Ready for juicy chicken thighs with crispy, flavorful skin? Then you have to try this zesty Air Fryer Chili Lime Chicken recipe!

sideview of chicken chili lime after cooked in the air fryer ready to serve on white plate with two lime halves on the side

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I am most certainly not the queen of air fryer chicken (although I would happily take the title!), but the air fryer chicken recipes I make always receive rave reviews from anyone who tries them. Comments like “this is the best chicken I’ve ever had” and “even the pickiest eaters in my family loved this recipe” are common. Needless to say, I think you’re in good hands with this recipe. 🙂

Why You Will Love This Air Fryer Chili Lime Chicken Thighs Recipe

You can’t go wrong with crispy skin and juicy chicken. This recipe will help you achieve that perfect combo every time!
The zesty seasoning is fantastic. These thighs have an amazing flavor but aren’t too spicy. If you have picky eaters in your family, feel free to opt for my regular Air Fryer Chicken Thighs recipe instead!
Chicken thighs are very forgiving. I love making chicken thighs because they’re super forgiving, unlike chicken breasts. With chicken breasts, they’re just a few degrees away from being chewy and overcooked, but chicken thighs have a much bigger acceptable temperature range.

Ingredients Needed

Ingredient quantities are located in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)
Olive oil
Chili powder
Paprika
Cumin
Salt
Cayenne
Pepper
Garlic powder
Fresh lime juice
Baking powder

Tips for Making Chicken Chili Lime In The Air Fryer

The section below just outlines a few quick tips. The full process in detail is located in the recipe card at the end of the post.

💚 Tip 1: Don’t skip the preheating phase at the beginning of the recipe. It helps get the thighs super crispy on the outside.

💚 Tip 2: And don’t forget the resting phase at the end! It locks in all that juiciness in the meat.

💚 Tip 3: Add lime juice to your heart’s content. Make sure to use fresh-squeezed lime juice for the best flavor.

💚 Tip 4: Don’t be shy about cranking up the final internal temperature above 165°F!

Chicken thighs are good to eat at 165°F, but many of us (myself included) think they taste even better around 185°F to 195°F.

Why heat above 165°F? When heated to this temperature, the collagen inside the bones turns to gelatin, increasing the chicken’s juiciness!

overhead view of chicken chili lime out of the air fryer and ready to be served on a white serving dish and 2 lime halves

I hope you love this recipe and my other dinner recipes. Enjoy!

Looking for an Air Fryer?

If you’re looking for an air fryer, I can’t recommend the Ninja Foodi enough. It’s not only an air fryer but also a pressure cooker, slow cooker, dehydrator, and more! I love it and use it daily.

Here’s the Air Fryer I Use!

More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes

This hugely popular chicken thighs in the air fryer dinner recipe will leave you jaw dropped with the crispiness and flavor!
Craving another flavor? Give these garlic parmesan chicken in the air fryer a try as well.
Air fryer chicken breasts are a favorite on this healthy dinner ideas menu. Great for weeknight meals and easy to make!
Looking for the ultimate football game day food? Try these delicious chicken legs in the air fryer! They’re a hit at parties and family gatherings.
Nothing excites the gang more than chicken wings in the air fryer! They are crispy and so delicious. And you can make buffalo wings in the air fryer and lemon pepper wings in the air fryer too.

overhead view of three cooked air fryer crispy brown chicken thighs on a white serving plate — **Air Fryer Chicken Thighs**

overhead view of air fryer garlic parmesan chicken thighs on a white plate ready to serve — **Air Fryer Chicken Thighs**

What to Pair With Chili Lime Chicken

In the photos in this post, I paired this chicken with a frozen sweet potato and carrot medley from Aldi.

In general, with this chicken, you can’t go wrong with sides like rice or cauliflower rice (plain or with cilantro and lime), black beans, tortilla chips, salsa, cornbread, and the like!

I personally really love this chicken paired with Air Fryer Sweet Potato Bites—the sweet potatoes really elevate the chicken’s flavor.

overhead view of air fryer chili and lime chicken on a white serving dish with a lime halve

What Side Dishes Are Good With Air Fryer Chicken?

For regular air fryer chicken, here are some sides to try:

Bursting with a delightful smoky flavor, this bacon and green beans recipe is sure to impress and satisfy every palate!
An easy broccoli salad is refreshing and simple to prepare while your air fryer is cooking.
This flavorful roasted vegetables recipe is so good, you’ll crave a second serving.
If roasted veggies are your thing, you can also try roasted squash and zucchini, baked carrots and broccoli, or baked carrots and zucchini.
Make sweet potato fries in an air fryer and you’ll never bake them any other way again!
Chicken thighs and crispy roasted Brussels sprouts recipe are a match made in dinner heaven.

sideview of bacon green beans in a white serving bowl — **Bacon Green Beans**

overhead closeup view of broccoli salad in a wooden serving bowl — **Bacon Green Beans**

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