These juicy Air-Fried Buffalo Chicken Thighs are perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. With just a short marinade and less than 20 minutes in the air fryer, you'll have juicy, tender thighs that are low-carb, keto, and gluten-free.
If you love this recipe, try my Crispy Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs next - ready in under 30 minutes!
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Just like my Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs, these buffalo chicken thighs are perfectly cooked in just 18 minutes. Pair with Air Fryer Broccoli and Instant Pot Rice for a meal your family will love.
For more chicken recipes, check out Best Boneless Skinless Chicken Thigh Recipes!
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love It
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs Ingredients
- How To Make Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs
- Substitutions and Variations
- Serving Suggestions
- How To Store Air Fried Buffalo Chicken Thighs
- Top Tips
- Buffalo Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer FAQs
- More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes to Try!
- Printable Recipe
- Comments
Why You'll Love It
- Quick and Easy: The air fryer gives you juicy, tender chicken with a crispy exterior.
- Diet-Friendly: This recipe is gluten-free, low-carb, and keto-friendly since the chicken isn't breaded.
- Minimal Prep: Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe requires just a few minutes of prep.
- Versatile: Ideal for meal prep, these chicken thighs can be used in salads, wraps, pasta, or as a main dish.
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the printable recipe card below.
Chicken thighs. I used boneless skinless chicken thighs. Trim any excess fat before marinating.
Hot sauce. I used Frank's Red Hot sauce. It has great flavor and I use it every time I make buffalo chicken or buffalo chicken wing dip.
How To Make Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs
For more detailed instructions with measurements, jump to the recipe card.
Step 1: Prep the Chicken
- Step 1: Trim excess fat from the boneless, skinless thighs. Pat dry with paper towels. Whisk together hot sauce, melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, and chili powder.
- Step 2: Place thighs in a shallow dish or Ziploc bag. Pour 1 cup of buffalo sauce over them and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Step 2: Air Fry Chicken Thighs
- Step 3: Preheat your air fryer to 380°F. Arrange chicken thighs in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Step 4: Air fry for 12 minutes, then flip the thighs and cook for another 6 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Step 5: While the chicken is cooking, heat the remaining buffalo sauce on the stove. Once the chicken thighs are cooked, toss them in the heated buffalo sauce.
- Step 6: If desired, garnish with sliced green onions and serve with celery sticks or carrot sticks.
Tip: Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is fully cooked. I love the ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE (paid link).
Substitutions and Variations
- Chicken thighs. You can also use bone-in chicken thighs, but increase the cooking time slightly.
- Hot sauce. Use your favorite hot sauce or store-bought buffalo sauce.
- Butter. Use margarine, olive oil, or avocado oil.
- Worcestershire sauce. Use white vinegar instead.
- Spices. Add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for extra heat.
- Honey Buffalo. Add a tablespoon of honey to the homemade buffalo sauce.
- BBQ Buffalo. Add some BBQ sauce to the buffalo sauce for a richer flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with extra buffalo sauce or blue cheese dressing. Pair with Air Fryer Green Beans, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, or Instant Pot Rice.
Try Air Fryer Cauliflower and Broccoli and Ultra Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes for sides.
How To Store Air Fried Buffalo Chicken Thighs
Store: Store leftover thighs in an airtight container or plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freeze: Wrap thighs in plastic wrap, then foil, and place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months.
Reheat: Reheat in your air fryer at 350°F or on the REHEAT setting for 3-5 minutes until heated through.
Top Tips
- Marinate for Flavor: Let the chicken marinate for at least 15 minutes or up to 8 hours for even more flavor.
- Cook in Batches: Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if needed.
- Check Temperature: Use a meat thermometer to check for 165°F.
Buffalo Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer FAQs
Buffalo sauce includes hot sauce, vinegar (or Worcestershire sauce), butter, and spices.
The air fryer makes chicken crispy and juicy and cooks it quickly.
To make baked buffalo chicken thighs, follow the recipe above. Then, when they are ready to cook, bake them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil at 400°F for 35-40 minutes, then toss with buffalo sauce.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes to Try!
- Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Chicken Legs
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast (From Frozen)
- Extra Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Did you make this buffalo chicken thighs air fryer recipe? If you did, can you do me a big favor and leave a rating and review letting me know how you liked it? This helps my website grow so I can continue to publish free recipes. Thank you! 😊
Printable Recipe
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 8 large chicken thighs boneless, skinless
- 1 cup Frank's hot sauce
- ½ cup butter melted
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Trim any excess fat from the chicken thighs with a sharp knife or kitchen shears. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels.
- Make the buffalo sauce by whisking together the hot sauce, melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, and chili powder in a small bowl until smooth.
- Place chicken thighs in a baking dish, large bowl, or Ziploc bag. Pour 1 cup of homemade buffalo sauce over the chicken thighs. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat your air fryer to 380℉.
- Add the chicken thighs to the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between each thigh. Air fry the chicken thighs for 12 minutes at 380℉. Flip the chicken over, and air fry for 6 more minutes at 380℉, or until the internal temperature reaches 165℉.
- While the chicken is cooking, heat the remaining buffalo sauce in a small saucepan on the stove until hot.
- When the chicken is cooked, remove it from the air fryer and place it in a large bowl. Pour the heated buffalo sauce over the chicken and toss to coat.
- Garnish with sliced green onions if desired, and serve with your favorite side dishes, celery sticks, or carrot sticks.
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Notes
- Marinating Tips: For deeper flavor, marinate the chicken thighs overnight. If you're short on time, even 15 minutes can make a difference.
- Space Out the Chicken: Arrange chicken thighs in a single layer without overlapping to allow hot air to circulate and cook the chicken evenly.
- Storage: Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
The provided nutrition information is automatically calculated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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