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Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside and delicately seasoned, these Air Fryer lemon pepper chicken thighs are one of my all-time favorite chicken recipes. Just a few simple ingredients and less than 20 minutes is all it takes to make this easy weeknight meal.
Team them up with a side of Air Fryer frozen vegetables or Air Fryer roasted potatoes and you’ve got yourself a hearty and wholesome meal!
Whipping up quick weeknight meals in my Air Fryer has become my newest obsession. I recently tried my hands at air fried coconut chicken and Air Fryer Teriyaki chicken, which were both absolute hits in my household.
This time, I was craving for something light, fresh and citrusy- something that I could whip up using some chicken thighs that I had at hand, and that’s when I thought of this recipe!
Quick Look At This Recipe
✨ Flavor: Juicy and citrusy.
⏱️ Prep time: 5 minutes.
🔥 Cook time: 17 minutes.
⏲️ Total time: 22 minutes.
👥 Servings: 4 servings.
🥄 Tools: Air Fryer.
❄️ Freezer friendly: Yes.
👩🏻🍳 Tip: To make it a complete meal, add some diced veggies like carrots, zucchini and peppers along with the chicken, halfway during the cooking time- like I did when I made my Air Fryer chicken and vegetables.
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Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s the perfect easy weeknight meal that the entire family will enjoy.
- It comes together in under 30 minutes- just like my Air Fryer chicken Fajitas and Air Fryer orange chicken.
- No bowls and plates needed- which means less mess to clean up afterwards- yay!
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken thighs: I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs here. They are the most tender and have a lot of flavor- I love using them for my Air Fryer recipes in specific.
- Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed, for that citrusy zing.
- Seasonings: To season, I used a mix of Italian seasoning, some garlic powder, black pepper and lemon pepper seasoning. Sometimes, I also add my homemade poultry seasoning for a bit of extra flavor.
- Olive oil: To coat the chicken thighs and help the seasonings stick to their surface.
See recipe card for quantities.
Love using your Air Fryer? Check out my 50+ Air Fryer chicken recipes to get you inspired!
Variations
- Experiment with different seasonings and spices to bring additional flavor to the dish. I love adding red pepper flakes or cayenne when I want a spicy kick, or just some paprika when I want a deeper color and some extra yumminess.
- For a cheesy flavor, top the chicken thighs with freshly grated Parmesan during the final few minutes of cooking- I did this when I made my Air Fryer chicken Parmesan.
- You can also top the chicken thighs with some freshly lemon zest or lemon slices or herbs like thyme, parsley and chives to make them even more delicious.
How to Make Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
- Transfer the chicken thighs to a plastic resealable bag and pour in the olive oil and lemon juice.
- Seal the bag and fully coat the thighs. Add in the seasonings, seal it and toss the chicken until well coated.
- Arrange the seasoned thighs in a single layer in your Air Fryer basket and cook at 360 F for 8-10 minutes.
- Remove, flip them over and continue cooking for another 7-8 minutes or until the chicken is tender.
Serving Ideas & Suggestions
Enjoy these Air Fryer lemon pepper chicken thighs with a simple veggie side like Air Fryer asparagus or Air Fryer broccoli. I personally love pairing them with a simple rice pilaf, Air Fryer baked potato or my favorite Air Fryer twice baked potatoes.
And if you’re looking for a low-carb side to pair with it, you can team it up with my Air Fryer spaghetti squash or air fried stuffed mini peppers.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- You may need to adjust the cooking time a bit depending on the kind of Air Fryer you’re using. Check the basket at the 15-17 minute mark, and cook for a few more minutes if the chicken is still undercooked.
- To make cleanup even easier, line your Air Fryer basket with parchment paper or Air Fryer liners before you arrange the chicken thighs.
- If you have a smaller Air Fryer, cook in batches- just don’t overcrowd the basket or you won’t get that slightly crispy skin that you’re looking for.
- For better flavor, you can marinate the chicken in the bag and refrigerate it for up to a day (or for a few hours), and then air fry it. I did this when I made my Air Fryer yogurt marinated chicken and it turned out so tender and flavorful.
- If you’re using bone-in chicken thighs, you may need to add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
Recipe FAQs
If you do not have chicken thighs, feel free to use other cuts of chicken. Juicy chicken breasts, chicken legs or chicken wings will all be delicious with the lemon pepper seasoning.
Use a meat thermometer to check meat for doneness. The chicken’s internal temperature should be 165 F.
Allow chicken to fully cool prior to storing. Place in a resealable zip lock bag or airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Yes, you can! Transfer the leftovers to a freezer storage bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheat leftover chicken thighs in the Air Fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes, or until heated through.
More Air Fryer Chicken Dinners
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Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 6 chicken thighs, boneless, skinless
- 1 1/2 Tablespoon lemon juice, fresh
- 1/2 Tablespoon lemon pepper , seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix the lemon pepper seasoning, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and black pepper together. Set aside.
- Wash chicken thighs under cold water, place them on a cutting board and pat them dry with paper towels.
- Place the chicken thighs into a plastic resealable bag and pour in the olive oil and lemon juice.
- Seal the bag and fully coat the thighs.
- Add the spice mixture to the bag, seal it and toss chicken in seasonings until well coated.
- Place the thighs in a single layer into the air fryer basket and cook at 360 degrees F for 15-17 minutes, turning halfway through the cooking process.
- Use a meat thermometer to check meat for doneness. The chicken's internal temperature should be 165 degrees F.
- Serve while hot.
Notes
- Arrange the chicken thighs in a single layer in the Air Fryer basket. If they overlap, they may not have that slightly crispy skin you’re looking for.
- Measure the internal temperature of the chicken to check for doneness.
- For better flavor, you can marinate the chicken in the seasonings and refrigerate until you’re ready to air fry. Make sure you add a few extra minutes of cooking time if you’re using refrigerated thighs.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
