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Lemon Pepper Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

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These Lemon Pepper Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are quick, easy, and on your dinner table in less than 20 minutes. Juicy moist chicken made right in your Air Fryer.

air fryer chicken thighs on air fryer grill tray

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Full Recipe/Instructions are available in the 
recipe card at the bottom of the post. 
You can find important tips/tricks in the
blog post.

Quick and easy weeknight options are a must in our house, especially these days. We’ve moved outside the city (yay) which means a longer commute after work (nay). Most evenings, I come in the house exhausted, ready to order “la pizza.”

But with this Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Thigh Recipe, pizza gets pushed on the back burner and this gets made in a jiffy. It’s full of flavor and I don’t have to wait for my chicken to marinate, woo hoo! My chicken thighs still come out juicy and moist and full of flavor.

air fryer lemon pepper chicken thighs on a white plate

Chicken thighs are one of my favorite pieces of chicken to cook in an Air Fryer. They don’t dry out, they’re full of flavor, and they’re pretty much hands off.

How do you cook chicken thighs in an Air Fryer?

For this recipe, I start by washing and drying my chicken thighs. Yes, I know the big debate..do as you wish when it comes to washing your chicken. But…make sure they are dry when adding the seasonings.

I then season my chicken thighs with my seasonings. For this recipe, I use lemon pepper seasoning, fresh lemon juice, black pepper, paprika, italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Most lemon pepper seasoning by itself just doesn’t move me, so I add to it.

seasoned air fryer chicken thighs before placing in air fryer

I then place my chicken thighs in my Air Fryer…it’s ok if they touch a little.

seasones air fryer chicken thighs before cooking

I follow the following cooktimes:

  • Boneless chicken thighs: 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-17 minutes, flipping halfway through
  • Bone in chicken thighs: 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 22-25, flipping halfway through. Then crank up to 390 degrees for 5 minutes if you want crispy skin.

Then serve and enjoy your delicious moist Lemon Pepper Chicken.

Do I need to spray these chicken thighs with oil?

Not this time! I find that some foods need oil while others don’t. Since there is no breading on this and chicken thighs have their own natural fat, you don’t need oil. I talk about this and more in my 10 Air Fryer Tips every Air Fryer Owner Should Know.

Will these chicken thighs get crispy?

Not if they are skinless, because there isn’t really much to crisp. If you want crispy chicken thighs, skin on would work best.

I hope you enjoy these lemon pepper chicken thighs as much as we do.

Looking for more Air Fryer Chicken Recipes? Try my

Air Fryer Chicken Wings (Fresh or Frozen)

Crispy Korean Air Fryer Chicken Wings

BBQ Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Air Fryer Whole Rotisserie Chicken

Air Fryer Roasted Turkey Legs

Pin Lemon Pepper Air Fryer Chicken Thighs for Later

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Watch this video tutorial and see how I make these air fryer chicken thighs from start to finish.

Lemon Pepper Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Easy and delicious Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs that are made in your Air Fryer. 
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword air fryer chicken thighs
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 251kcal
Author Tanya

Ingredients

  • 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 ½ Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • ½ Tablespoon Lemon Pepper Seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon Paprika
  • ½ teaspoon Italian Seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper

Instructions

  • Wash and dry chicken thighs. Rub remaining ingredients over chicken thighs.
  • Place in Air fryer and cook on 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, turning halfway through until the chicken has reached a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. 

For Skin On Bone in Chicken Thighs

  • For bone in thighs with skin, increase cook time for 22-25 minutes at 360 degrees. Then cook on 390 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes more.

Video

Notes

Suggested Tools for Lemon Pepper Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

 

Nutrition

Calories: 251kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 110mg | Sodium: 87mg | Potassium: 238mg | Vitamin A: 185IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 0.9mg
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Recipe Rating




Diane

Wednesday 23rd of August 2023

Next time I make this I will double the ingredients. Found it just barely covered the chicken and it is SO GOOD! I want to taste more. Love this chicken!

Tanya

Thursday 24th of August 2023

Thanks so much, Diane! So happy you liked the recipe :)

Kathleen

Tuesday 11th of July 2023

Oh this is quick , juicy , tender and delicious. Thanks for a great recipe!

Tanya

Tuesday 11th of July 2023

Thanks, Kathleen! So happy you all liked the recipe :)

Melanie in Michigan

Tuesday 17th of January 2023

So simple and delicious !! Thank you !!!!! 👍❤️

cathy moss

Tuesday 10th of January 2023

Im making this tonight. In my omni plus do i use the same time or higher setting. thank you.

Tanya

Wednesday 11th of January 2023

Hi Cathy, I don't have an omni plus but I find that most air fryer ovens need a little longer cook time. I'd suggest keeping an eye on them.

Theresa White

Thursday 29th of December 2022

Very good recipe

Tanya

Friday 30th of December 2022

Thank you Theresa :) So happy you like the recipe.