Description
This keto-friendly recipe features crispy air fryer chicken thighs marinated in a bright lemon herb mixture, delivering juicy meat with perfectly crisp skin in under 40 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4–6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 pounds / 900g)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (30ml)
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (45ml)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 teaspoons)
- 2 tablespoons fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, rosemary), finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Optional: ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, chopped fresh herbs, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Add them to the bowl with the marinade and toss to coat evenly. Cover and let sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes or refrigerate for up to 2 hours.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes.
- Place the chicken thighs skin side down in the air fryer basket without crowding. Cook for 10-12 minutes, then flip and cook another 10-13 minutes skin side up until the skin is crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve immediately with a wedge of lemon.
Notes
Pat chicken dry before marinating for best crispiness. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Flip chicken halfway through cooking. Use fresh lemon juice and zest for best flavor. Rest chicken 5 minutes before serving. Optional: spray with avocado oil before air frying for extra crisp.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh
- Calories: 350
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 24
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: keto, air fryer, chicken thighs, lemon herb marinade, low carb, crispy chicken, easy dinner