With delicious herbs and spice, this air fryer paprika chicken is so juicy, full of flavor and has the best crispy edges. It's a quick, easy and affordable chicken thighs recipe that comes together in less than 30 minutes, so let's cook them up for a weeknight dinner!
Have a peek at my air fryer chicken tenders (no breading) for another easy weeknight dinner idea!
Now you may have noticed from my creamy paprika chicken, paprika chicken soup and air fryer skinless chicken thighs that both paprika chicken and air fryer recipes are some of my favorite to make, so of course I had to combine the two!
These juicy air fryer paprika chicken thighs are packed with flavor, and make the most of fragrant spices and herbs. And they're quite economical as there's no need to turn the oven on, and thighs are more affordable than chicken breasts.
I always love to make flavorful air fryer chicken recipes (and my family love them too), so do check out my popular air fryer chicken bites, air fryer stuffed chicken breast and shredded chicken in the air fryer for another time!
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⭐ Why this recipe is so good
Juicy chicken thighs. Tried and tested on my family (who loved it!), this recipe uses chicken thighs for juicy, flavorful and very moreish chicken.
All the paprika flavor. The combination of paprika and herbs is always so good, and we add some garlic for a fragrant hum of heat too.
Simple air fryer chicken dinner. Just add some sides, perhaps my air fryer broccoli and cauliflower or my frozen Brussels sprouts in the air fryer, for an easy weeknight dinner.
🌶 Ingredients
All the ingredients and their quantities are set out in the recipe card below.
Some notes on a few of them:
- Chicken thighs - we use boneless skinless chicken thighs as they are quick and easy to air fry up for dinner.
- Paprika - there are a few types of paprika to choose from. I suggest my low histamine readers use sweet paprika (scores 0 on the SIGHI list). Hot or smoked paprika can also be used by others!
- Oregano - for some fragrant herb flavor, it pairs so well with paprika.
- Garlic powder - for a little hum of heat.
Paprika Tips!
I suggest to choose sweet paprika for a milder flavor, and if you're a part of the low histamine community. Smoked paprika is also delicious, but you may wish to use a little less of it for this recipe as it has a punchier flavor.
📖 Swaps and variations
Add onion powder. For even more flavor, a sprinkle of onion powder can be included, if this is suitable for you.
🔪 How to make paprika chicken in the air fryer
It's so quick and easy to make this air fried chicken! The chicken thighs are juicy, have browned crispy edges and are packed with flavor from herbs, spice and garlic.
All the instructions are set out in the recipe card below, but these step by step photos should help guide you.
Step 1: Season chicken
Pat dry the chicken thighs with paper towel, then add to a bowl with the paprika, oregano, garlic powder, salt, black pepper and olive oil (image 1).
Step 2: Coat the chicken thighs in spice
Rub the herb and spice rub mixture all over the chicken thighs, so they are all coated (image 2).
Step 3: Prep the air fryer
Preheat the air fryer at 390F / 200C for 3 minutes, then use tongs to place the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket smooth-side down so they are in a single layer with a little space between them to allow for air circulation (image 3).
Step 4: Air fry the paprika chicken
Air fry the paprika chicken thighs for 10 minutes at 390F / 200C, then flip using tongs, and cook for a further 6-8 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 165F using a meat thermometer (image 4). Rest for 5 minutes, then serve!
💭 Recipe tips and notes
- Adjust cook time as needed. If your chicken thighs are on the larger side, they may need to air fry for a few more minutes.
- Don't overcrowd the basket. You want to have your chicken thighs in an even layer with a little space between them to allow the air to circulate.
- Check the temperature! Be sure to check for an internal temperature of 165F at the deepest point of the chicken thighs for safe cooking.
📋 Frequently asked questions
You can make this recipe with bone-in chicken thighs but they will have a longer cook time. Be sure to check they reach 165F as their internal temperature using a meat thermometer.
While the edges won't get as crispy as they would if using skin-on thighs, you can get crispy edges if you use oil and cook the chicken long enough. Just be sure not to overcook as nobody likes dry chicken!
Sweet paprika is scored as 0 on the SIGHI list, which describes it as 'Well tolerated, no symptoms expected at usual intake'. Of course, be mindful of personal food sensitivities. Hot paprika is rated as 2 on SIGHI, and so as not well tolerated.
❄️ Storage and freezing advice
This air fried paprika chicken is so easy to freeze! Simply allow the chicken to cool completely, then add to a freezer-safe container. The chicken can be frozen for up to two to three months (see USDA on freezing cooked poultry).
My low histamine readers may wish to read the SIGHI advice on freezing foods for more information.
🍽 More easy chicken recipes
Choose from so many delicious chicken recipes, including my turmeric chicken recipe, air fryer chicken and vegetables and air fryer pesto chicken, as well as these recent meal ideas:
I'm always in the kitchen, so come join me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook to be the first to hear of new recipes! And I love to hear from you - so please do leave a star rating ⭐⭐⭐ and comment if you've tried the recipe!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Paprika Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon paprika*
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- pinch salt
- pinch black pepper optional
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer for 3 minutes at 390F / 180C.
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towel, then place in a large bowl. Drizzle on the olive oil and sprinkle over the paprika, oregano, garlic powder, salt and black pepper. Use your hands to coat the chicken thighs in the oil and spice rub.
- Use tongs to place the chicken thighs rounded side down in your air fryer basket, in an even layer with a little space between them. Air fry for 10 minutes at 390F for 10 minutes, flip, then air fry for a further 6-8 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165F at their deepest point using a meat thermometer.
- Allow the chicken thighs to rest for 5-10 minutes, then enjoy!
Notes
- Onion powder can also be used, if tolerated well.
- Don't skip the oil as it helps get crispy edges!
- Add the chicken thighs in a single layer with some space between them.
- Nutritional information is auto-generated and should be understood to be an estimate.
- Be sure to use sweet paprika, and not hot or smoked paprika if low histamine.
- Garlic, which scores 1.
- Black pepper, which scores 2.
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