Juicy Marinated Chicken Thighs
These Marinated Chicken Thighs are for you if you’re searching for a chicken thigh recipe that’s packed with flavor, low effort, and endlessly versatile.
Juicy bone-in chicken thighs marinated in a savory-sweet blend of soy sauce, Worcestershire, garlic, onion powder, lemon juice, and brown sugar. Easy to cook in the air fryer or oven for a family-friendly, meal-prep-ready dinner.
Whether you’re making dinner in a hurry or planning ahead, this recipe gives you tender, restaurant-quality chicken without complicated techniques or hours in the kitchen.
You can serve them with fresh salads, fluffy rice, roasted vegetables, or even shred the meat for wraps and sandwiches. The marinade also works beautifully on boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts — just adjust the cooking time.
why you’ll love it
Bold flavor, minimal effort: The marinade does all the heavy lifting—just mix, marinate, and cook!
Juicy and tender every time: Chicken thighs stay moist and flavorful whether you bake them or air fry.
Air fryer or oven-friendly: Flexible cooking options make it easy to fit your schedule (and your kitchen setup).
Perfect for meal prep: Great hot or cold, and even better the next day.
JordanIngredients You Will Need
These chicken thighs stay juicy thanks to their higher fat content and the marinade’s balance of acid, umami, and sweetness. Bone-in, skin-on thighs are ideal for the richest flavor, but boneless cuts still work well if that’s what you have on hand.
If you’ve been looking for a go-to chicken marinade that delivers every time, this one will quickly earn a spot in your weekly rotation!
Seasonings: A simple blend of black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder infuses the marinade with savory flavor. For some heat, add some red pepper flakes or chili powder.
Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (dark meat from the chicken’s leg section): This cut stays moist and flavorful, whether roasted in the oven or air fried.
Soy Sauce: Provides a salty, umami flavor that perfectly complements the chicken.
Worcestershire Sauce: A fermented condiment with tangy-sweet-umami notes
Brown Sugar: Offsets all of the tasty savory components with a bit of complex sweetness.
Lemon Juice: Keeps things light by cutting through the marinade with a subtle punch of acidity.
To Serve: Chimichurri rice or Ginger Rice, chopped green onions, parsley, fresh lemon wedges.
How To Make Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Thighs
Step 1: Prepare the marinade. In a mixing bowl, combine garlic powder, onion powder, olive oil, melted butter, soy sauce, pepper, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce.
Step 2: Coat the chicken. Place the raw chicken pieces in a large ziploc bag or large bowl and pour in the marinade. Ensure all of the chicken is fully coated.
Step 3: Marinate the chicken. Marinate the chicken in the fridge for at least 2 hours (overnight for deeper flavor). Do not exceed 24 hours or the acid will break down the meat too much.
Step 4: Air fry the chicken. Transfer chicken and marinade to a baking dish, arrange the chicken in a single layer and place the dish in the air fryer basket.
Note: this recipe can be done with boneless skinless chicken thighs too! If you want to use chicken breasts, you may need to adjust the time a bit depending on how thick they are.
For dessert, you can serve these with an Air Fryer Cookie Cake or Air Fryer Creme Brulee!
Tips For Marinating Chicken
- Best marinating time: 2–12 hours
- Cooking methods: Air fryer (fast) or oven (hands-off)
- Protein content: ~21g per 4 oz serving
- Storage: 3–4 days in fridge, 3 months in freezer
- Family-friendly? Yes, the marinade is mild but flavorful
If you tried this Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Thighs or any other recipe on my blog please leave a 🌟 star rating and tell me how it went in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
Juicy Marinated Chicken Thighs
Equipment
- Baggy Holder so helpful when making marinades!
Ingredients
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 4 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 8 chicken thighs bone-in
To Serve
- white rice
- green onion chopped
- lemon wedges
- parsley chopped
Instructions
- Mix the garlic powder, onion powder, olive oil, melted butter, soy sauce, black pepper, brown sugar, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl. Place the chicken thighs in a large ziplock bag and pour in the marinade, making sure every piece is covered evenly. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 2 hours or overnight.1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp melted butter, 4 tbsp soy sauce, 1/8 tsp black pepper, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 8 chicken thighs
- Preheat the air fryer to 375ºF, and place the chicken and the marinade in a baking dish, then place it inside the air fryer basket. Cook the chicken thighs skin-side down for 12 minutes, then flip, spoon more marinade on top, and cook for 10-15 more minutes or until the internal temperature has reached 165℉.
- For extra crispy chicken thighs, place them directly in the air fryer basket instead of a baking dish (just be sure to spray the basket well).
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving, and top with more of the marinade and chopped parsley. Serve with a side dish of white rice and chopped green onions.white rice, green onion, lemon, parsley
Oven Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425℉.
- Place the chicken in a 9X13 baking dish and bake for 35 minutes on the middle rack, or until internal temperature reaches 165˚F.Halfway through cooking, baste the chicken with the liquid in the pan.Turn on the broiler (you can move the dish up to the top rack or keep it in the middle to be safe) and continue to bake for 3 to 4 more minutes or until golden brown on top.
Notes
- Avoid overcrowding the baking dish. Arrange the chicken thighs in a single layer to allow proper air circulation, ensuring even cooking and better crispiness.
- If you decide to air fry them directly in the air fryer basket, reserve some of the marinade before marinating the chicken so you can spoon it over the chicken when serving.
- Pat the chicken dry before marinating so the flavors absorb better.
Nutrition
More Chicken Recipes
Recipe FAQs
For best flavor, marinate chicken thighs for at least 2 hours and up to 12 hours. You can marinate overnight, but don’t exceed 24 hours or the acid will start breaking down the meat, making it mushy.
Rubbery chicken is usually the result of overcooking. Air fry until the internal temperature reaches 160°F, then let the chicken rest, tented with foil, to reach the safe 165°F without drying out.
This is likely due to overcooking. If you find your chicken comes out rubbery or overcooked, air fry it until it reaches 160 degrees instead of 165, but let it rest tented in aluminum foil for a few minutes to finish cooking through.
Cool the chicken completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–4 days. For longer storage, freeze for up to 3 months. Always thaw frozen chicken in the refrigerator before reheating.
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Place chicken thighs in a single layer and cook for 5–8 minutes, flipping halfway, until heated through.
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