Easy Air Fryer Brown Sugar Chicken Thighs + Video

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You will absolutely love these Air Fryer Brown Sugar Chicken Thighs. Bone-in chicken thighs are coated with a brown sugar seasoning mixture and then air fried until crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Perfect for a quick and easy dinner that you’ll want to make again and again!

These taste great paired with my Easy Instant Pot Baby Potatoes or my Southern Fried Potatoes! Also, if you like air fryer chicken recipes, be sure to try my Easy Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders recipe!

Air Fryer Brown Sugar Chicken Thighs on a light gray plate. — Air Fryer Brown Sugar Chicken Thighs

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Why You Will Love This Recipe:

This recipe only takes 30 minutes from start to finish! You’ll love how simple yet delicious these chicken thighs are. I make this recipe often. It’s just too easy and good not to!
The brown sugar in this recipe makes the skin of the chicken thighs extra crispy and delectable. My family loves to eat the crispy chicken skin. It’s the best part!
Air fryer chicken thighs are great for dinner or lunch. Just pair them with a couple side dishes and you'll have a meal.

Recipe Video:

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Q&A:

Can I use frozen chicken thighs?

Yes, you will need to make sure the chicken thighs are separated and not frozen together. Cook in a preheated air fryer at 365 degrees Fahrenheit for 24 minutes until the internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Flip the chicken thighs halfway through. See Frozen Instructions below.

Can I use boneless and skinless chicken thighs?

Yes, you can use boneless skinless chicken thighs. Boneless thighs tend to cook faster than bone in chicken thighs so you will need to reduce the cook time by a couple of minutes.

What temperature should I air fry chicken thighs?

Bone in chicken thighs should be air fried at 380 degrees Fahrenheit. This will give them a crispy outside and juicy center.

Air Fryer Brown Sugar Chicken Thigh in a black air fryer basket.

What To Serve With Air Fryer Brown Sugar Chicken Thighs:

Equipment Needed:

Air Fryer

Ingredients:

Bone-in Chicken Thighs (skin on) - You will need to pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. This is one way to make them extra crispy in the air fryer.
Olive Oil - I used olive oil, but you can use whatever cooking oil you’d regularly use.
Brown Sugar - Makes the chicken extra crispy and adds a slight sweet flavor.
Smoked Paprika
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Powder

Air Fryer Instructions:

1. Brush the air fryer basket with cooking oil.

A teal and silver basting brush applying olive oil to a black air fryer basket.

2. Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit and set the timer for 22 minutes.

Black air fryer panel with a silver dial being set to 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 22 minutes.

3. In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, brown sugar, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Set aside.

Various ingredients in silver sauce dishes being added to a clear bowl and mixed together with a gray spoon.

4. Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel. Then add them to a medium sized bowl.

Chicken thighs being patted dry with a paper towel and then added to a silver mixing bowl on a wood cutting board.

5. Add the seasoning mixture to the chicken thighs and toss until the chicken thighs are well coated.

Chicken thighs tossed in a brown sugar mixture until well coated in a silver mixing bowl on a wood cutting board.

6. Add the chicken thighs to the air fryer, skin side down, and cook for 11 minutes.

Chicken thighs added skin-side-down to a black air fryer basket and cooked for 11 minutes.

7. Flip the chicken thighs and cook for another 9 to 11 minutes until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chicken thighs being turned over in a black air fryer basket and cooked, then checked for doneness with a black food thermometer.

8. Remove the chicken thighs from the air fryer. Let cool for 3 minutes, then enjoy!

Air Fryer Frozen Instructions:

1. Separate the chicken thighs making sure they are not frozen together.

2. Mix together the olive oil, brown sugar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Pour the mixture over the chicken thighs and rub all over the chicken thighs until well coated.

3. Preheat the air fryer to 365 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 24 minutes until the internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Flip the chicken thighs halfway through.

4. Remove the chicken thighs from the air fryer. Let cool for 3 minutes, then enjoy!

Oven Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel and add them to a medium sized bowl.

3. Mix together the olive oil, brown sugar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Pour the mixture over the chicken thighs and rub all over the chicken thighs until well coated.

4. Add the chicken thighs, skin up, to a baking dish and bake for 30 to 40 minutes until the skin is crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165 Fahrenheit.

5. Remove the chicken thighs from oven. Let them cool for 3 minutes. Then enjoy!

Recipe Variations And Substitutions:

Olive oil - I used olive oil but you can use whatever cooking oil you prefer.
Boneless Chicken Thighs - Boneless skinless chicken thighs can be used as well. Typically, boneless chicken thighs will cook faster than bone-in thighs, so be sure to keep an eye on them so that they do not burn.

Storage And Reheating Instructions:

Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Reheat in a preheated air fryer of 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-3 minutes until crispy. You can also reheat them in the microwave but they won't have the same crispiness to them. Personally, I prefer reheating these in the air fryer.

Pro Tips:

Cook chicken thighs skin down first. This is so you don’t overcook the skin before the middle is done.
Cook time varies based on the size of your chicken thighs. Smaller thighs will need less time so be sure to keep an eye on them while cooking. Always check on them halfway through.
Pat the chicken thighs dry to remove excess moisture. This will make them extra crispy.
The air fryer I used was the Instant Vortex Plus 6 quart. Since all air fryers are different, you will need to adjust the cook time based on the air fryer you are using.

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