How Long to Cook Chicken Thighs in an Air Fryer (UK Times by Brand)
- TEMP
- 200°C
- TIME
- 12-22 MIN
- CORE
- 75°C
Bone-in (Ninja): 19-22 min | Bone-in (Salter): 22-28 min | Bone-in/boneless (Salter): 15-18 min
75°C for 30 seconds is one of the FSA’s safe core combinations (standard: 70°C for 2 minutes).
Every manual that states a numeric temperature for chicken thighs uses 200°C; boneless thighs run 12 to 22 minutes. Bone-in thighs are listed separately because both manuals that split them give longer times: Ninja 19 to 22 minutes and Salter 22 to 28 minutes on its air fry chart. The Fryer Guide lists each brand's exact figure so you can match your own thighs to the closest one.
Based on 3 manufacturer sources. Figures last checked 27 September 2026. See the full list of manuals and articles used on this site on the about and methodology page.
What each brand's guide says
| Brand | Temp | Time | Shake | Amount | Model | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja | 200°C | 19-22 min | Yes | 6 thighs, bone-in/skin-on (750-900g) | AF400UK (Foodi MAX Dual Zone) | Ninja Quick start guide, p.11 |
| Ninja | 200°C | 15-16 min | Yes | 6-8 thighs, boneless/skinless (600-800g) | AF400UK (Foodi MAX Dual Zone) | Ninja Quick start guide, p.11 |
| Salter | 200°C | 22-28 min | not stated | 4 bone-in thighs | AeroGrill Pro EK5106 | Salter Recipe booklet, p.5 |
| Salter | 200°C | 18-22 min | not stated | 4 boneless thighs | AeroGrill Pro EK5106 | Salter Recipe booklet, p.5 |
| Salter | not given | 15-18 min | not stated | 4 bone-in thighs / 4 boneless thighs | AeroGrill Pro EK5106 | Salter Recipe booklet, p.5 |
| Instant | 200°C | 12-14 min | not stated | not given | Instant Vortex range (UK, brand-level chart) | Instant Brand chart |
What each source actually says
- Ninja (AF400UK (Foodi MAX Dual Zone)): Chart row, page 11: Chicken thighs, bone-in/skin-on 6 thighs (125-150g each/750-900g) 200°C 19-22 mins source
- Ninja (AF400UK (Foodi MAX Dual Zone)): Chart row, page 11: Chicken thighs, boneless/skinless 6-8 thighs (100g each/600-800g) 200°C 15-16 mins source
- Salter (AeroGrill Pro EK5106): Chart row, page 5: Chicken thighs (bone-in) 4 bone-in thighs, brush with oil, 200°C, 22-28 mins source
- Salter (AeroGrill Pro EK5106): Chart row, page 5: Chicken thighs (boneless) 4 boneless thighs, brush with oil, 200°C, 18-22 mins source
- Salter (AeroGrill Pro EK5106): Chart row, page 5: Chicken thighs (fresh, bone-in/boneless) HIGH 15-18 mins Flip halfway through cooking source
- Instant (Instant Vortex range (UK, brand-level chart)): Chart row: Boneless Thighs 200°C 12-14 mins Air Fry source
Fresh vs frozen
All figures above are for fresh chicken thighs. No manual used on this page gives a frozen chicken thigh time.
Size and thickness adjustments
Ninja splits its chart by cut: 19 to 22 minutes for six bone-in, skin-on thighs (750 to 900g), or 15 to 16 minutes for six to eight boneless, skinless thighs (600 to 800g). Salter shows the same pattern: 22 to 28 minutes for four bone-in thighs against 18 to 22 minutes for four boneless thighs, both brushed with oil. Salter's separate grill chart gives 15 to 18 minutes on its HIGH setting for fresh thighs, flipped halfway through cooking.
Browning and doneness
Chicken thighs are poultry, so the FSA's guidance for poultry applies: bacteria can be present throughout the meat, so it needs to be cooked all the way through. This site uses 75°C on the readout panel, the FSA's 75°C for 30 seconds figure, one of the combinations equivalent to its main 70°C for 2 minutes standard.
Where brands disagree
Bone-in thighs consistently take longer than boneless in every manual that separates the two (both Ninja and Salter show this). Where a manual gives only one figure without specifying bone-in or boneless, treat it as closer to a boneless-style time.
From the oven instead?
If you have an oven time and temperature and want the air fryer equivalent, use the oven to air fryer converter.
Frequently asked questions
- What temperature do chicken thighs need in an air fryer?
- Every sourced manual on this page that states a numeric temperature for chicken thighs uses 200°C.
- Do bone-in chicken thighs take longer than boneless?
- Yes, in both manuals that separate the two: Ninja gives 19 to 22 minutes for bone-in against 15 to 16 minutes for boneless, and Salter gives 22 to 28 minutes for bone-in against 18 to 22 minutes for boneless.
- How long do frozen chicken thighs take?
- Not covered by any manual used on this page; cook from fresh or fully thawed.
- Should I flip chicken thighs halfway through cooking?
- Ninja's AF400UK chart carries a general note to shake or toss food often for best results. Salter's grill chart for fresh thighs says to flip halfway through; the other sources don't mention turning.
Also see: Chicken breast