Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs

If you’re a fan of buffalo chicken, then you’ll love this recipe for Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs. These juicy and flavorful chicken thighs are coated in a mild buffalo sauce and cooked to perfection in the air fryer.

They’re a perfect meal for any night of the week and will satisfy any cravings for something spicy and delicious. You won’t believe how easy they are to make!

These buffalo thighs are perfect for anyone who’s in a time crunch. I whip a homemade ranch dressing using this Ranch Seasoning whenever I make anything with buffalo sauce.

The ranch dressing is a good way to cool back the heat from the buffalo sauce.

Chicken thighs are one of my favorite types of chicken. I always keep my freezer stocked with them.

If you’re looking for more delicious chicken thigh recipes, here are some of my favorites: Air Fryer Shake N Bake Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer Blackened Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs, and Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs.

black air fryer basket with cooked chicken inside

❤️ Why you’ll love this easy air fryer recipe

Budget Friendly – I bought these chicken thighs at my local meat market. 50lb for $20.00. Buying in bulk is a great way to keep the cost per serving down.
Easy Recipe – With only two ingredients, this recipe is super easy are you can find all of the ingredients at your local grocery store.
Meal Prep – these buffalo chicken thighs are excellent for meal prep! Whip up some of your favorite vegetables to serve with it.

Ingredients

Bone-In Chicken Thighs – I got these at a local meat market, but you can buy them at any local grocery store.
Buffalo Sauce – I used Sweet Baby Ray’s Mild Buffalo Sauce – but you can use any buffalo sauce you like.

ingredient photo for Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs

✳️ Tips & Tricks

Once the timer goes off on the air fryer, ensure the internal temperature is 165F.
You always want to remove the chicken immediately to ensure you don’t dry out the chicken.
I added two chicken thighs, then sauce, and repeated to help make sure they all get evenly coated in the buffalo sauce.

Tools to make this Buffalo Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer

Cosori Air Fryer – this is my favorite air fryer. The large air fryer basket makes it so easy to cook your favorite recipes.
Tongs – tongs are easiest to remove and flip the chicken
Meat thermometer – You always want to ensure the internal temperature of ANY chicken is 165F.

How to make Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs

If the skin is bunched up, you need to pull the skin to make sure to cover the whole chicken.
Place the chicken thighs in a ziplock bag. Pour the buffalo sauce on top of the chicken.
Remove the air from the ziplock bag and toss the chicken thighs around. Make sure they all are covered in sauce.
Transfer the chicken to the air fryer basket and cook at 390F for 16 minutes. Flipping halfway through.
Once the timer goes off, make sure the internal temperature is 165F. Remove the chicken from the air fryer basket and serve.

ziplock bag with chicken and sauce inside

Oven Directions

Preheat the oven to 400F.
If the skin is bunched up, you need to pull the skin to make sure to cover the whole chicken.
Place the chicken thighs in a ziplock bag. Pour the buffalo sauce on top of the chicken.
Remove the air from the ziplock bag and toss the chicken thighs around. Make sure they all are covered in sauce.
Transfer the chicken thighs to a baking pan.
Cook the chicken thighs for 20 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 165F.

Substitutions

You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken leg quarters if you don’t like or have bone-in chicken thighs.
If you don’t like Sweet Baby Rays, you can use any buffalo sauce.

blue plate with chicken and fork on. parsley and another plate in the background.

What to serve with Buffalo Chicken Thighs

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs are delicious on their own, but they’re even better when paired with some tasty sides like carrots and celery. Don’t forget to whip up some Ranch dressing using my Homemade Ranch seasoning to dip the chicken thighs in.

You can also sever these buffalo chicken thighs with your favorite seasonal vegetables to make it a meal.

How to store

Store leftovers in an airtight glass container for up to 5 days.

♨️ How to reheat

Remove the lid from the container and microwave on high for 1 to 1.5 minutes or until the chicken is warm. Alternatively, you can transfer to a microwave save plate to warm up.

To warm this up in your air fryer, cook it for 2-3 minutes at 400F.

Blue plate with chicken and parsley on it

❓FAQs

How long does it take to air fry chicken thighs in the air fryer?

Cook nonbreaded chicken thighs at 390F for 14 minutes. Breaded chicken thighs, add a couple of extra minutes.

Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer?

You can use aluminum foil in the air fryer basket if you want a more straightforward clean-up method. It is not necessary tho.

Can I use boneless chicken thighs instead of bone-in chicken thighs?

Yes, you can use boneless chicken thighs, but you will need to reduce the cooking time.

Can I use a different hot sauce?

Yes, I like mine on the milder side, but you can use any hot sauce that you like. Just make sure to adjust the amount to your desired level of spiciness.

More Air Fryer Chicken Thigh Recipes

If you loved these buffalo chicken thighs in the air fryer, check out these other delicious air fryer chicken thigh recipes.