This Air Fryer Paprika Chicken is a fast, easy, and delicious chicken dinner recipe the whole family will love!
If you love your air fryer like we love our air fryers (yes: plural), AND you're looking for a new chicken recipe to love, this post is for you!
Air frying is one of my absolute favorite ways to cook chicken. Whether it's air fryer popcorn chicken or crispy chicken wings or even a whole rotisserie chicken. The air fryer makes even the simplest chicken dishes taste AMAZING! And this recipe for paprika chicken in the air fryer is one of our family's favorites!
New to cooking with an air fryer? See all of my air fryer recipes here.
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🍗 Air Fryer Paprika Chicken
This recipe for paprika chicken is:
- very simple and easy to make.
- PACKED with flavor.
- crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
An air fryer circulates air around the food, similar to the way a convection oven works. This creates the super crispy chicken skin on the outside and the juicy, tender chicken meat on the inside. SO good!
🧄 Ingredients
The best air fryer chicken starts with the best quality chicken you can buy. Go for organic chicken by a reputable farm (local if you can!) when you are able to. The difference in the final flavor and the quality of the chicken is incredible.
However, I also know you need to feed your family with what you've got and what you have access to. So use the best chicken that you can afford.
SHOPPING TIP: I usually buy bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs in bulk at Costco. I keep one pack in the refrigerator for use that week, and then freeze the rest. The beauty of using my Ninja Foodi is that I can pressure cook directly from frozen, and then crisp to get the crispy outside!
For this air fryer chicken recipe, we're using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. I find these to be the juiciest, most flavorful cuts of chicken.
In addition to the chicken, you'll need just a few ingredients. These are mostly common ingredients that are pantry staples.
- fresh garlic
- ground paprika
- kosher salt and pepper
- cooking spray
The full ingredients and measurements are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!
✅ Step-by-step instructions
To make this chicken in the air fryer:
- Pat the chicken dry. This helps ensure the skin turns crispy.
- Season the chicken with the minced garlic and ground paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper. Make sure the chicken is fully coated in the seasoning on all sides.
- Spray the air fryer basket or trays, depending on which air fryer you have, with cooking spray.
- Air fry. Halfway through cooking, check on the chicken briefly and shake the basket or rotate the trays to ensure even cooking for all chicken.
Exact measurements of ingredients and instructions are in the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this post. Here are some helpful tips to guide you as you make this recipe.
🍽 Serving ideas
This recipe for paprika chicken goes deliciously well with pasta. In fact, I've got a paprika pasta recipe that is an AMAZING companion to this paprika chicken!
You can also serve this chicken with:
🍷 What wine pairs well with paprika chicken?
White wine is usually recommended as a wine pairing for chicken dishes. However, when you've got bigger flavors like paprika that take center stage, you'll want to reach for a wine that has a little more depth and richness.
I love this chicken paprika with a French Bordeaux or a Washington state Cabernet Sauvignon.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe Tips and FAQs
Make sure the chicken has cooled to room temperature, and then store leftovers in an airtight container. Or store in the freezer for up to three months.
These are my favorite food storage containers, but I also use these resealable freezer food-safe bags. Both can be used in the refrigerator or freezer. The glass containers are also oven safe and can go from freezer to oven (without the lids).
Place the chicken into your air fryer and reheat at 350°F for 3 to 4 minutes.
Kitchen tools and equipment
Ready to make this delicious chicken recipe? You'll need the following kitchen tools and equipment:
- Air Fryer - You can use any standard size air fryer to make this recipe. I use my Ninja Foodi 10-quart Dual Zone Air Fryer, which I LOVE. But you can use any 6-quart or 8-quart basket-style air fryer or tray-style air fryer.
- Meat Thermometer - A meat thermometer is the best way to confirm whether the chicken is fully cooked or not.
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Air Fryer Paprika Chicken
Ingredients
- 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 teaspoons ground paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground onion powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F for 5 minutes. After pre-heating, spray with cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, mix together the garlic, paprika, oregano, onion powder, salt and pepper until well combined. In large bowl or large ziplock bag, add the chicken thighs and then add the spice mix. Toss until the chicken is evenly coated.
- Add chicken thighs to the air fryer, skin side down, and air fry at 380°F for 10 minutes.
- Flip chicken thighs so they are now skin side up and cook for another 10 minutes. Chicken is done when an internal meat thermometer reads 165°F.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
Sue says
Good recipe but I like to rub my dried chicken with olive oil first then coat with the spices. Either way it comes out great.
Caroline says
The skin on this chicken comes out wonderful! I do love paprika with chicken and the simple flavors are great.
Dannii says
This chicken came out perfectly cooked. And the paprika flavour is amazing.
Adriana says
I got an air fryer for Christmas, so your recipe comes in handy as I want to test my new gadget this weekend.
Kechi says
Oh dear, this chicken, looks good! So, crisp like its fried but this is healthier. Thanks so much for sharing.
veenaazmanov says
Air Fryer sounds healthy. This Chicken looks soft and tender and juicy too. It sounds so easy and quick to make as well.
Tara says
This chicken looks absolutely amazing! I love the color of the crust and paprika is a favorite of mine. Yum!