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Crispy Parmesan Chicken Thighs Air Fryer Recipe Easy 20-Minute Dinner

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A quick and easy air fryer recipe for golden, crispy chicken thighs with a crunchy Parmesan crust, ready in about 20 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1.5 pounds / 700 grams)
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 50 grams), freshly grated preferred
  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs (about 60 grams)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning (oregano, basil, thyme blend)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Olive oil spray (optional but recommended)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season both sides lightly with salt and pepper. (5 minutes)
  2. In a shallow bowl, combine grated Parmesan, panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, dried Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Stir well. (3 minutes)
  3. Press each chicken thigh firmly into the Parmesan breadcrumb mixture, coating the skin side well. Shake off excess. (5 minutes)
  4. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3-5 minutes. (5 minutes)
  5. Place chicken thighs skin side down in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between pieces. Lightly spray tops with olive oil spray. (2 minutes)
  6. Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes. Flip thighs carefully, spray the other side lightly with olive oil spray, and cook for another 8-10 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and skin is golden and crispy. (18-20 minutes total)
  7. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. (5 minutes)

Notes

[‘Pat chicken skin dry before seasoning for best crispiness.’, ‘Use freshly grated Parmesan for better crust texture.’, ‘Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket to allow proper air circulation.’, ‘Flip chicken halfway through cooking to crisp both sides evenly.’, ‘Preheat the air fryer to avoid soggy skin.’, ‘Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness (165°F / 74°C).’, ‘If crust browns too fast, reduce temperature or spray less oil.’, ‘Leftovers can be reheated in air fryer or oven to restore crispiness; avoid microwaving.’, ‘For gluten-free, substitute panko with gluten-free breadcrumbs or almond flour.’, ‘For dairy-free, substitute Parmesan with nutritional yeast and use gluten-free breadcrumbs.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: crispy chicken thighs, air fryer chicken, Parmesan chicken, quick dinner, easy chicken recipe, weeknight dinner, crispy chicken skin

Find it online: https://sizzlesprout.com/crispy-parmesan-chicken-thighs-air-fryer-recipe-easy-20-minute-dinner/