Crispy Air-Fried Lemon Herb Chicken Thighs
Golden-skinned chicken thighs with a zesty herb crust, cooked to perfection in the air fryer for a satisfying keto meal that melts in your mouth. This American-inspired air-fryer recipe (keto), ready in about 40 minutes, pairs bone-in skin-on chicken thighs, olive oil, lemon zest for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 360 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a low-carb week and pairs well with cauliflower rice or roasted green vegetables. 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.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tsp fresh rosemary
- 1 tsp fresh thyme
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp paprika
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat 1.5 lbs bone-in skin-on chicken thighs dry with paper towels, then season evenly with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp paprika, and 1/2 tsp garlic powder, rubbing to adhere.
- Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp lemon zest, 2 tsp chopped fresh rosemary, and 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme until well combined.
- Step 3: Brush the herb-oil mixture over the seasoned chicken thighs, ensuring every piece is coated.
- Step 4: Place the chicken thighs skin-side up in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between pieces.
- Step 5: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes, then cook for 20 minutes.
- Step 6: Flip the chicken thighs using tongs and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes until the skin is golden brown and crispy, and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).









