Crispy Air Fryer Caribbean Jerk Chicken Thighs

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-22 · Updated 2026-07-22

Juicy chicken thighs marinated with bold Caribbean jerk spices, cooked to crispy perfection in the air fryer. This Caribbean-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, olive oil, ground allspice for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 6, 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.

Ingredients

• 6 pieces bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp ground allspice
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp ground thyme
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp lime juice

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

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp ground allspice, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp ground thyme, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, and 1 tbsp lime juice to create the jerk marinade.
2. Step 2: Add 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs to the marinade, coating each piece thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight for deeper flavor.
3. Step 3: Preheat the air fryer to 380°F. Arrange the marinated chicken thighs skin-side down in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
4. Step 4: Cook for 15 minutes, then flip the chicken skin-side up and cook for an additional 10 minutes until the skin is crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
5. Step 5: Let rest for 5 minutes before serving with lime wedges or your favorite Caribbean sides.