Cooking chicken thighs in a Ninja Foodi pressure cooker creates juicy, flavorful results in significantly less time than traditional methods The Ninja Foodi’s combination of pressure cooking and air crisping functions makes it perfect for achieving tender meat with crispy skin
Why Choose Chicken Thighs?
Chicken thighs are an excellent choice for pressure cooking for several reasons:
- More flavorful and juicy than chicken breasts due to higher fat content
- More forgiving if slightly overcooked, as they won’t dry out as easily
- Budget-friendly compared to other chicken cuts
- Versatile for various seasonings and flavor profiles
What You’ll Need
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (or boneless if preferred)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
- Your preferred seasoning blend
- 1 cup chicken broth or stock
Basic Steps for Cooking Chicken Thighs in Ninja Foodi
Step 1: Preparation and Seasoning
- Rinse chicken thighs under cold water and pat dry with paper towels
- Trim excess fat if desired
- Season generously with salt, pepper, and your preferred seasonings
Step 2: Sautéing for Flavor
- Select the “Sauté” function on your Ninja Foodi
- Add oil to the pot and heat until hot
- Place chicken thighs skin-side down and sear for 3-4 minutes until golden brown
- Flip and sear the other side for 2-3 minutes
Step 3: Pressure Cooking
- Add 1 cup of chicken broth to the pot
- Close the pressure cooker lid and set the valve to “Seal”
- Select “Pressure Cook” function and set timer:
- 10-12 minutes for boneless thighs
- 15-20 minutes for bone-in thighs
- When cooking cycle completes, perform a quick release by carefully turning the valve to “Vent”
Step 4: Optional Crisping
- After pressure cooking, you can use the air crisp function for crispier skin
- Remove the pressure lid and attach the air crisp lid
- Set to “Air Crisp” at 400°F for 5 minutes or until desired crispiness
Cooking Times
| Type of Chicken Thigh | Pressure Cook Time | Internal Temperature |
|---|---|---|
| Bone-in, Fresh | 15-20 minutes | 165°F (74°C) |
| Boneless, Fresh | 10-12 minutes | 165°F (74°C) |
| Bone-in, Frozen | 25-30 minutes | 165°F (74°C) |
| Boneless, Frozen | 15-18 minutes | 165°F (74°C) |
Seasoning Ideas
You can elevate your chicken thighs with these popular seasoning combinations:
- Italian Herb Blend: Oregano, basil, thyme, garlic powder, salt, and pepper
- Cajun Spice Mix: Paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and black pepper
- Simple but Delicious: Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika
Tips for Perfect Chicken Thighs
- Don’t skip the searing step – This adds significant flavor through the Maillard reaction
- Let the chicken rest after cooking for 5 minutes to redistribute juices
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F (74°C)
- Don’t overcrowd the pot – cook in batches if necessary
- Experiment with marinades before cooking for added flavor dimensions
Common Questions
Can I use frozen chicken thighs?
Yes! You can cook frozen chicken thighs directly in your Ninja Foodi. Simply add 5-10 minutes to the pressure cooking time depending on thickness. However you won’t be able to sear frozen chicken, so you’ll miss out on some flavor development.
Should I remove the skin?
This is a personal preference. The skin adds flavor and moisture during cooking, but if you prefer a lower-fat option, you can remove it. If keeping the skin, the air crisp function will give you that delicious crispy texture.
What liquid should I use in the pressure cooker?
While chicken broth adds flavor, you can use water, wine, or any cooking liquid. The important thing is to have at least 1 cup of liquid to create the necessary steam for pressure cooking.
How do I know when the chicken is done?
Chicken thighs are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Using a meat thermometer is the most reliable method to check doneness.
Serving Suggestions
Your perfectly cooked chicken thighs pair wonderfully with:
- Garlic mashed potatoes
- Steamed or roasted vegetables
- Rice or pasta
- Fresh salad
- Grains like quinoa or couscous
You can also shred the cooked chicken thighs for use in tacos, casseroles, soups, or sandwiches.
Recipe Example: Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
Ingredients:
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- Green onions for garnish
Instructions:
- Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper
- Use the Sauté function to brown chicken thighs in oil, 3-4 minutes per side
- Remove chicken and set aside
- In the same pot, sauté garlic for 30 seconds
- Add honey, soy sauce, vinegar, red pepper flakes, and chicken broth
- Return chicken to the pot, secure the pressure lid
- Cook on high pressure for 12 minutes (bone-in) or 10 minutes (boneless)
- Quick release pressure when done
- Remove chicken and switch to Sauté function
- Reduce sauce for 3-5 minutes until thickened
- Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with green onions
Final Thoughts
I’ve been using my Ninja Foodi pressure cooker for chicken thighs for years now, and honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever go back to other methods. The combination of juiciness from pressure cooking and that perfect crispy skin from the air crisp function is just unbeatable! Plus, being able to do it all in one pot means way less cleanup.
The Ninja Foodi truly makes cooking chicken thighs a breeze, whether you’re preparing a quick weeknight dinner or impressing guests with a special meal. Just remember to invest in quality ingredients, experiment with different flavors, and enjoy the delicious results!
So go ahead and fire up your Ninja Foodi – deliciously cooked chicken thighs are just minutes away!
Pressure Cooker Chicken Thigh Recipes
You can cook the chicken as a Ninja Foodi recipe with the lid that is NOT attached these ways as well. As you know, you have an air fryer basket with that multi cooker as well which gives you the option to make our Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Thighs with a bit of crisp on the outside too at the end which is nice.
- Season Chicken Thighs by patting the outsides dry with paper towels. Brush on a bit of olive oil and add things like Lawry’s, garlic powder and/or salt and pepper for flavor.
- Use the Sauté function which is just like a pan on your stovetop to brown the outsides first.
- Sear the Thighs once the oil is hot, then carefully place in the pressure cooker, skin-side down if using skin-on for a few minutes on each side. Not only will this crisp it a bit but this step will lock in the juices.
- Add Liquid once they are seared, with chicken broth or water so they can steam, you don’t need much since the meat will release some broth as they cook too. Alternatively you can use a sauce like we did with our Instant Pot Spicy Teriyaki Chicken Thighs.
- Pressure Cook by closing the pressure cooker lid and set the valve to the sealing position. Select the pressure high function and set the cooking time according to the size and type you have on hand.
- Bone-in chicken thighs: Pressure cook for 10-12 minutes.
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs: Pressure cook for 8-10 minutes.
- Natural Release for a few minutes, usually 5, once the cooking time is complete, this will maintain the juices inside and not suck it out immediately. After that, you can perform a quick pressure release by carefully turning the valve to the venting position.
If you love cooking your side dishes with your meat we have done that!! You can take a peek and jump to recipe for our Instant Pot Chicken Thighs and Rice and give that a try too. For those I do not use skin on chicken thighs as that layer will get a bit rubbery. Also I dice the meat into bite size pieces. Perfect 15 minute meal I tell you.
Instant Pot Bone-In Chicken Thigh Recipes
For the cheapest option, our Instant Pot Chicken Thighs Bone In is just that. If the butcher doesn’t have to remove the bones you will save quite a bit of money, but they are harder to eat. If you have kids I would just spend more to eliminate that hassle.
To cook vegetables with your poultry you can follow our simple Ninja Foodi Chicken and Potatoes instructions. Here you can cook carrots, russets and your meat all together. Gets everything nice and tender in no time at all and you can serve this healthy meal as is really.
That basically concludes our list of Easy Quick Chicken Thigh Recipes cooked in your small countertop appliance a number of different ways. Last but not least we have an original dish in the recipe card below for you too.
If you want an easy way to shred the meat after making any of our Easy Instant Pot Chicken Recipes we have step by step directions for you here;