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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Airfryer / Air Fryer Turkey Thighs

    Air Fryer Turkey Thighs

    Posted: Oct 20, 2022 Last Modified: Oct 31, 2022 by Carmy · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    • 198
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    Easy, delicious, and flavourful, this Air Fryer Turkey Thighs recipe is moist on the inside and crispy on the outside. Seasoned with pantry staples, cooking turkey thighs in the air fryer is a quick and simple way to enjoy turkey.

    Whether you want to enjoy a turkey without roasting a whole bird or you just need an easy weeknight dinner, this air fryer turkey thighs recipe is perfect for any occasion. Quick, simple, and tasty, you’ll love this air fryer turkey recipe.

    Air fryer turkey thighs on a white plate.


     

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe

    • The turkey thighs are so crispy on the outside while the insides are tender, moist, and juicy. I’m obsessed.
    • It’s much easier to make this air fryer turkey thigh recipe whenever I’m craving turkey than making a whole turkey.
    • Stuffing butter underneath the skin makes the skin sooooo crispy and flavourful! You’re not going to want to skip that step.

    Ingredients You’ll Need

    Ingredients needed to make air fryer turkey thighs.
    • turkey thighs — I used bone-in, skin-on turkey thighs. I bought a 1.5 lb package of turkey thighs.
    • seasoning — I season the turkey with salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dried thyme, and pepper. Make sure your seasoning is fresh as over time, the spices in your cabinet will lose their flavour and taste stale.
    • butter — I use unsalted butter because I already season the turkey with salt. You can reduce the salt if you only have salted butter. Have the butter at room temperature to make spreading it under the skin easier.

    How to Make Air Fryer Turkey Thighs

    Set of two photos showing the skin off the turkey lifted and stuffed with butter.
    • Loosen the skin from the turkey. I use a spoon to help.
    • Stuff the butter underneath the skin.
    Set of two photos showing the meat seasoned and transferred to an air fryer basket.
    • Combine the salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dried thyme, and pepper and generously season both sides of the turkey.
    • Place the turkey thighs in the air fryer basket and air fry for 15 minutes at 375F.
    Set of two photos showing the turkey flipped in the air fryer basket and then lifted when done.
    • Flip the turkey thighs and air fry for another 15 minutes.
    • Remove the thighs from the air fryer and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
    An air fryer turkey thigh in an air fryer basket.

    Recipe Tips and Notes

    • You can set aside some of the seasoning and mix it with the butter before spreading it under the skin!
    • You can use smoked, sweet, or regular paprika.
    • If there’s moisture on your turkey thighs, pat them dry with a paper towel before you season them.
    • Feel free to spray your air fryer basket beforehand if you’re worried about sticking.
    • To tell if the turkey thighs are cooked through, use a meat thermometer to check that the thickest part of the thighs has reached between 170 to 175°F (76 to 79°C).
    • Leftovers? Try making this turkey pot pie soup recipe!
    My Recommendation
    This is my go-to meat thermometer for making sure that the internal temperature of my meat is good to go. It’s also magnetic so I have it on my fridge door to save drawer space!
    Get it Now!
    The Meat Thermometer I Use!
    The inside of an air fryer turkey thigh cut open.

    Make Ahead Tips

    • Meal prep: once cooled, store the cooked turkey thighs in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge.
    • Freezer: allow the air fryer turkey thighs to cool before transferring them into an airtight container or bag before storing them in the freezer. They can last for up to 3 months.
    An air fryer turkey thighs lifted up with tongs from an air fryer basket.
    Can I air fry frozen turkey thighs?

    I do not recommend air frying frozen turkey thighs. Thaw the thighs before air frying them.

    Serving Suggestions

    • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
    • Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce
    • Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
    • Air Fryer Garlic Bread
    • Instant Pot Basmati Rice
    • Avocado Corn Salsa
    • Maple Mustard Brussels Sprouts
    • Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts
    • Rosemary Mashed Potatoes
    Air fryer turkey thighs on a white plate.

    Air Fryer Turkey Thighs

    Easy, delicious, and flavourful, this Air Fryer Turkey Thighs recipe is moist on the inside and crispy on the outside. Seasoned with pantry staples, cooking turkey thighs in the air fryer is a quick and simple way to enjoy turkey.
    5 from 62 votes
    Print Recipe Rate this Recipe
    Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 30 minutes mins
    Rest Time: 5 minutes mins
    Total Time: 45 minutes mins
    Servings: 2 thighs

    Ingredients

    • 1½ lb turkey thighs, skin-on, bone-in
    • 1½ tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
    • ½ tsp salt
    • ½ tsp garlic powder
    • ½ tsp onion powder
    • ½ tsp paprika
    • ½ tsp dried thyme
    • ¼ tsp ground pepper

    Equipment

    • air fryer

    Instructions

    • Loosen the skin from the turkey. I use a spoon to help. Spread the butter underneath the skin.
    • Combine the salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dried thyme, and pepper and generously season both sides of the turkey.
    • Place the turkey thighs in the air fryer basket, skin-side up, and air fry at 375F for 15 minutes.
    • Flip the turkey thighs and air fry for another 15 minutes.
    • Remove the thighs from the air fryer and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
    Tried this recipe?Did you make this recipe? I’m always so happy to hear about it! I’d love to see how it turned out. Tag me at @CarmysHungry on Instagram so I can see it! If you enjoyed the recipe, I’d really appreciate a comment with a 5 star rating! ♥

    Nutrition Per Serving

    Calories: 616kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 64g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 233mg | Sodium: 2071mg | Potassium: 853mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 520IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 6mg
    Author: Carmy
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Nutrition Disclaimer

    More Turkey Recipes To Try

    • Instant Pot Turkey and Gravy
    • Roasted Turkey Thighs
    • Air Fryer Turkey Breasts
    • Air Fryer Frozen Turkey Burgers
    • Slow Cooker Turkey

    More Air Fryer Recipes To Try

    • Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
    • Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos
    • Air Fryer Ravioli
    • Air Fryer Halloumi
    • Air Fryer Apples

    Other places to connect with me
    @carmyshungry on Instagram
    Facebook
    Shop my Amazon faves
    Email: [email protected]

    • 198

    Comments

    1. Chris Wesley says

      November 24, 2023 at 3:21 pm

      This recipe did NOT disappoint! I’ll never use my regular oven again for these!

      Reply
      • Carmy says

        November 24, 2023 at 8:55 pm

        Thank you for your kind words!!

        Reply
    2. Chris B says

      December 07, 2023 at 12:45 am

      I bought a 2 pack of large turkey thighs for Thanksgiving this year and froze one. I did the Thanksgiving one in the convection oven and feel like it was slightly overcooked and dry. I thawed the other one and tried this recipe in my air fryer and it was delicious. Perfectly crispy skin, great flavor, nice and juicy. WIll definitely make again!

      Reply
    3. RichE says

      April 26, 2024 at 7:32 pm

      5 stars
      Very easy prep. Very tasty turkey. I world recommend the use of an instant read thermometer to be sure the thighs are fully cooked. At the end of the time called for in the recipe, one though was cooked to the right internal temperature (165F). The other needed an additional 5 minutes.

      I love that it cooks so much faster than in a conventional oven! I love the airfryer!

      Reply
    4. SD says

      April 28, 2024 at 9:59 pm

      I followed this recipe exactly but found the temperature was not high enough so added another 5 minutes. The temperature was achieved but even after the resting period we found the meat tough. Very disappointed.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        September 30, 2024 at 11:58 pm

        5 stars
        I never thought to air fry turkey thighs, but I’m so glad I tried this recipe. My whole family enjoyed it, and I’m going to enjoy the leftovers and not having to cook tomorrow.

        I checked the temperature after the 30 minutes cook time, and it wasn’t quite done yet. I ended up cooking it for 18 minutes each side, and it was super juicy. I know every air fryer varies in cook time, so this might not be applicable to others.

        Thanks for this recipe. I will definitely be making it again!

        Reply
    5. Tiffany Bobb says

      December 24, 2024 at 8:29 pm

      I accidentally did this on 350, so it took longer, but was delicious.

      Reply
      • Carmy says

        December 26, 2024 at 11:15 am

        I’m glad it still worked out!

        Reply
    6. JB Best says

      March 17, 2025 at 5:49 pm

      5 stars
      So easy and so juicy and delicious!

      Reply
    5 from 62 votes (59 ratings without comment)

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    Carmy is a healthy-ish living blogger based in Ontario. Here, you can find healthy-ish recipes including meal prep recipes, Instant Pot recipes, air fryer recipes, and lightened-up family favorites! Follow along for easy, straightforward recipes for any cooking level.

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