Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs – Quick and Tasty

Name: Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs – Quick and Tasty
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 4 pieces chicken thighs; 1 tablespoon olive oil; to taste salt; to taste pepper; to taste paprika powder; to taste garlic powder

Quick and tasty recipe for crispy chicken thighs in the air fryer, perfect for a healthy dinner.

Time: 30 min4 servingsDifficulty: Easy190°CChicken

Steps

1
Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. If some pieces are uneven in size, cut them so they cook evenly.
2
Mix the thighs with a little olive oil, salt, pepper, and chosen spices (paprika and garlic powder). Let them marinate for a few minutes if you have time.
3
Preheat the air fryer to 190°C (375°F). Cook the thighs for 25 minutes, turning them halfway through for even browning.
4
Let the thighs rest briefly before serving. Ensure the chicken is fully cooked (internal temperature of at least 74°C / 165°F).

Shopping list

4 chicken drumsticks, 1 tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper to taste, paprika powder and garlic powder to taste

Recipe story

Air fryer chicken thighs are a modern twist on traditional fried chicken recipes, popular in Southern American cuisine. Paprika, introduced to Europe by Spanish explorers, became a staple spice in many cultures, and this recipe combines influences from Hungarian and American cuisines for a crispy and flavorful dish.

Ingredient Secrets

Black pepper

Known as 'black gold' in antiquity, pepper was so valuable that it served as currency and tribute. In the Middle Ages, Venetian merchants controlled the pepper trade, and individual peppercorns were often counted. Legend has it that when Alaric, king of the Visigoths, demanded tribute from Rome, he included 3,000 pounds of pepper.

Sea salt

Sea salt, extracted from ocean waters by evaporation, was one of the most precious goods of antiquity, used both as food and as currency. In ancient Rome, soldiers were paid with salt, which is the origin of the word 'salary'. Salt roads connected entire civilizations, and in the Middle Ages, salt was so valuable it was called 'white gold'.

Paprika

Paprika, a emblematic spice brought to Europe by Christopher Columbus from the New World. Although associated with Hungarian cuisine, its origins are in Central America, where it was used by the Aztecs.

Garlic

Native to Central Asia, garlic was already known in ancient Egypt, where it was given to slaves to boost their strength. In ancient Greece, athletes consumed it before competitions, and in Rome, legionaries considered it essential for courage. During the Middle Ages, it was used to ward off vampires and the plague.

Olive oil

Originating in the Mediterranean basin, olive oil was already produced in ancient Crete 5,000 years ago. In ancient Greece, it was considered a gift from Athena and used in lamps, cosmetics, and religious ceremonies. The Romans spread it throughout the empire, and in the Middle Ages, monasteries preserved the tradition of its production.