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Close up plate of chicken thighs on a plate with green onions and lemon slices.
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4.64 from 11 votes

Crispy Mediterranean Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Crispy, tender Air Fryer Mediterranean Chicken Thighs are seasoned to perfection with warm spiced, lemon juice and zest, and garlic. This easy dinner recipe is easy to toss together any night of the week!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Chicken Main Dishes
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Servings: 6 to 8 Servings
Calories: 305kcal
Author: Julia

Ingredients

  • 1.5 to 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs 6 to 8 chicken thighs
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • Zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 tsp Sumac
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp allspice
  • 1 tsp kosher salt

Instructions

  • Combine all of the spices in a small bowl (sumac, ground cumin, paprika, ground cinnamon, allspice and sea salt) and stir until incorporated.
    Mediterranean seasonings in a white bowl on a wooden backdrop to make Chicken Shawarma
  • Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and place chicken thighs (or breasts) in a large zip lock bag (or freezer bag) and add the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, and the spice blend. Seal the bag and shake everything around until all of the thighs are well-coated in the marinade.
    Chicken thighs, lemon juice, lemon zest, oil, and seasonings in a zip lock bag to be marinated.
  • Either refrigerate for 15 minutes (up to 24 hours) to marinate, or cook the chicken immediately. For the best results, marinate the chicken for at least 15 minutes. If you don't have time to marinate the chicken, you can toss all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and toss it all together using your hands.
    Sealed bag of marinated chicken, ready to cook.
  • Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees for a few minutes.
    Chicken thighs in an air fryer, ready to air fry.
  • Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer with the rounded side down in a single layer (do this in two batches if your air fryer is too small to fit the thighs in one layer). Air fry for 14 minutes.
    Chicken thighs in an air fryer, ready to air fry.
  • Flip the chicken and air fry for an additional 4 to 6 minutes, until the thighs are crispy and cooked through.
    Tongs flipping chicken thighs in an air fryer.
  • For chicken breasts, air fry at 350 for 9 minutes per side. For bone-in chicken thighs, air fry at 375 for 10 minutes per side. 
  • Chicken is considered fully cooked once it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. To verify the temperature, insert an instant read thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh (I choose the largest thigh to test) and wait until the numbers stop moving to get an accurate read. A meat thermometer is the best way of ensuring the chicken thighs turn out perfectly cooked for a delicious meal.
  • Serve Crispy Mediterranean Chicken with your choice of side dishes and enjoy!
    Mediterranean chicken in an air fryer, ready to eat.

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Thigh | Calories: 305kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 276mg | Sodium: 428mg