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Best Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs with Garlic Parmesan

air fryer crispy chicken thighs - featured image
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These air fryer chicken thighs are incredibly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, thanks to a dry brine and a garlic Parmesan coating. Perfect for hosting or a quick weeknight dinner, this recipe is a crowd-pleaser that’s simple to make.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 to 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2.5 to 3 pounds total)
  • 1½ teaspoons kosher salt (use 1 teaspoon if using Morton’s)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, packed
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1½ tablespoons olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Dry brine the chicken: Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Mix kosher salt and garlic powder, then sprinkle evenly over both sides of each thigh. Place on a wire rack over a baking sheet, skin side up, and refrigerate uncovered for at least 2 hours, ideally overnight.
  2. Bring to room temperature: Remove chicken from fridge 30 minutes before cooking.
  3. Make the Parmesan coating: In a small bowl, combine grated Parmesan, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Mix with fingers to break up clumps.
  4. Oil the chicken: Drizzle olive oil over chicken thighs and rub gently to coat.
  5. Apply the coating: Sprinkle Parmesan mixture over the skin side of each thigh, pressing gently to adhere.
  6. Preheat air fryer to 375°F for 3-4 minutes.
  7. Arrange chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer, skin side up, leaving space between pieces. Cook in batches if needed.
  8. Cook for 22-25 minutes, without flipping, until internal temperature reaches 175°F in the thickest part of the thigh.
  9. Rest for 5 minutes on a cooling rack.
  10. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.

Notes

Don’t skip the dry brine—it’s key for crispy skin. Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. For best results, use freshly grated Parmesan and fresh garlic. If your air fryer runs hot, check at 20 minutes and reduce temperature to 360°F if needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer chicken thighs, crispy chicken thighs, garlic parmesan chicken, air fryer recipe, chicken dinner

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