Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
Elevate your dinner game with crispy, juicy lemon pepper chicken thighs made effortlessly in the air fryer—bursting with zesty flavor and ready in no time!
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The more recipes I have in my arsenal for an easy weeknight dinner, the better. Trust me, it doesn’t get any easier than juicy chicken thighs with crispy skin cooked to perfection in the air fryer. Just think, you can have a delicious meal on your dinner table for the whole family with minimal effort!
Ingredients and tools you will need
Lemon pepper flavor adds a fresh kick to any recipe. With only four simple ingredients, it’s an easy recipe that’s sure to become a staple for busy weeknights. To make this lemon pepper chicken thighs recipe, you will need:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon pepper seasoning – you can use store-bought or check out this post on how to make your own homemade lemon pepper seasoning.
- 4 skin-on bone-in chicken thighs
- Air fryer
How to make air fryer lemon pepper chicken thighs
- In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, and lemon pepper seasoning. Whisk until the ingredients are evenly combined.
- Add the chicken thighs to a zippered storage bag. Pour the lemon pepper marinade over the chicken. Seal the bag and shake to coat the chicken thighs with the seasoning. Allow the chicken to marinate in the bag for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for five minutes. Spray the inside of the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place the chicken thighs in an even layer in the basket skin side down. Bake for 12 minutes.
- Flip the chicken thighs so they are skin-side up. Bake for an additional 12 minutes until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.
- For extra crispy chicken skin, continue to bake the chicken in five-minute increments until it reaches your desired level of crispness.
- Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Oven instructions
Don’t have an air fryer? No problem. This recipe can easily be adapted for the oven.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Line a large baking sheet with foil. Place a baking rack over the foil and spray it with nonstick spray.
- Arrange the chicken thighs skin side up on the baking rack. Bake for 35-45 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
Storage, freezing, and reheating instructions
Storage. Transfer any leftover chicken to an airtight container within two hours. Store in the refrigerator and consume within four days.
Freezing. Transfer the air fryer chicken thighs to a large zippered freezer bag and squeeze out any excess air. You can also wrap each piece individually in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Consume within three months. Thaw the chicken completely before eating or reheating.
Reheating. To maintain crispy chicken thighs, you can reheat the chicken in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. You can also reheat it in the oven at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes. I don’t recommend reheating this dish in the microwave as it tends to make the skin rubbery.
Frequently asked questions
Yes! Cut down on excess calories and fat by using boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead. Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F and cook for 15 minutes, turning halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
Yes. You will need to reduce the cook time to 16 minutes, flipping the chicken legs halfway through.
Yes. Bone-in chicken cuts like thighs can handle a slightly longer marinating time compared to boneless. However, the acidity in the lemon juice will break down the protein in the meat if left to marinate for too long, resulting in a mushy texture. Don’t marinate the chicken for more than 12 hours.
Yes. White meat tends to cook faster than dark meat because it’s leaner, so reduce the cooking time to 20 minutes, turning halfway through.
Yes. An air fryer is simply a countertop convection oven and works much the same.
Set your oven to its lowest setting. My oven will go all the way down to 170 degrees. Place the food on a baking sheet and place it in the oven while you cook the rest. This will keep the food warm without cooking it further.
Side dish ideas
- Instant Pot Collard Greens
- Oven Roasted Okra
- Marinated Asparagus
- Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cranberries
More chicken thigh recipes
- Oven Roasted Chicken Thighs with Okra and Tomatoes
- Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Grilled Pineapple Chicken
More air fryer recipes
Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon pepper seasoning
- 4 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, and lemon pepper seasoning. Whisk until the ingredients are evenly combined.
- Add the chicken thighs to a zippered storage bag. Pour the lemon pepper marinade over the chicken. Seal the bag and shake to coat the chicken thighs with the seasoning. Allow the chicken to marinate in the bag for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer at 400 degrees for five minutes. Spray the inside of the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Place the chicken thighs in an even layer in the basket skin side down. Bake for 12 minutes.
- Flip the chicken thighs so they are skin-side up. Bake for an additional 12 minutes until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.
- For extra crispy skin, continue to bake the chicken in five-minute increments until it reaches your desired level of crispness.
- Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Have a question? Leave a comment!