Air Fryer Lemon-Pepper Chicken Thighs

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-28 · Updated 2026-06-28

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.

Juicy chicken thighs seasoned with zesty lemon and cracked black pepper, cooked to perfection in the air fryer for a crispy outside and tender inside. This air-fryer recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, lemon zest, fresh lemon juice for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 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: 25 min Serves 4 280 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 pieces bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
1 tbsp lemon zest
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp cracked black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt

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 dry 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs with paper towels. In a small bowl, combine 1 tbsp lemon zest, 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp cracked black pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1 tsp salt. Rub this mixture evenly over the chicken thighs, coating both sides.
Step 2: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes. Place the chicken thighs skin side down in the basket without overlapping. Air fry for 12 minutes.
Step 3: Flip the chicken thighs skin side up and continue air frying for another 8-10 minutes, until the skin is crisp and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 165°F. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.