These amazing pickled-brined Air Fryer Chicken Thighs are so juicy and flavorful with incredibly crispy seasoned skin. It’s a great way to put that leftover pickle juice to good use!  

❤️ Why You’ll Love this Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe

• Great way to use up leftover pickle juice
• Brining makes the chicken so tender 
• Crispy skin on the outside, juicy on the inside
• Only takes 20 minutes in the air fryer

How many times have you finished a jar of pickles and then poured the juice down the drain before tossing the jar? Recently, when I got to the bottom of a jar of my homemade pickles, I just couldn’t bring myself to throw away that glorious juice. Because I am a big fan of brined turkey, I decided to use the leftover juice to brine chicken thighs!

Well, well, well, let me tell you…they turned out AH-mazing! The salty vinegar brine makes the chicken thighs super tender and juicy and when you bite into them, there’s this explosion of flavor that you just don’t get with regular marinated thighs. Is your mouth watering yet? Oh, it should be!

Chicken thigh recipes have always been some of my favorites. Mostly because they are always tender and juicy, but also because they are quick and easy to prepare. These Honey Garlic Thighs and these Creamy Dijon Thighs are a couple of my favorites.

What you’ll love about these crispy chicken thighs, is that they’re they perfect cure for those fried chicken cravings! Once they’ve soaked in the pickle juice brine, they cook in under 20 minutes making them great for a busy weeknight meal. All you need is a healthy, low carb side dish and you’re all set!

🛒 What You’ll Need for Pickled-Brined Chicken Thighs

• Chicken thighs
• Pickle juice/brine
• Olive oil
• Smoked paprika
• Garlic salt
• Ground black pepper

*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

🥣 Recommended Tools

• Air fryer
• Food storage container

🔪 How to Make Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer

Place the chicken thighs in a food storage container in a single layer.  

Pour the pickle juice brine over the tops, making sure that each piece of chicken is completely submerged.  Allow them to marinate in the fridge for 6-8 hours.

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes while you prepare the chicken.

Discard the pickle brine, pat the chicken dry with paper towels and rub all sides with olive oil.

Sprinkle the remaining ingredients over the tops and rub to evenly coat each piece.

Place the chicken in your preheated air fryer.

Cook for 20-23 minutes or until the skin is golden and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of at least 165°F, when checked with a meat thermometer. Be sure to flip them halfway through.

Are Chicken Thighs Better Than Chicken Breasts for Keto?

They are both wonderful for Keto because they’re a great source of protein. The biggest difference is the amount of fat they contain.

Chicken breasts are very lean, which makes them great for casseroles, like this Spinach Artichoke Casserole or recipes with rich and decadent sauces like this Creamy Poblano Chicken. Chicken thighs contain more fat, so they’re perfect for air frying and pan-searing like this recipe.

How Long Do I Cook Chicken Thighs in an Air Fryer?

There are a couple of things to consider when it comes to the time it actually takes the chicken to cook. Even though every air fryer has a temperature setting, different models and styles of air fryers may vary slightly.

Another factor is how large the pieces of chicken are. For an absolute fail-proof method, you should check the internal temperature with an instant read meat thermometer. The USDA recommends an internal temp of 165 ºF but, in general, the average cooking times are:

• Air fry bone-in chicken thighs at 400° F for 7-10 minutes, then flip and cook for another 7-10.
• Air fry boneless chicken thighs at 400° F for 12-16 minutes and you should not have to flip them halfway though, unless you just want to.

Can You Put Raw Chicken in the Air Fryer?

Absolutely. Air fryers are made for cooking raw food quickly and evenly. Air frying is a healthy alternative to deep-frying foods because it uses high temp circulating air to crisp up your food instead of having to use messy deep-frying methods.

Tips for Making the Best Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

• The key to successful air frying just about anything is to never overcrowd the basket. The air needs to circulate really well around the chicken as it cooks, which allows it to crisp up. If you have to, you may need to cook in batches, but the results will be worth it.

• When air frying chicken, you want to make sure to pat dry any moisture that’s on the skin. This helps the seasonings to stick as well as allows the skin to get nice and golden brown.

• If you happen to get a pack of thighs that are not all the same size, keep in mind they will take more of less time accordingly. Keep a plate nearby and remove the smaller pieces are they get done. Cover with foil to keep warm while the larger thighs finish cooking.

• Allow the chicken time to rest. The air fryer cooks at really high temps so the chicken is going to come out piping hot! Allow it to rest for about 5 minutes before biting into it to avoid burning yourself.

Do You Need to Cut the Fat off Chicken Thighs?

For best results I recommend leaving the skin on thighs when air frying them. It helps keep the chicken moist. If you’re not a fan of the skin, you can just remove it once it’s done.

If you want to try cooking them without the skin, you’ll want to reduce the cooking time and check for doneness with a meat thermometer.

What is the Best Air Fryer to Use?

For this recipe, I used the Smart K10 Air Fryer by Ultenic:

• Incredibly easy to use, with 11 preset buttons for fish, steak, chicken, shrimp, etc.
• Smartphone app to control the air fryer
• Fully adjustable time and temperature buttons
• Preheat and keep warm function buttons
• Large capacity basket
• Very quiet while running

You can check out the Smart K10 Air Fryer here and use code: KETOAIRFRYER for an extra $20 OFF!

More Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms
• Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
• Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders
• Jalapeño Poppers
• Pork Tenderloin
• Zucchini Fries
• Buffalo Wings