Buffalo chicken thighs with super crispy skin and a little heat from buffalo sauce. These are easy to make in the air fryer or oven and are perfect for a keto or low-carb diet—just 1g net carbs per serving. Juicy, flavorful, and satisfying, this is a healthy recipe that doesn’t compromise on taste.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4 thighs
Ingredients
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- ¼ cup buffalo sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Spice Rub:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer or oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Prepare the Chicken:
- Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels—this helps the skin crisp up.
- Mix all the spice rub ingredients in a small bowl.
- Rub the seasoning mixture evenly over the chicken thighs, covering all sides.
Air Fryer Instructions:
- Place chicken skin-side down in the air fryer basket. Cook for 12 minutes.
- Flip the chicken to skin-side up and cook for another 12–14 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the skin is crispy.
- Toss cooked chicken in buffalo sauce or drizzle sauce on top before serving.
Oven Instructions:
- Arrange chicken skin-side up on a lined baking sheet or oven-safe rack over a baking pan.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until chicken is fully cooked and the skin is crispy.
Note: Do not flip—keeping the skin side up ensures it crisps properly. - Toss or drizzle with buffalo sauce before serving.
Notes:
- Crispiness Tip: Baking powder in the spice rub helps dry the skin for a crispier finish—don’t skip it.
- Buffalo Sauce: You can use classic buffalo sauce or mix hot sauce with melted butter for a DIY version.
- Serving Ideas: Serve with celery sticks and a side of ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Nutrition (per 1 chicken thigh):
- Calories: 226
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3.4g
- Trans Fat: 0.2g
- Cholesterol: 72mg
- Sodium: 447mg
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Protein: 23g
Buffalo Chicken Thighs
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 thighs 1x
Description
Buffalo chicken thighs with super crispy skin and a little heat from buffalo sauce. These are easy to make in the air fryer or oven and are perfect for a keto or low-carb diet—just 1g net carbs per serving. Juicy, flavorful, and satisfying, this is a healthy recipe that doesn’t compromise on taste.
Ingredients
-
4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
-
¼ cup buffalo sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Spice Rub:
-
1 teaspoon salt
-
1 teaspoon chili powder
-
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
-
1 teaspoon baking powder
-
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
-
¼ teaspoon onion powder
-
⅛ teaspoon black pepper
-
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
-
Preheat your air fryer or oven to 375°F (190°C).
-
Prepare the Chicken:
-
Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels—this helps the skin crisp up.
-
Mix all the spice rub ingredients in a small bowl.
-
Rub the seasoning mixture evenly over the chicken thighs, covering all sides.
-
Air Fryer Instructions:
-
Place chicken skin-side down in the air fryer basket. Cook for 12 minutes.
-
Flip the chicken to skin-side up and cook for another 12–14 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the skin is crispy.
-
Toss cooked chicken in buffalo sauce or drizzle sauce on top before serving.
Oven Instructions:
-
Arrange chicken skin-side up on a lined baking sheet or oven-safe rack over a baking pan.
-
Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until chicken is fully cooked and the skin is crispy.
Note: Do not flip—keeping the skin side up ensures it crisps properly. -
Toss or drizzle with buffalo sauce before serving.
Notes
-
Crispiness Tip: Baking powder in the spice rub helps dry the skin for a crispier finish—don’t skip it.
-
Buffalo Sauce: You can use classic buffalo sauce or mix hot sauce with melted butter for a DIY version.
-
Serving Ideas: Serve with celery sticks and a side of ranch or blue cheese dressing.