Air-Fried Chicken Thighs with Lemon and Thyme

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-08 · Updated 2026-04-08

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Crispy, golden chicken thighs with a bright citrus-herb finish for a weeknight dinner. This American-inspired air-fryer recipe, ready in about 28 minutes, pairs chicken thighs, lemon, dried thyme for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 18 min Serves 4 American cuisine 350 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1.5 lbs chicken thighs
1, zested and juiced lemon
2 tsp dried thyme
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

The air fryer we’d crisp this in → Best Air Fryers for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat 1.5 lbs chicken thighs dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp olive oil, zest and juice of 1 lemon, 2 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
Step 2: Coat each chicken thigh evenly with the mixture, rubbing it into the surface to ensure full coverage.
Step 3: Arrange chicken thighs in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between pieces. Air fry at 375°F for 15-18 minutes, flipping once after 8 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.