Cozy Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs with Garlic Parmesan
These air fryer chicken thighs come out with shatteringly crispy skin, juicy meat, and a garlic-Parmesan crust that makes them perfect for cozy weeknight dinners. Ready in under 30 minutes with simple ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1.5 pounds total)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika (regular or smoked)
- 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Prep the chicken: Pat chicken thighs completely dry with paper towels. Let them sit on a plate while preparing seasoning.
- Make the seasoning blend: In a small bowl, combine salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Stir to break up clumps.
- Season the chicken: Drizzle olive oil over chicken and rub in. Sprinkle seasoning blend evenly over both sides. Let sit for 5 minutes at room temperature.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F for 3 minutes.
- Arrange chicken skin-side down in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between pieces.
- Air fry at 380°F for 12 minutes. Do not open the basket.
- Flip chicken using tongs. Sprinkle grated Parmesan evenly over the skin side, then brush with melted butter.
- Return to air fryer and cook at 380°F for another 8-10 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 165°F and skin is deeply golden and crispy.
- Remove chicken and let rest for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
For extra crispy skin, after the first 12 minutes of cooking, remove chicken, flip, and let sit uncovered in the refrigerator for 10 minutes before adding Parmesan and butter. Freshly grated Parmesan is essential; pre-shredded contains anti-caking agents that prevent proper melting. If using boneless skinless thighs, reduce total cooking time to 15-18 minutes. For dairy-free, omit Parmesan and butter and increase garlic powder and paprika.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with
- Calories: 320
- Sodium: 680
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: air fryer chicken thighs, crispy chicken thighs, garlic parmesan chicken, easy weeknight dinner, low carb chicken, keto chicken recipe