Name: Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 cup unseasoned panko bread crumbs; 4 chicken thighs; 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated; 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 1 tbsp salt; 1/2 tsp pepper; 1/2 tsp garlic powder; 1/2 tsp onion powder; 1/4 cup mayo; 3 cloves garlic minced

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If you’re looking for a quick and easy dinner weeknight idea to come together in under 30 minutes, make these juicy and tender parmesan crusted chicken thighs made with just a few ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen pantry. These chicken thighs are SO delicious and juicy that your loved ones will be asking you to make them over and over again!

What’s Healthy About This Recipe

These chicken thighs are air fried using a bit of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). The health benefits of EVOO are incredible! It’s known to lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol, it is rich in polyphenols, which are antioxidants that target inflammation, and it also contains vitamin E as well as vitamin K which plays an important role in heart and bone health.

This recipe also uses an air fryer cooking method which is a healthier alternative to deep frying.

NOTE: I am not a doctor and I am not offering diet or health advice. This section of my blog is for information purposes only and explains how I substitute ingredients and/or methods to make my recipes healthier than other recipes or restaurant-offerings out there. If you’re looking for medical/dietary advice, please speak to a doctor or dietitian.

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Ingredients

Chicken: chicken thighs that are boneless and skinless work best for this recipe. If you prefer white meat, you can substitute the thighs for chicken breasts (butterfly cut) to ensure even cooking.

Breadcrumbs: unseasoned panko bread crumbs are best for this recipe. If you opt for seasoned breadcrumbs such as Italian, do not add garlic and onion powder.

Parmesan cheese: grated parmesan is the cheese of choice. You can also try other types of cheese that are similar to parmesan such as quattracento, asiago, pecorino-romano, or grana padano.

Olive oil: is used in the air fryer to help create a nice crispy crust on the chicken thighs.

Garlic powder and onion powder: I use these to season the breadcrumbs because they provide a nice subtle taste to the chicken and compliment the garlic mayo coating.

Mayonnaise: helps to create a coating for the chicken thighs to be dredged in the breadcrumbs and also makes the thighs moist. I recommend using olive oil mayo for a healthier option.

Garlic: use fresh garlic for making the mayo. It has a much stronger (yet pleasant) garlic taste.

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Step by Step Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 200 degrees C. In a bowl, stir the minced garlic and mayo together. Spread the garlic and mayo mixture over the chicken until coated nicely.

In a shallow dish, combine the panko bread crumbs, grated parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. Place each chicken thigh into the bread crumbs and cover nicely. Press down and flip the thigh to coat the other side. Repeat this step with each chicken thigh.

Add olive oil to air fryer basket and place the chicken thighs in the basket in a single layer. Make sure you do not overcrowd the basket.

Cook for 20 minutes until golden brown and crispy, flipping the thighs at the 10 minute mark. Remove chicken from the air fryer and serve while hot.

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