Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Legs – a great way to keep all the juices in the chicken while still giving you that juice nice crispy skin.
No mess, no fuss – these are the easiest crispy chicken thighs ever and are usually gone within minutes of hitting the plates.
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This is an excellent and inexpensive way to support the family. There’s a lot of meat in a chicken thigh and last time I checked (Sainsburys, Asda and Tesco) each chicken thigh is around 50-60p.
They are delicious as they are – served with crisps or salad and a spoonful of it coleslaw.
Alternatively, you can use the cooked chicken to prepare many recipes – such as: Fried rice with chickensimply Chicken Ramen, Tuscan Chicken Soup or Chicken a la king.
📋 What do we need?
- chicken legs (sometimes called chicken quarters). You can substitute 4 bone-in thighs and 4 drumsticks or a combination of these if you prefer.
- baking powder (Not baking soda/soda bicarb)
- salt and pepper
📺 Check out how to make crispy chicken wings AND thighs in the air fryer
Full recipe with detailed steps in the recipe card at the end of this post.
👩🍳PRO TIP Make sure you get the chicken pieces dry with paper towels – this will help give the skin extra crispiness.
🍽️ Do you like your chicken saucy?
My favorite steak sauces all go great with these chicken thighs!
Perfectly crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside!
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Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Thighs
Crispy-skinned chicken thighs air fry in less than 45 minutes. A fantastic, inexpensive way to get heaps of juicy chicken.
INSTRUCTIONS
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Dry the chicken thighs with paper towels, then place them in a large bowl.
4 chicken legs*
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Sprinkle baking powder, salt and pepper on top. Throw to combine.
2 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder**, ½ tsp table salt, ½ tsp pepper
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Place this chicken in the air fryer basket and cook at 210°C/410°F for 35-40 minutes, shaking the basket every 10 minutes. The internal temperature of the chicken should be 75°C (You can also pierce the thickest part of the chicken. If the juice is clear and not pink, it’s done).
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Serve with your favorite side dish.
✎ Notes
We use the full leg piece which includes a thigh and a drumstick.
Alternatively, you can substitute 4 drumsticks on the bone and 4 drumsticks, or a combination of these – so you have 8 pieces of skin and bones.
**Baking powder
I state in the recipe to use aluminum-free baking powder. Baking powder containing aluminum (Sodium aluminum sulphate or E521) may cause a metallic taste in certain people who are sensitive to it.
- Also, be sure to use baking soda AND NOT Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
Can I prepare crispy chicken drumsticks?
I prefer them fresh out of the air fryer, but you can cook the chicken thighs ahead of time if you prefer.
Boil, then allow to cool, cover and refrigerate for up to a day. Heat them in the air fryer for about 8-10 minutes at 200C / 400F until crispy again and consistently hot.
Nutritional information is approximate per chicken thigh.
nutrition
Calories: 307kcalCarbohydrates: 1GProtein: 23GFat: 23GSaturated Fatty Acids: 6GPolyunsaturated fat: 5GMonounsaturated fatty acids: 9GTrans fats: 0.1GCholesterol: 133mgSodium: 622mgPotassium: 293mgFiber: 0.1GSugar: 0.003GVitamin A: 132ieVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 132mgIron: 1mg
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