Universal Chicken Thighs of Glory

We cannot stop making this chicken. We’re talking juicy, perfect-every-time, stand-at-the-counter-and-destroy-with-your-cave-man-hands kind of chicken. It’s one of those recipes that’s exponentially better than the sum of its parts. Like, it doesn’t even make sense how good it is.

Part of the magic is the air fryer, it crisps up the edges beautifully without drying out the center. But honestly? It’s the seasoning. Nothing fancy, just pantry staples, applied liberally. I never actually measure, but if you’re looking for specifics: for about 1.5 lbs of chicken thighs, I use roughly 1.5 teaspoons of each spice. My best tip? If it looks like maybe a little too much seasoning… then you’ve nailed it.

The other incredible thing about this chicken is how versatile it is. The smokiness from the paprika makes it perfect with BBQ-style sauces, but it also shines with soy sauce and a peanut dipping sauce. It plays nice with Mexican flavors, it’s amazing stuffed into a Greek-style wrap with hummus and veggies, and it’s next-level sliced over a Caesar salad. This chicken knows no bounds.

What You'll Need

1-2 lbs boneless-skinless chicken thighs

Onion powder

Garlic powder

Smoked paprika

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Cooking spray (I use avocado oil here bc it has a high smoke point)

What You'll Do

1. Blot chicken thighs with a paper towel to dry.

2. Generously sprinkle on seasonings, slightly rubbing them in, and lightly spray with cooking oil.

3. Place seasoned-side down in air fryer and season the other side of the chicken, spraying again lightly with cooking oil.

4. Air fry on 400 for about 20 minutes, flipping halfway. 
   
   *Note, everyone's air fryer's are a bit different! I wouldn't adjust the temp if you feel yours runs hot, I would just check it a few min early to make sure it doesn't dry out!

See ya next week (promise it won't be another chicken recipe!),

Alli

PS- Quick shoutout to my always encouraging MIL! She made last week's Chicken Meatballs over the weekend and zhuzhed em' up with her own sesame noodles! YUM! If you make ANY of the dishes we’ve shared here in past emails I’d love to see it!