Crispy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Thighs Air Fryer Recipe Easy Perfect Dinner
This recipe delivers crispy, garlicky chicken thighs with a parmesan crust using an air fryer for a quick and easy dinner. Perfectly crispy skin seals in juicy, flavorful meat in under 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1.5 lbs or 700 g)
- 1/2 cup (50g) finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (dried oregano, basil, thyme)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil or melted butter
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika or a pinch of chili flakes
Instructions
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels to ensure crispiness.
- In a medium bowl, combine Parmesan, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and optional smoked paprika or chili flakes.
- Drizzle olive oil or melted butter over the chicken thighs and rub evenly over the skin and sides.
- Toss each chicken thigh in the Parmesan mixture, pressing gently to adhere an even coating.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3-5 minutes.
- Place the coated chicken thighs skin-side down in a single layer in the air fryer basket, avoiding overcrowding.
- Cook for 10 minutes.
- Flip the chicken thighs so the skin side is up and cook for an additional 8-10 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and skin is golden and crispy.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute.
Notes
Pat chicken dry for best crispiness. Use olive oil or melted butter to help the parmesan stick and crisp. Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to prevent soggy crust. Rest chicken before serving. If parmesan browns too fast, reduce temperature or tent with foil after flipping. For dairy-free, omit parmesan or use vegan cheese alternative but crispiness may vary. Skinless thighs can be used but will be less crispy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 22
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: crispy chicken thighs, garlic parmesan chicken, air fryer chicken, easy dinner, quick chicken recipe, keto chicken, low carb chicken