Chicken thighs in an air fryer
chicken thighs in an air fryer
180 °C / 356 °F for 22–28 min
Oven equivalent: 200 °C / 392 °F for 35–45 min
An air fryer is a small convection oven, so chicken thighs cooks at 180 °C rather than 200 °C and takes 22–28 min instead of 35–45. That is roughly the usual 20 °C drop and a fifth off the time.
Side by side
| Oven | Air fryer | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 200 °C / 392 °F | 180 °C / 356 °F |
| Time | 35–45 min | 22–28 min |
| Preheat | Yes | Yes, 3 minutes |
| Turn or shake | — | Start skin-side down, turn after 12 minutes. |
The temperature that actually decides it
Safe internal temperature
74 °C / 165 °F
Times above are for planning. Whether chicken thighs is done is decided by the internal temperature and nothing else — appliance wattage varies by roughly a factor of two across the category, and thickness changes the time more than any setting does. A probe thermometer in the thickest part is the only reliable answer.
What goes wrong
- Thighs are far more forgiving than breast — the extra fat and connective tissue means overshooting 74 °C by a few degrees improves them rather than ruining them.
- Bone-in takes roughly 5 minutes longer than boneless.
- Render the skin by starting skin-side down, then finish skin up for crispness.
Air fryer wattage and basket size vary widely, so treat the first batch as a calibration run and write down what worked. These figures are compiled guidance, not a published standard.
Common questions
- What temperature for chicken thighs in an air fryer?
- 180 °C, or 356 °F, for 22–28 min.
- How do you convert 200 °C oven to an air fryer?
- Drop about 20 °C and cut the time by roughly a fifth, giving 180 °C for 22–28 min.
- What internal temperature should chicken thighs reach?
- 74 °C / 165 °F, per USDA FSIS. Times are guidance; the thermometer decides.
Related pages
- Chicken breast in an air fryer 180 °C, 14–20 min
- Chicken wings in an air fryer 200 °C, 22–28 min
- A whole chicken in an air fryer 170 °C, 50–65 min
- Frozen chips in an air fryer 200 °C, 12–18 min
- Bacon in an air fryer 180 °C, 7–11 min
- Frozen chicken nuggets in an air fryer 190 °C, 8–12 min
- Leftover pizza in an air fryer 160 °C, 3–5 min
- Salmon fillet in an air fryer 180 °C, 7–11 min
- A jacket potato in an air fryer 190 °C, 35–50 min
- Burgers in an air fryer 180 °C, 10–15 min
- Steak in an air fryer 200 °C, 8–14 min
- Sausages in an air fryer 180 °C, 12–16 min
Sources
- Food Safety and Inspection Service — US Department of Agriculture (Public domain (US Government))