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Air Fryer Jerk Chicken Thighs

Air Fryer Jerk Chicken Thighs

5 from 3 votes
Author: Laurie Fleming
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Marinate Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings

Description

Juicy air fryer jerk chicken thighs marinated in a homemade scotch bonnet, allspice, and thyme paste, then air fried until charred at the edges. Works with boneless or bone-in thighs.

Ingredients 

Chicken

  • 2 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 8)
  • Lime wedges, for serving

Jerk marinade

  • 4 green onions, roughly chopped
  • 1 scotch bonnet pepper, stemmed and seeded
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, or 1 teaspoon dried
  • 1 tablespoon ground allspice
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil

Instructions

  • Blend all the marinade ingredients into a thick paste. Wear gloves when handling the scotch bonnet.
  • Pat the chicken thighs dry. Coat them in the marinade, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours.
  • Preheat the air fryer to 380°F for 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Lift the thighs from the marinade, let the excess drip off, and arrange them in a single layer in the basket. Discard the leftover marinade.
  • Air fry at 380°F for 16 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. For extra char, raise the heat to 400°F for the last 2 minutes.
  • Check that the thickest part reaches at least 165°F (175°F to 185°F for the most tender thighs).
  • Rest for 5 minutes and serve with lime wedges.

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • blender or food processor
  • Instant-read thermometer

Notes

  • Bone-in, skin-on thighs: Cook at 380°F for 22 to 28 minutes. Start skin side down and flip after 12 minutes.
  • Other cuts: See the cook-time table in the post for drumsticks, legs, and breast.
  • Heat: Use half a pepper for mild, or keep the seeds for hot.
  • Air fryer size: Cook in batches if the thighs don't fit in a single layer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 491kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 45gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 134mgSodium: 1022mgPotassium: 946mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 242IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 6mg