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This is the best chicken thigh recipe out there. There’s just enough panko to give it a satisfying crunch and cooking them in the air fryer makes them perfectly crispy. We’ve already shared how to cook chicken thighs in an air fryer, but if you’re looking to really kick things up a notch you need to give this recipe for the best chicken thighs a try! Chicken thighs are one of my favorite proteins. I make them a few times a week because they’re easy, flavorful and cheap. And these air fryer chicken thighs are my go-to way of making them. They’re always a huge hit because they’re so darn good. What makes these the best chicken thighs ever?First off, the skin. Is there anything better than super crispy chicken skin? It gets so crispy in the air fryer, gives the chicken tons of flavor, and helps seal in the juices, keeping it really moist and juicy. Second is a sprinkling of panko breadcrumbs – just enough to give these chicken thighs even more crunch. It helps give these thighs a subtle fried chicken vibe, but it isn’t heavily breaded at all. For maximum flavor, I season the breadcrumbs with celery salt, Italian seasoning, and paprika for a shake and bake type flavor. It’s seriously so good. How long does it take to cook?The air fryer is a really efficient way to cook chicken thighs. They usually take around 20-25 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F when checked with an instant read meat thermometer. The Best Way to Serve ThemWe love these chicken thighs hot from the fryer, but they’re also great served chilled which makes them awesome for picnics. The panko breading on the top keeps them crispy even after they’ve been refrigerated. Enjoy them plain or drizzle them with a little hot honey for an extra special treat.
Air fryer fried chicken thighs skinless no buttermilk is a copycat air fryer Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe that is way healthier than making them deep fried. They’re the bomb. If you love KFC you’ll love these air fryer fried chicken thighs. Crunchy battered outer layer with tender juicy meat on the inside. Lightly season or serve with barbecue sauce on top when served. One of our favorite easy air fryer recipes we’ve made this week. (affiliate links present) How to make fried chicken in air fryerYou don’t have to use thighs for this. It could be made with air fryer fried chicken breast but unless cut into smaller pieces that would take longer to cook thru. The breading would work just the same even if you used drumsticks. You cannot use a wet batter to create the crunchy texture. Using a whisked egg, flour and seasonings is the best alternative. If you want it really thick you can dredge using the instructions below twice. If you love air fryer recipes too, here are some resources to start with:
Boneless skinless chicken thighs were used. I like these best even though they do cost a bit more. With bone-in the cook time is longer and it is much harder to eat (especially with kids). Just spend the extra few dollars and buy them without. I’m not a huge chicken skin fan but if you are then get them with it on. Just make sure either way that you blot the outsides with paper towels to dry it. If not it won’t get as crunchy. Can you fry chicken in air fryer?I mean kinda’. It isn’t “frying”, that is the whole benefit of this machine. You don’t need to submerge your food in calorie and fat laden oil. You’ll want to use some olive oil spray to brown the outsides nicely but beyond that the hot air does the work for you to get that same great texture. Fried Chicken ThighsYou can certainly follow these instructions but deep fry in hot oil instead. That is just not my style. If your meat is frozen you’ll want to defrost them for these instructions. If yours are still hard and you don’t have time then follow our frozen chicken thighs air fryer directions instead. They turn out great but breading isn’t possible because it won’t stick.
And a bit of salt and pepper in the flour will make the coating full of flavor. You might want a bit as well as sprinkled on top when serving it. KFC Chicken ThighCreate an assembly line with the dry ingredients in one and your egg in another. Flour, egg, flour is the way to go and a spray of olive oil at the end to wet the outside so it crisps. If you are cooking a larger batch don’t put them all in at once. You need them to be in one layer so the air can circulate well.
Turn them halfway through cooking time and spray tops again for best results. Remove when internal temp is 165 degrees internal temperature and outsides are as brown as you’d like. Air fryer fried chicken thighs no buttermilkWhen you are cooking chicken pieces this way you don’t want them to be extremely thick. If they are the outside edges will get a bit overdone while the insides will remain too pink to consume. Air fryer chicken recipes are easy and delicious once you get the hang of them. Don’t let any of them frighten you. If you follow our instructions below exactly you will be pleased for sure. These are always a hit with the kids because they can just pick them up with their fingers and dip into sauces for dinner. Yes that is allowed with this one since that is what we would do if serving them right out of the box at our favorite fast food place. I kid you not though if you served this to your family and they didn’t know where it came from you may be able to fool them! Air fryer fried chicken thighs skinlessWhat do you eat with fried chicken thighs? Traditionally you would find side dishes like mashed potatoes, macaroni salad, and/or different sauces. If you bring these to a potluck have others bring a salad and bread to complete the meal. Those are a given but you can go all out with other selections too. Here are a few side dishes for chicken we love:
A printable recipe card with details and nutritional information is provided below. Of course you could load up the flour mixture with other seasonings like Old Bay if you’re a fan of that. Leave plain and simple if you’d rather and skip the coating all together to make regular air fryer chicken thighs. How do you save fried chicken?That’s the million dollar question right?? It never seems as good as the first day that is true BUT if you use your Cosori or AirWave the next day it is as good as you’re gonna’ get. If you have leftovers make sure they are put into a freezer bag and suck all the air out of it. Store in the fridge and reheat within the next 2 days. You can warm in the microwave to get the middle hot for about 1 minute. Then air fry once it’s preheated for 5 minutes at 400 for about 4 minutes to crisp the skin back up. That is the best two part method I have found and swear by. Try it yourself and see if you are now a believer! If you still aren’t a huge fan of the texture then instead of wasting it, dice it up and throw it on top of a bowl of rice or vegetables. Air Fryer Fried Chicken ThighsAir fryer fried chicken thighs is a Kentucky Fried Chicken copycat recipe that is way healthier than making them deep fried. They're the bomb. Course Entree, Main Course Cuisine American Keyword air fryer, boneless, chicken thighs, fried, ninja foodi Prep Time 15 minutes Cook Time 18 minutes Servings 6 Calories 387kcal
Nutrition Facts Air Fryer Fried Chicken Thighs Amount Per Serving (2 oz) Calories 387 Calories from Fat 234 % Daily Value* Fat 26g40% Saturated Fat 7g44% Trans Fat 1g Polyunsaturated Fat 5g Monounsaturated Fat 11g Cholesterol 175mg58% Sodium 515mg22% Potassium 364mg10% Carbohydrates 10g3% Fiber 1g4% Sugar 1g1% Protein 27g54% Vitamin A 409IU8% Vitamin C 1mg1% Calcium 26mg3% Iron 2mg11% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Can you use breading in an air fryer?Can You Use Breading In An Air Fryer? Yes you can. But you also need to think about the logistics of it before you cook breaded food in the air fryer. For example, before your breading is cooked in the air fryer it may be sticky and you don't want it to stick to your air fryer basket and come off your food.
How long does it take to air fry chicken thighs in the air fryer?Preheat a 3.5-quart air fryer to 400 degrees F. Add the chicken thighs to the air fryer basket, skin-side down and without touching. Cook, flipping skin-side up halfway through, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part (avoiding the bone) reads 165 degrees F, about 18 minutes.
Does panko work in air fryer?Absolutely! You can use panko breadcrumbs on your boneless or bone-in chicken thighs for air frying. The panko will stick best to your chicken piece by coating it in flour, then dredging it in an egg wash and finishing with the panko. Panko breadcrumbs are much crispier and flakier than regular bread crumbs.
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