• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Best Air fryer Recipes
    • Air Fryer Appetizers
    • Air fryer Frozen foods
    • Keto Air Fryer Recipes
    • Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
  • Air Fryer Resources
  • Contact
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy

Air Fryer Yum logo

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Best Air fryer Recipes
    • Air Fryer Appetizers
    • Air fryer Frozen foods
    • Keto Air Fryer Recipes
    • Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
  • Air Fryer Resources
  • Contact
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Air Fryer Chicken Recipes

    Published: Sep 27, 2021 by Chichi. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our full disclosure here.

    Air fried boiled chicken thighs

    Sharing is caring!

    187 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Email
    • Flipboard
    Jump to Recipe

    This is an easy Air fried Boiled chicken thighs recipe. It crisps up in the air fryer in less than 10 mins after which you’ll get juicy, tender and flavorful chicken thighs with crispy skin that’s perfect for dinner and can be served with rice dishes, potatoes or vegetables. Let me show you how to air fry boiled chicken in easy steps.


    Want to save this recipe?

    Enter your email below and we’ll send it to your inbox right away! Plus you’ll get amazing recipes & tips from us every week. Enjoy!

    Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
    Loading

    Table of Contents

    • Why boiling chicken before air frying is a great option.
    • Join our exclusive air fryer recipe book on Facebook!
    • What you’ll need.
    • Which boiled chicken thigh is best for air frying.
    • How to air fry boiled chicken thighs
    • Best sides for this recipe
    • How to store cooked chicken
    • Air fryer Tips
    • Frequently asked questions
    • More Air fryer chicken thigh recipes
    • Air fried Boiled chicken thighs

    Why boiling chicken before air frying is a great option.

    Boiling chicken thighs adds a ton of flavor to the meat. I am yet to see a dried out boiled chicken since it gets infused with moisture and seasoning during the process. Here are few more reasons to love this air fried boiled chicken thighs recipe.

    • Chicken stock/ Broth: Wait! Don’t throw out the water you get from boiling chicken thighs. You can use it for any recipe that calls for chicken stock. Think rice dishes, soups, gravy etc
    • Multiple uses: You can easily shred some boiled chicken for your pet (dogs and cats) and air fry the rest for other members of the family who love grilled crispy or oven broiled chicken.
    • Well seasoned: The meats that are boiled tend to be well seasoned and full of flavor.
    • Fully cooked: Sometimes chicken parts may be so large it takes a long time to cook in the air fryer without drying it out. Or you may find that the chicken is cooked but the bone area is still reddish. Boiling to the rescue. It not only adds moisture but ensures large chicken parts are fully cooked.

    However, not all chicken have to be boiled before air frying especially boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts and if you are wondering if you should boil chicken before air frying, the answer is you don’t have to. It bores down to personal preference though you may want to consider the reasons listed above when making your decision.


    Join our exclusive air fryer recipe book on Facebook!


    What you’ll need.

    • Bone-in chicken thighs ( fresh or thawed)
    • Onions
    • Curry powder
    • Ground garlic
    • Thyme
    • Ground ginger
    • Parsley flakes
    • Dried Oregano
    • White pepper

    Which boiled chicken thigh is best for air frying.

    Though you can air fry both boiled bone-in and boneless chicken thighs, I find it unnecessary to use this method for boneless skinless chicken thighs because those cook super quickly in the air fryer.

    This method is recommended for large bone-in chicken thighs and chicken drumsticks.

    How to air fry boiled chicken thighs

    Wash and trim off excess skin and fat. Add seasoning and onion. Cover pot with lid and boil the chicken till fully cooked. It would take 20 to 25 mins. For safe consumption, chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F / 74°C

    When it’s fully cooked, transfer meat onto a plate. Reserve the chicken stock for later. If you are making this recipe for use in sandwiches or for your dogs this is where you stop and shred the chicken. Otherwise proceed to the next step which is grilling in the air fryer.

    Place chicken thighs in the air fryer and bake at 400°F / 200°C till skin crisps up. It should take about 7 to 8 mins.

    **Quick tip on boiling meats. The water needs to be slightly salty to ensure that the chicken is well seasoned.

    Best sides for this recipe

    Chicken thighs can be served with a variety of side dishes some of which are listed below.

    • Mashed potatoes
    • Breakfast potatoes
    • Fried
    • Salads
    • Rice dishes

    How to store cooked chicken

    Cooked chicken should be stored in an air tight container and refrigerated for up to 5 days. You can freeze for up to 2 months.

    Air fryer Tips

    • No need to preheat the air fryer or spray oil.
    • You can air fry the boiled chicken for longer or shorter than stated in this recipe. It depends on how crispy you want it.
    • Place the chicken skin side up so the skin gets the heat more. You may or may not flip the chicken to the other side, depending on the length of time you are cooking it.
    • If boiling for your dogs, cook with the spices and herbs. Salt and water is ok

    Air Fryer Yum’s Pro Tip! Air fryer temperatures may vary depending on size, make and model. When making a recipe for the first time, start with less time, check for doneness then add more time as needed.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can you fry chicken after boiling it?

    Yes you can. Though boiled chicken is fully cooked, air frying, deep frying, broiling or grilling adds more texture to the boiled chicken. It also enhances the flavor.

    How many minutes do you boil chicken

    Depending on the size and cut of the chicken, it can take anywhere from 15 to 30 mins. A whole chicken can take up to 90 mins. The important thing is to use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should be 165°F / 74°C for it to be safe to eat.

    Should you boil chicken before air frying?

    You don’t have to boil chicken before air frying. Most of the Air fryer Chicken recipes here at Air Fryer Yum were not boiled before air frying. However boiling does help with moisture and flavor. You can give this recipe a try. You’d love it.

    If you try this recipe, show it off on Instagram! Be sure to Follow and Tag @Airfryeryumblog on Instagram and use the hashtag #airfryeryumblog so we can see your recreations!

    More Air fryer chicken thigh recipes

    • Air fryer Greek chicken souvlaki on a stick
    • Boneless skinless chicken thighs in the air fryer
    • Air fryer Marinated chicken thighs

    Check out our Air fryer chicken recipes and all Air fryer Recipes!

    Did you find this recipe helpful? Leave me a comment about it or any recipe idea you would love Air fryer ‘yummed’ and don’t forget to share with family and friends.

    Happy Air frying!

    Love it? Pin it! Then follow Air Fryer Yum on Pinterest for more air fryer chicken recipes!

    Looking for more air fryer recipes? Sign up for our yummy newsletter and Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Tiktok for updates. Remember to Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for weekly videos.

    Loving your air fryer much? Join other Air Fryer Buddies in our exclusive free Easy Air Fryer Recipes Group on Facebook!

    New to the world of Air frying? We’ve got you covered. Check out our helpful >>> Air fryer Resources!

    Shop all air fryers and air fryer accessories at our Amazon store.

    Air fried Boiled chicken thighs

    Chichi
    A Boiled chicken thighs recipe that gets finished up in the air fryer. You’ll get juicy, tender and flavorful chicken thighs with crispy skin that’s perfect for dinner or any time of the week and can be served with rice dishes, potatoes or vegetables.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine American, Global
    Servings 5 - 6
    Calories 210 kcal

    Equipment

    • Pot with cover
    • 5.8qt Air Fryer

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 ½ lbs Bone-in chicken thighs washed and trimmed (about 5 - 6 pieces)
    • 1 Medium onion (chopped)
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ½ teaspoon curry powder
    • ½ teaspoon dry thyme
    • ½ teaspoon oregano
    • ½ teaspoon parsley flakes
    • 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon
    • ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
    • ¼ - ½ teaspoon white pepper
    • ½ teaspoon paprika (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Place chicken thighs in a pot, add seasoning blend, salt and onions then add the water. Stir to combine.
    • Cover pot and cook on medium heat for 20 to 25 minutes. You can use a kitchen timer if you have one.
    • When cook time has elapsed, check chicken It should read 165°F / 74°C on an instant read meat thermometer to be fully cooked and safe for consumption. If it doesn’t, cook for another 5 mins and check again
    • When Chicken is fully cooked, transfer chicken to a plate. Reserve the chicken stock for later use and use in any recipe that calls for broth.

    Air fry

    • Place cooked chicken in air fryer basket skin side up. Air fry at 400°F / 200°C for 7 to 8 mins. You don’t need to flip the chicken.
    • Serve with favorite sides.

    Notes

    1. Cook similar sized chicken thighs so they cook evenly. Large chicken thighs will take longer to cook than small thighs.
    2. Covering the pot with lid while cooking. It will help the meat cook faster and evenly.
    3. No need to preheat the air fryer.
    4. No need to use oil 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 Chicken thighCalories: 210kcalCarbohydrates: 2.5gProtein: 35gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 168mgSodium: 266mgPotassium: 504mgFiber: 0.7gSugar: 0.9gCalcium: 38mgIron: 3mg
    Nutrition DisclaimerNutritional information is an estimate and may change based on products used. Please read our Nutrition disclaimer page.
    Subscribe to my YouTube ChannelSubscribe to Air Fryer Yum on YouTube for more detailed videos! Remember to click the bell icon to get notified when I upload new videos.
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @airfryeryumblog or tag #airfryeryumblog!
    Save this Recipe for later!Follow @AirFryerYum on Pinterest!

    Did you make this air fried boiled chicken thighs recipe? Awesome! Please rate it by clicking the stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ when you leave a comment below and If you loved it please share the link to this recipe with family and friends and in you favorite Facebook group.

    Try these next!

    • Frozen Chicken wings in air fryer.
    • Tyson frozen chicken wings in air fryer
    • Perdue popcorn chicken bites (Air fryer)
    • How to cook Frozen chicken bites in the air fryer

    Sharing is caring!

    187 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Email
    • Flipboard

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

      Share your thoughts! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Sandra says

      September 29, 2021 at 9:00 am

      5 stars
      I love boiling my chicken thighs too. I have tried both ways and love both. Thanks

      Reply
      • Air Fryer Yum says

        October 02, 2021 at 11:29 pm

        You are welcome Sandra. Happy you found it helpful.

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to Air Fryer Yum! Where we share yummy air fryer recipes for everyone. We love using our air fryers and would love to share our tasty creations with you.

    More about us →

    Popular

    • Air fried cabbage with sausage
    • Ham and cheese ritz cracker sandwiches
    • Air fryer bacon wrapped onion rings
    • Air fryer bacon wrapped corn dogs

    Welcome to Air Fryer Yum! Where we share yummy air fryer recipes for everyone. We love using our air fryers and would love to share our tasty creations with you.

    More about us →

    Popular

    • Air fryer cinnamon roll bites
    • Air fryer chili cheese dogs
    • Air fryer Heart shaped cinnamon rolls
    • Air fryer Loaded fries

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Helpful links

    • Air fryer conversion chart
    • Air fryer calculator
    • Air fryer frozen foods chart
    • Air fryer cooking chart

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Affiliate links disclosure

    Newsletter

    • We send yummy emails, Sign Up and never miss a Recipe!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • FAQ

    As an Associate of Amazon and other Affiliate programs this website earns from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2024 Air Fryer Yum

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.