Notes: We are currently in the development and testing stage for this air fryer marinated chicken thighs recipe. Stay tuned for more updates. If you have any tips on making this dish even better, please leave us a comment below. We appreciate your input!
Happy frying!
Table of Contents
Ingredients
Here are all you need to make air fried marinated chicken thighs.
- Chicken thighs
- Bay leaves
- Pepper
- Garlic
- Brown sugar
- Soy sauce
- White vinegar
- Water
✦ You can find the exact measurements of the recipe ingredients and customize the serving size in the recipe card after the detailed step-by-step instructions section.
I used boneless chicken thighs for this recipe, which require a slightly shorter cooking time than bone-in ones. But don’t fret—I’ve got you covered! Whether you have bone-in or boneless chicken thighs, I’ve included the air fryer settings in the recipe card below.
So, you can easily follow along and achieve perfectly cooked and flavorful chicken thighs, regardless of which option you choose. Happy cooking! 🍗😊
Possible substitutions
Vinegar Substitute: Instead of using white vinegar, you can try apple cider vinegar as a replacement. Apple cider vinegar has a slightly milder and fruitier flavor compared to white vinegar, which can add a unique tanginess to your marinade.
Sugar Substitute: If you prefer a different level of sweetness, you can substitute brown sugar with honey or maple syrup. Both honey and maple syrup can impart a natural sweetness and add a subtle depth of flavor to the marinade.
Here’s more:
Add chopped Thai chili (bird’s eye chili) to the marinade if you want spicy chicken. Two or three should be enough to make it spicy. It’s a small chili pepper, but it packs a punch.
By trying these substitutions, you can personalize the marinade to suit your taste preferences and create a unique twist on the classic Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Thighs recipe.
Recipe Video
Here’s a video of a similar recipe that we’re going for.
How to Cook Marinated Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer?
Step 1: Prepare the ingredients.
Gather all the adobo marinade ingredients and mix them in a bowl.
Pierce the chicken thighs with a fork to allow the marinade to penetrate deeper into the meat.
Step 2: Marinate the chicken thighs.
Now, transfer the chicken thighs into the marinade bowl. Make sure that all chickens are submerged. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap.
✦ If the bowl can’t fully submerge the chicken, use a Ziploc bag instead.
Let it sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (or overnight) to let the flavors work their magic.
💡 Pro Tip: The longer you marinate the chicken, the more pronounced the flavors will be. Plan ahead and marinate the chicken for the best results.
Step 3: Preheat your air fryer to 400ºF (204ºC).
If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheating option, set your desired temperature then let it cook for 5 minutes without food.
🚨 Important: Reduce the cooking temperature to 380°F (193°C) if you’re using a 4-quart air fryer or smaller. They are hotter due to the heating element being closer to the food.
Step 4: Air fry the marinated chicken thighs for 14 – 18 minutes at 400ºF (204ºC).
Remove the chicken thighs from the bowl and shake off any excess liquid. Place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Do not overcrowd.
Cook the chicken thighs at 400°F (204°C) for 14 – 18 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C) when fully cooked.
If you’re using bone-in chicken thighs, increase the cooking time to 16 – 22 minutes.
Step 5: Serve & enjoy!
Once your Marinated Chicken Thighs are done cooking, transfer them to a serving plate, and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Pair them with your favorite sides or create a delicious chicken sandwich. The possibilities are endless!
That’s how you make an marinated boneless skinless chicken thighs in air fryer, quick and easy!
With this easy-to-follow recipe, you’ll have a delicious lip-smacking meal in no time. Adobo Chicken Thighs are perfect for a family dinner, a get-together with friends, or a simple weeknight treat.
BONUS: Turn the marinade into a sauce
Usually, you’d have to throw out the marinade that touched raw chicken. Luckily, there’s a safe way to reuse it.
According to USDA, the safe temperature for poultry is 165ºF (74ºC). However, for a marinade, it’s a bit different. Still, according to USDA, you should let the marinade boil to kill off harmful bacteria.
Therefore, to safely reuse the marinade (and make it into a sauce):
- Transfer the marinade to a saucepan.
- Turn the heat high until it reaches boiling (212ºF / 100ºC).
- Let it cook for a minimum of 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat.
Elevate your Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Thighs using the cooked sauce to baste the chicken while cooking. This adds an irresistible extra layer of flavor that’ll have everyone craving more.
Other than basting, you can also pour the sauce over the air fried marinated chicken thighs.
For an even more delectable experience, consider thickening the sauce to enhance its richness and concentrated taste. You’ll be amazed at the depth of flavor it brings to your dish!
What to Serve with Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Thighs?
Serve it with fluffy white rice with a sprinkle of chopped scallions for a comforting meal. It’s an Asian meal, so rice is a staple to make it a complete meal. And trust me, adobo chicken and rice is *chef’s kiss* fantastic.
Of course, you can also have other sides:
- A zesty side salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and a tangy vinaigrette to balance the richness of the chicken.
- Steamed vegetables like broccoli, carrots, or green beans add a nutritious touch. You can also try air fryer roasted broccoli for a more straightforward recipe.
- Creamy mashed potatoes for the ultimate comfort food experience.
Freezing & Storage
Freezing: You can conveniently freeze the (raw) marinated chicken thighs for future use. To do this, place the marinated chicken thighs in an airtight container or a freezer-safe bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. This makes meal planning a breeze, allowing you to have a delicious and marinated chicken ready to air fry whenever desired.
When you’re ready to cook, thaw them in the fridge overnight. Then, follow the rest of this recipe for the air frying instructions.
Fridge: You can store any leftover Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Thighs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply pop them back into a preheated air fryer for 5 – 8 minutes until they are warmed through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cook the marinated chicken thighs in the air fryer (boneless) for 14 – 18 minutes at 400ºF (204ºC). Marinated bone-in chicken thighs require 16 – 22 minutes of cooking time. Ensure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) to ensure they are fully cooked.
To marinate chicken thighs for an air fryer, start by piercing them with a fork. Then, submerge them in the marinade of your choice. (In this recipe, we used the absolutely delicious adobo.) Let the chicken sit in the marinade for 30 minutes to 24 hours. Once marinated, they are ready to be air fried!
Yes, you can air fry marinated chicken thighs. In fact, air frying is a fantastic way to achieve tender and flavorful results. The air fryer’s high heat will cook the chicken while creating a crispy exterior, enhancing the taste of the marinade.
This ingredients checklist is interactive; you can use it as your grocery list.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs boneless skinless
Adobo marinade
- 3 bay leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
- 4 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Create adobo marinade. Combine the bay leaves, ground pepper, crushed garlic, brown sugar, soy sauce, white vinegar, and water in a bowl.
- Pierce the chicken thighs all over with a fork. This’ll help the marinade flavor seep deeper into the meat.
- Marinate the chicken. Transfer the meat to the marinade bowl. Ensure that the chicken thighs are well submerged. Cover the bowl or transfer the chicken and marinade to a Ziploc bag. Refrigerate for 30 minutes (or overnight) to let flavors infuse.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204°C) for 5 minutes.
- Remove the chicken thighs from the marinade and shake off any excess liquid.
- (Optional) Lightly spray or mist the air fryer basket with cooking spray or oil to prevent sticking. You only need to do this if your air fryer doesn’t have a non-stick basket.
- Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook in batches if necessary to ensure even cooking.
- Air fry the marinated chicken thighs at 400°F (204°C) for 14 – 18 minutes, flipping them halfway through cooking. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F (74°C) when fully cooked.
- Once cooked, let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- You can turn the marinade into a sauce by boiling it for about 5 minutes. The marinade should reach a boiling temperature of 212ºF (100ºF) for safe consumption. You can pour it onto the cooked chicken or baste the meat while cooking.
- Adjust the cooking time to 16 – 22 minutes for marinated bone-in chicken thighs.
- Remember that cooking durations may differ depending on the chicken’s thickness and your air fryer’s size and model. Before eating your chicken, ensure it has been cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165ºF (74ºC).
- If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheating option, you can set the temperature to 380°F (193°C) and then let it cook for 4-5 minutes without food.
- You can skip preheating by adding 2-4 minutes to your cooking time. Increment gradually to prevent burning the adobo chicken thighs.
- I used a 6-quart (air fryer) to test the marinated chicken thighs. Cooking time and temperature may vary depending on your air fryer and the number of servings you are making. For optimal results, begin with the lower end of the suggested cooking time.
Nutrition
Share or save this recipe for later:
Have you tried making the air fryer marinated chicken thighs recipe?
Leave us a note, and give this recipe a star rating. Good or bad, we appreciate your opinion. Let’s improve this air fryer recipe as a community!
Are you on Instagram? Share your photo and tag us at @fryitco. We can’t wait to see what you’ve made!
Or you can also subscribe to our Youtube Channel. We’re constantly uploading easy and tasty air fryer recipe videos, ASMR style.
You can also find us on Facebook & Tiktok 🙂. See you there!
Thank you for your support!
