer Bone-In Thighs
Once you know the basic timing window, a steady routine makes results much more predictable. Here is a simple method you can repeat any night of the week.
Prep And Season The Chicken
Pat each thigh dry with paper towels so the skin starts off as dry as possible. This small step helps seasoning cling and lets surface moisture evaporate quickly once the hot air hits the meat.
Preheat And Arrange In The Basket
Set the air fryer to 375–380°F and let it preheat for 4–5 minutes. That warm start keeps the timing at about 18–24 minutes instead of drifting higher.
Place the chicken in a single layer, skin side down. Leave at least a small gap between pieces so hot air can circulate. If your basket is small, cook in batches instead of stacking the thighs; a crowded basket traps moisture and slows browning.
Cook, Flip, And Finish
Cook the thighs skin side down for 10 minutes. Turn them skin side up, then cook for another 8–10 minutes. At that point, check the thickest thigh with an instant read thermometer. If it reads at least 165°F, you can stop there. If the reading is low, cook in 2–3 minute bursts until the temperature is high enough.
Rest And Serve
Once your thighs reach temperature, rest them on a plate or cutting board for 5 minutes before serving. This short pause lets the juices settle back into the meat instead of running out onto the plate when you cut.
How To Check Doneness Safely
Food safety rules for chicken do not change just because you cook the meat in an air fryer. The safest way to know your bone-in thighs are ready is to use a thermometer and confirm that the deepest part of the meat reaches at least 165°F.
Guidance from the USDA safe temperature chart states that all poultry, including thighs, should reach 165°F for safe eating. Place the probe into the thickest part of the meat and keep it clear of the bone, which can give a false high reading.
The broader food safety advice at FoodSafety.gov internal temperature tables repeats the same rule for chicken. These charts back up what most air fryer recipes say already: timing gives you a range, but the thermometer provides the final answer.
Where To Place The Thermometer
Slide the tip into the thickest part of the thigh from the side, not straight down from the top. Stop once the tip reaches the center of the meat. If you feel the probe hit bone, pull it back slightly and wait for a stable reading.
Check at least one of the larger thighs in the basket. If you have a mixed batch and one piece measures much lower than the rest, leave that thigh in the air fryer and pull the pieces that already reached 165°F.
Why Some Cooks Go Hotter Than 165°F
Dark meat such as thighs contains more connective tissue and fat than chicken breast. Many cooks prefer to carry thighs a bit higher than 165°F, sometimes near 180–185°F, because the extra heat melts more collagen and keeps the texture tender instead of chewy near the bone.
If you enjoy that softer texture, cook the thighs until your thermometer hits 175–185°F in the thickest part. The air fryer timing might stretch by a couple of minutes, but the meat stays moist thanks to the extra fat in the cut.
Adjusting Time For Size, Coating, And Frozen Meat
Real life rarely hands you a pack of perfectly matched chicken thighs. Packs vary, brands vary, and sometimes you want to cook from frozen or with a thick coating. Each of these details nudges the timing one way or another.
Small Versus Large Thighs
Smaller bone-in thighs with thin bones reach temperature quicker, so keep a close eye on them from around minute 16 at 375–380°F. Large, meaty thighs can sit in the basket for 22–24 minutes at the same temperature, sometimes a touch longer if crowded.
If your pack holds a mix, group similar sizes together when you load the basket. That way you can remove the small pieces once they hit 165°F while the larger ones finish.
Marinated, Breaded, And Saucy Thighs
Wet marinades, thick breading, and sugary sauces all affect how fast the meat cooks and browns. A heavy yogurt marinade or buttermilk soak insulates the meat and can stretch timing by a few minutes. Thick bread crumbs or panko coating slow browning on the meat but brown on their own, so you might shorten the last burst to keep crumbs from burning.
Cooking From Frozen
If you forgot to thaw your bone-in thighs, you can still use the air fryer. Start at 360°F for 10 minutes to loosen the surface ice and partly thaw the meat. At that point, season the thighs, then raise the temperature to 375–380°F.
Total cook time for frozen bone-in thighs often lands around 25–30 minutes, depending on size and your appliance. Check with a thermometer from minute 23 onward and cook until the deepest part of the meat reaches at least 165°F.
| Situation | Temperature Range | Time Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Small bone-in thighs | 375–380°F | Use lower end of 18–24 minute range |
| Large bone-in thighs | 375–380°F | Add 2–4 minutes over medium pieces |
| Heavy wet marinade | 375–380°F | Add 3–5 minutes and watch browning |
| Thick breading or panko | 375–380°F | Add 2–3 minutes and watch crumbs |
| Sugary glaze or barbecue sauce | 375–400°F | Cook plain first, then 3–5 minutes with glaze |
| Frozen bone-in thighs | 360°F, then 375–380°F | Total about 25–30 minutes, check early |
| Crowded basket | 375–380°F | Add 3–5 minutes and rotate pieces |
Serving Ideas And Leftover Tips
Once you settle on how long to cook bone-in chicken thighs in air fryer, the cut turns into an easy base for quick meals all week. Pair the crispy pieces with roasted vegetables, rice, or a simple green salad the first night, then use leftovers in other dishes later.
Store cooled thighs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. To reheat, place them back in the air fryer at 350–360°F for 5–8 minutes, turning once, until the center is hot and the skin feels crisp again. This method keeps the texture much better than a microwave.
Quick Reference For Bone-In Thigh Timing
When you wonder about bone-in chicken thigh air fryer timing on a busy night, remember this simple outline. Preheat to 375–380°F, cook 10 minutes skin side down and 8–10 minutes skin side up, then finish in short bursts until the thickest part hits at least 165°F on a thermometer. Once you get a feel for your own air fryer, these timing ranges turn into a mental timer you use on autopilot.
Adjust slightly for size, coating, and whether the thighs start frozen or thawed. Rely on the thermometer for the final call, and you will land on safe, juicy chicken thighs with crisp skin again and again on busy nights.