Seriously good air fryer breaded chicken thighs that are so crispy and delicious that everyone will want seconds! These crispy breaded chicken thighs cook quickly in the air fryer and come out perfectly golden and delicious with no frying in oil. It is pretty amazing and the perfect chicken recipe for a fast weeknight meal.
Cooking chicken in the air fryer is one of my favorite ways to cook chicken. This amazing air fryer breaded chicken thighs recipe has become a family staple that my kids also love! It tastes just like fried chicken with much less oil and no deep frying, so it is much lighter and better for you.
As a result of using the air fryer to cook this breaded chicken, you get a beautiful crispy coating with a perfectly juicy center that is amazing!
You can also make this air fried chicken recipe gluten free by using gluten free breadcrumbs. See below for recipe variations.
Don’t have an air fryer? Try these very popular oven fried chicken cutlets. Or try these lower carb air fryer chicken thighs or air fryer teriyaki chicken.
My favorite air fryer is this Instant Vortex Air Fryer.
Why You’ll Love This breaded chicken thighs recipe
- Kid approved!
- Crispy and delicious chicken in minutes!
- Very easy to make with just a few ingredients
- Lighter fried chicken with less oil and no deep frying needed
- Easily make this gluten free or diary free breaded air fryer chicken.
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love This breaded chicken thighs recipe
- Ingredients for air fryer breaded chicken thighs
- Recommended Kitchen Tools
- How to make breaded chicken thighs in the air fryer
- Tips for cooking breaded chicken thighs in the air fryer
- Recipe Variations
- How Long To Cook Breaded Chicken Thighs In The Air Fryer
- How To Cook Breaded Chicken Thighs In The Oven
- Best method to prevent the breading from falling off the chicken thighs
- Serving Suggestions
- Storage
- More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
- Crispy Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Thighs
Ingredients for air fryer breaded chicken thighs
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this breaded chicken thighs recipe. Here is what you’ll need:
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs – I used boneless skinless chicken thighs because they are easier to work with and have less fat. You could also use thin sliced chicken breast or skin on chicken thighs, but you may need to adjust the cooking times.
- Eggs – 2 large eggs are whisked together with some salt to create the first layer of the coating on the chicken thighs.
- Panko breadcrumbs – panko breadcrumbs give the chicken this irresistible crunchy coating that is so good.
- Parmesan cheese – grated parmesan cheese adds a nice salty, cheese flavor to the breading mixture.
- Seasoning – the best combination of garlic powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning are added to the breadcrumb mixture for a nice kick of flavor.
Recommended Kitchen Tools
- Air Fryer
- Mixing bowl
- Kitchen tongs
Get the complete list of recipe ingredients, instructions and nutrition in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to make breaded chicken thighs in the air fryer
Here is a summary for how to make these amazing air fryer breaded chicken thighs with step-by-step photos to help guide you through the recipe. Enjoy!
- Crack and whisk the eggs in a bowl and combine the breading ingredients in a separate shallow bowl.
- Dip each chicken thigh in the egg then in the panko breadcrumb mixture, pressing the breading into each piece of chicken to prevent the breading from falling off the chicken.
- Continue until you have coated all of the chicken thighs.
- Cook the chicken in a preheated air fryer at 400°F for 10 minutes, flip and cook for 4-6 more minutes until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F.
Tips for cooking breaded chicken thighs in the air fryer
- Spray the air fryer basket or use an air fryer liner to prevent the coating from sticking to the air fryer basket.
- Use olive oil – mixing the olive oil into the breadcrumbs mixture is the key to super crispy chicken without deep frying. It really does tastes like fried chicken which is amazing!
- Press the panko breadcrumbs mixture into the chicken so it sticks better allowing the chicken thighs to come out crispier and more flavorful.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer – place the chicken in a single layer, with no overlapping since overlapping can block steam and could created soggy spots on the chicken.
- Flip the breaded chicken thighs to allow them to get golden and crispy on both sides – nobody likes soggy fried chicken.
- Allow the chicken to cool for a few minutes before serving since it crisps up even more as it cools.
Recipe Variations
- Gluten free – use gluten free panko breadcrumbs for a gluten free version of this recipe.
- Dairy free – skip the parmesan or use dairy free parmesan cheese.
- Buffalo chicken thighs – once the chicken is done cooking and is still hot, toss it in your favorite buffalo sauce.
How Long To Cook Breaded Chicken Thighs In The Air Fryer
Cooking times can vary depending on your air fryer model, the size of the chicken thighs, and the temperature used. I tested this breaded chicken thigh recipe in two different air fryers and found that a few adjustments were necessary between them.
If your air fryer runs on the hotter side, lower the temperature to 390°F and cook the chicken a couple of minutes longer, if needed. Be sure to check the chicken at the 5–6 minute mark and adjust the temperature as necessary. In one of my air fryers, the chicken was browning too quickly, so I reduced the temperature and monitored it more closely to prevent over-browning.
How To Cook Breaded Chicken Thighs In The Oven
If you prefer to use an oven to cook the chicken thighs then place the coated chicken thighs on a prepared baking sheet and bake them in a 425°F oven until fully cooked through, flipping them halfway through cooking – about 25-35 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken thighs. Once the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F when checked using a meat thermometer then the chicken is done.
Best method to prevent the breading from falling off the chicken thighs
There are two key steps to ensure the breading does not fall off the chicken thighs.
- Dry the chicken well with a clean paper towel before you dredge it. Dry chicken will allow more things to stick to it than wet chicken.
- Press the breadcrumb mixture into the chicken as you coat it.
Serving Suggestions
This breaded chicken makes a great addition to any family meal. Here are some delicious sides and sauces to serve with it to help make it a complete meal:
- Healthy Mashed Potatoes
- Peas and carrots
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Roasted potatoes and carrots
- Easy Kale Salad
- Oven Roasted Asparagus
- 5 Minute Romesco Sauce
- Easy Homemade Pesto
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F until heated through – about 2-3 minutes or in the microwave, although the chicken will get crispier in the air fryer.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Did you try this breaded chicken thighs recipe? If you did, then please leave a rating and comment below. I would love to hear how yours turned out!
Check out all of my air fryer recipes on PMG!
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Crispy Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Thighs
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 5–6 servings 1x
- Diet: Low-Carb
Description
These are air fryer breaded chicken thighs are so crispy and delicious that everyone will want seconds. They are lightly breaded with a parmesan panko coating and cooked in the air fryer until golden and flavorful without any frying in oil. A healthier fried chicken recipe you can enjoy all the time!
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 2 large eggs
- Pinch of salt
- 1.5 cups panko breadcrumbs
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1.5 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken thighs – dry the chicken thighs with a clean paper towel. Set aside.
- Setup a dredging station – in a medium bowl, crack and whisk the eggs with a pinch of salt. In a separate medium shallow bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, paprika, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Drizzle the oil over the breading mixture and mix it (using your hands or a fork) into the breadcrumbs pinching or pressing it together so everything gets nice and coated.
- Dredge the chicken – dip each piece of chicken into the egg, allowing any excess to drip off then coat it in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing the breading into each piece of chicken, than place the coated chicken onto a clean plate or lined pan. Continue until you have coated all of the chicken thighs.
- Air fry the chicken – Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or line with an air fryer liner to prevent sticking. Place the breaded chicken into the air fryer in a single layer, close and cook for 10 minutes. I like to spray the chicken with more cooking spray for extra crispy coating on the chicken. Flip the chicken over after 10 minutes and cook for 4-5 more minutes until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F. Cook in batches if needed.
- Once the chicken is done, allow it to cool for a few minutes, then serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- For the most even cooking, choose chicken thighs that are similar in size and thickness to prevent dry edges.
- Blot the chicken with a clean paper towel before dipping it in the egg and breading mixture. Dry chicken prevents the coating from falling off of it and gives it a crispier crust.
- Gently press the breadcrumb mixture into the chicken as you coat it. This also prevents the coating from falling off the chicken as it cooks.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Make sure the chicken is in a single layer since overlapping can block steam and create soggy spots on the chicken.
- Watch the chicken in the air fryer and check it since some air fryers run a little hotter. If the chicken is browning too quickly then reduce the air fryer cooking temperature to 390°F.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat portions in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes or until fully heated through.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: air fryer
- Cuisine: American
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