Air Fryer Turkey Thighs

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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 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