Crispy Herb-Crusted Chicken Thighs with Lemon

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-03 · Updated 2026-04-03

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 coated in a golden, herb-infused crust that achieves perfect crispiness in the air fryer without drying out. This American-inspired air-fryer recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs boneless chicken thighs, avocado oil, dried thyme for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 1, 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: 20 min Serves 1 American cuisine 320 cal/serving

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Ingredients

8 oz boneless chicken thighs
1 tbsp avocado oil
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp lemon zest
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels, then rub with 1 tbsp avocado oil until evenly coated.
Step 2: In a small bowl, mix 1 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp lemon zest, 1/4 tsp sea salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Press mixture firmly onto both sides of the chicken thighs.
Step 3: Arrange chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket, skin-side up. Cook at 380°F (193°C) for 15 minutes, then flip and cook for 5 more minutes until the edges are golden and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).