Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs

Name: Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 4 Chicken Thighs with bone in and skin on; Sea Salt and Pepper; 1 Tbs Butter melted; 1/2 cup Frank's RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce; Blue Cheese Dressing for dipping and Celery if desired

These Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs are super simple to make and taste oh so savory! The inside of the chicken stays tender and moist, while the skin gets nice and crispy!

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I just love Buffalo flavored foods. Like these Buffalo Chicken Nachos, Buffalo Ranch Deviled Eggs, or Buffalo Cauliflower Bites. I can’t help it, I love the spice!

Why this recipe works

Chicken thighs are a great cut of meat to air fry. Not only are they more affordable then say chicken breast, but they are so delicious!

I like to get the ones with the skin on because I love how crispy the skin gets. But you could definitely get skinless or just take the skin off before cooking.

When this is cooked in the air fryer, the inside stays so moist and tender while the outside skin gets nice and crispy.

Tossing the thighs in hot sauce and then cooking them for an additional 5 minutes really gives it a great flavor!

air fryer buffalo chicken thighs on a plate

Ingredients

4 Chicken Thighs with bone in and skin on
Sea Salt and Pepper
1 Tbs Butter melted
1/2 cup Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce

How to make Buffalo Chicken Thighs

Sprinkle salt and pepper over chicken thighs.
Place chicken thighs in basket or rack of air fryer.
Cook at 400 degrees for 25 minutes flipping half way through.
Add Frank’s RedHot sauce and butter to a bowl and mix.
Dip chicken thighs in the sauce and place back in the air fryer basket.
Cook 5 minutes or until thighs are cooked through to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Buffalo Chicken Thigh Recipe Tips

Don’t over crowd the chicken – One thing I learned is that you don’t want to over crowd your air fryer. I fit two chicken thighs in the bottom rack and 2 on the top rack of my Instant Pot Air Fryer. So if you’re feeding a crowd you would just need to do these in batches unless you have a bigger air fryer.
Cooking – Cooking time can vary depending on the size of your chicken thighs and what type of air fryer you use. I used an Instant Pot Air Fryer (affiliate link) for this recipe. Always cook chicken until the internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Seasoning – I used very minimal seasoning for the chicken, just a little salt and pepper. If you wanted to add a little garlic or onion powder, that would be good too.
Hot Sauce – I used Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce for this recipe, but you can use whatever your favorite hot sauce or buffalo sauce is. Frank’s also makes a Buffalo Sauce which is also very good for this recipe.

FAQs

Can you use boneless skinless thighs?

Yes! I prefer the crispiness of having the skin on, but you can definitely make this without the skin.

Can you substitute wings for thighs?

Absolutely! You would just need to adjust the cooking time since they will cook much quicker.

Can you double this recipe?

Yes, you may just need to cook these in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.

Can you make these ahead of time?

They are best when served immediately. If you do have leftovers you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can eat them cold if you like, or just heat them up in the air fryer for a few minutes.

What to serve with Buffalo Chicken

I like to serve these with a chunky Blue Cheese Dressing along with Celery Sticks. But here are some other suggestions below.

buffalo chicken thighs cn a plate with celery

If you try this recipe let me know what you think! Leave a comment below, rate it, share it on social media, or take a picture and tag it tastefulventure on Instagram!

I LOVE seeing what you guys cook up.

Cheers!

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