If you’re looking for crispy, crunchy, juicy and tender chicken thighs – with an addictive lemon flavor – you need this simple air fryer lemon chicken recipe!

My husband tries to eat low carb often, and this chicken thigh dish is the result of tinkering and testing to get him a crunch that is addictive and tastes like fried – with no extra breading or calories – just high heat from an air fryer!

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Air Fried Lemon Chicken Thighs

This easy lemon chicken recipe is super simple and crazy quick – it requires less than 5 minutes active time.

Just toss chicken in a lemon marinade, cover with spices, and toss into an air fryer, and cook!

If you’re making dinner for a guest, or want a delicious hearty dinner you don’t have to fuss over, this recipe for perfect juicy chicken thighs is for you!

Air fried chicken thighs are incredibly delicious – juicy on the inside, and crunchy on the outside – just like fried chicken. But because we’re using an air fryer, this recipe uses a tiny fraction of the oil, no breading, as well as hot air circulating quickly over the chicken, to fry this chicken in a much healthier way.

If you love my easy and delicious best easy baked lemon chicken recipe, you’re going to love this easy air fried lemon chicken recipe.

Check out my web story about this air fryer chicken!

To make this recipe, we will need the following ingredients:

• 6 Chicken Thighs: The star of the dish, chicken thighs are juicy, flavorful, and have enough fat to stay moist in the air fryer, ensuring a tender and delicious result.
• 2 tbsp Olive Oil: Adds richness and helps to crisp the skin while keeping the chicken moist during cooking. It also helps the seasoning adhere to the chicken.
• 2 tbsp Lemon Juice: Provides a bright, tangy flavor that complements the richness of the chicken. The acidity in lemon juice also helps tenderize the meat slightly.
• 1 tbsp Italian Herb Seasoning Blend: A mix of herbs like oregano, thyme, basil, and rosemary adds depth and a fragrant, earthy flavor, balancing the brightness of the lemon.
• 1 tsp Celtic Sea Salt: Enhances the natural flavors of the chicken and other ingredients. The mineral content of Celtic sea salt adds a subtle complexity to the dish.
• 1 tsp Fresh Cracked Pepper: Adds a sharp, spicy bite that complements the lemon and herbs, giving the chicken a bit of heat and depth.
• 1 Lemon, Sliced Thin: Adds extra lemony flavor during cooking and provides a garnish. The lemon slices can caramelize slightly, intensifying the citrus flavor.

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, we will use the following method:

1. Marinate. Add all ingredients – except sliced lemon – to bowl or bag, toss to coat chicken. Let marinate for 30 minutes to overnight.
2. Air fry. Remove chicken and let any excess oil drip off (does not need to be dried, just not dripping with tons of excess oil.) Set air fryer to 350-400 degrees (as high as your air fryer will go) and preheat for 10 minutes. Arrange chicken thighs and lemon slices in air fryer basket, taking care to not push chicken thighs too close to each other. Cook at 350 or 400 (again, as high as you can), for 8 minutes.
3. Flip & keep frying. Remove fryer basket and flip chicken thighs to other side. Cook again at 350 for another 6 minutes – gauge temperature, and continue to air fry until reaching 165 degrees internal temperature.
4. Check temperature. Chicken thighs will be crispy, with clear juices, and reach 165 degrees internal temperature when checked with a digital thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh.
5. Enjoy! Serve with roasted vegetables, cauliflower rice, salad, or a side!

Tips to Perfect Juicy Air Fried Lemon Chicken Thighs

Pat the Chicken Dry: Removing moisture from the skin helps it get crispy while cooking. Use paper towels to thoroughly pat the chicken dry before seasoning.

Use Bone-In, Skin-On Thighs: Bone-in, skin-on thighs stay juicier and the skin crisps up beautifully in the air fryer. Trim excess skin and fat for even cooking and a cleaner look.

Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheating helps the chicken cook evenly and crisps the skin faster. Preheat the air fryer for about 3-5 minutes before adding the chicken.

Oil the Chicken, Not the Air Fryer: Lightly coating the chicken with oil helps the skin crisp up. Applying oil to the chicken directly ensures it cooks evenly. Use a small amount of olive or avocado oil for best results.

Don’t Overcrowd the Basket: Air needs to circulate around each thigh for even cooking and crisping. Cook in batches if necessary, leaving space between the thighs for air to flow.

Cook at the Right Temperature: Cooking at a high temperature crisps the skin while keeping the inside juicy. Set the air fryer to 375-400°F (190-200°C). Start at 375°F and increase the temperature toward the end if needed for extra crunch.

Flip Halfway Through: Flipping the chicken ensures both sides cook evenly and the skin crisps all over. Flip the thighs at the halfway mark of cooking, typically around 12-15 minutes in.

Season Generously: Proper seasoning adds flavor to both the skin and meat. Use a mix of salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and herbs. For extra crisp, a small amount of baking powder can be added to the seasoning.

Use a Meat Thermometer: Ensures the chicken is cooked through but not overdone. Chicken thighs should reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Check near the bone for accuracy.

Let It Rest: Resting allows the juices to redistribute, keeping the chicken moist. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes after cooking before serving.

I like a delicious, crispy crunch and tender, juicy middle for chicken thighs – so I try to cook with as much heat as possible in an air fryer.

I aim for an air fry temperature of 400 degrees for chicken thighs – but not all air fryers go to 400 degrees, so you can also use 350.

At 350 degrees, chicken thighs will take about 16-18 minutes to reach 165 degrees, and you’ll flip partway through cooking.

At 400 degrees, chicken thighs take about 13-15 minutes to reach 165.

Go as high as you can and watch your chicken’s temperature, instead of going off the time elapsed – you may need to add additional time if cooking bone-in, skin-on thighs. Since chicken thighs contain more fat, they do not dry out as quickly as chicken breasts can – if you need to take another minute or two to give your chicken thighs more crunch (especially if cooking with skin-on, you really want a lovely crunchy skin), you can without worrying about drying them out.

How to Substitute Chicken Breasts for Chicken Thighs

This recipe is one of my favorites because it can be used with either chicken breasts or chicken thighs.

To make perfectly juicy easy air fried lemon chicken breasts:

• Place chicken in air fryer basket, standing against sides of basket if necessary – do not push closely together.
• Set to 350°F and cook for 15 minutes.
• Turn chicken; cook 5 to 8 minutes longer or until chicken reads at least 165°F when a digital thermometer is inserted into the thickest part of the chicken.

To get the most flavor possible, I like to make a quick marinade for this chicken, especially when using chicken breasts.

Combine the following in a bowl or plastic bag with the chicken:

• -2 tbsp lemon juice
• -1/4 c olive oil
• -italian herb seasoning

Let chicken sit for at least 1 hour in marinade, then pop in fryer basket and cook!

This air fryer chicken is keto and low carb compatible – and great alongside pasta, rice, and other carbs, too!

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If you’re looking to buy an air fryer, please head to my air fryer essentials Amazon list here:

Amazon Air Fryer Essentials List

And for my favorite Keto foods (including tons of meats that are fantastic in an air fryer), please head here:

Amazon Favorite Keto Foods

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