Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken
Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and ridiculously delicious – that’s how to describe this Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken!
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Why You Will Love Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Thighs
Ingredients Needed for Garlic Parmesan Chicken in the Air Fryer
Ingredient quantities for this easy homemade chicken thighs recipe are located in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Chicken thighs (bone-in and skin-on)
- Olive oil
- Garlic (powdered)
- Italian seasoning
- Baking powder
- Pepper
- Salt
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Tips for Making Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken
The steps below are just a few tips for the air fryer recipe. The detailed process 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! This helps make your thighs extra crispy on the outside.
✨ Tip #2: Another no-skip step is the resting phase at the end of the recipe. This helps lock in the juiciness of the meat.
✨ Tip #3: Don’t be afraid to experiment with increasing the final internal temperature above 165°F. Chicken thighs are safe to eat when cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F, but some people (myself included!) prefer the flavor of chicken thighs heated to 185°F to 195°F. When heated to this temperature, the collagen inside the bones turns to gelatin, increasing the chicken’s juiciness.
✨ Tip #4: If making these for a crowd, you may want to make a double or triple batch. These tasty chicken thighs go fast! 💨
Looking for an Air Fryer?
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More Air Fryer Dinner Recipes
- Make chicken thighs in the air fryer with our most popular air fryer recipe. Chicken so crispy you would think you were eating breaded and fried chicken!
- Or, make these chicken legs in the air fryer for gatherings and as your main football game day food.
- Go boneless and make chicken breasts in the air fryer. Delicious and tender, you can’t go wrong!
- Make a party a real party by making your chicken wings in the air fryer. They’re crispy, delicious, and bursting with flavor! Also, don’t forget you can make buffalo wings in the air fryer and lemon pepper wings in the air fryer.
How This Recipe Makes Super Crispy Parmesan Chicken
There are two main reasons why these chicken thighs are so crispy:
One, the seasoning mix includes baking powder, which helps crisp up the skin.
Two, you’ll preheat your air fryer before using it. If you want max crisp factor for any air fryer recipe, preheating is a must!
What to Pair With Garlic Parmesan Chicken
- Roasted vegetables taste amazing with crispy garlic parmesan chicken.
- As do roasted Brussels sprouts with parmesan! You get to keep with the parmesan theme when you make these together.
- Go with summer squash and make roasted zucchini and squash. They are delicious and tender when they are baked right!
- Make this easy broccoli salad for a light side dish that will satisfy you every time. Everyone who tries this creamy salad dish will devour it! Or, make this creamy cucumber ranch salad for another fresh and creamy dish.
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Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- If a feature on your air fryer, preheat it to 375°F. (If not, turn it on to 375°F for 4-5 minutes before Step 5.)
- Mix garlic powder, Italian seasoning, baking powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel and coat them evenly with olive oil on both sides. Place them in a bowl or on a plate.
- Sprinkle the seasoning mixture on both sides of the chicken thighs and rub it in for even coverage.
- Transfer the chicken thighs to the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes.
- Turn the chicken using tongs and continue cooking for an extra 6-10 minutes until crispy and golden brown on the outside.
- Sprinkle half of the parmesan cheese over the chicken thighs and air fry for another 2 minutes. Flip the chicken and repeat with the remaining parmesan cheese.
- Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer; it should be at least 165°F. If needed, continue cooking the chicken until it reaches the desired temperature.
- Once done, remove the chicken thighs from the air fryer and add more parmesan cheese if desired.
- Allow the thighs to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This helps to lock in the juices and keep the chicken moist.
Notes
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutrition Estimates are per serving and included as a courtesy only. They are accurate to the best of our knowledge based on the ingredients and brands used, but their accuracy is not guaranteed.
Garlic powder is listed in the ingredients list, but it is not listed in the step by step directions.
Hi Sheila, Oh no! I apologize for the oversight. I just updated the recipe. Thank you for letting me know!
What kind of Parmesan cheese is recommended for this recipe? Grated or shredded ? Thank you!
Hi Kim, great question! I will update the recipe to include this. I recommend using grated Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
I will make this again. I added some Benoit’s seasoning besides the white pepper and Italian seasoning. I used powdered Parmesan cheese but next time I will use fresh graded.
That sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing, Vickie!
My 13 year old son said this was the best chicken he’s ever had. It was very juicy with the perfect flavor. I will be adding this into the rotation for sure!
Hi Brittany, thank you so much for sharing! I so appreciate your son’s comment (what an honor!), and I love that it’s been added to your rotation! 😊
Excellent chicken! Very juicy with a great taste. We will definitely be making this again. Any suggestions on the best way to reheat?
Thank you so much, Karin! I highly recommend reheating it in the air fryer at 375 F for 4-8 minutes until it’s heated through. It doesn’t do well in the microwave – it loses some of its crispiness and juiciness, so back to the air fryer is your best bet!
Delicious! A total hit!
Thank you so much, Erica! 😊
Is there a version for boneless skinless thighs by chance?
Hi Sydney! Here is my boneless chicken thighs recipe.
Wow the best chicken thighs ever! Very easy to make, I didn’t make any changes and we enjoyed every bite.
Thank you so much, Cherie! I’m so happy to hear you liked the recipe! 😊
Just made this. Hands down one of the best recipes I’ve ever made (and there’s a lot of them). My husband couldn’t get enough and kept commenting how good it was!
Thank you so much, Renee! I am honored that you and your husband loved the recipe so much! 😊
so gooood!
Yum make this often easy and delicious my husband’s favorite tonight I’m serving with sweet corn on the cob