Air Fryer Panko Chicken Thighs are crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. This simple main dish is ready in under 30 minutes and can be served with almost any side dish to make it a complete meal.
We're a busy family, and I am always on the hunt for simple main dish entrees that I can pair with my favorite side dishes. Air fryer panko chicken thighs are always a hit because they taste great, are filling and have the flavor and crunch that satisfies your senses after a busy day.
I also love that chicken thighs are so economical. Pound for pound, they are cheaper than other cuts of chicken, but the flavor and juiciness make them one of my favorites. I stock up on them when they are on sale and keep them in the freezer so I can make crispy air fryer panko chicken thighs whenever we crave them.
Every family needs a delicious meal that's simple to prepare, easy on the wallet and tastes great. This great recipe checks all the boxes. And if you like air fryer recipes, next time, you may also want to check out my Air Fryer Chicken Wings, Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets or my Air Fryer Chicken Legs. Both are delicious air fryer chicken recipes that the whole family will love and perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- Chicken – Bone-in chicken thighs are my preference, but you could use boneless thighs or chicken breast also.
- Eggs – Bring your eggs to room temperature, and they will beat smoother.
- Seasoning – Use salt, ground black pepper and paprika.
- Bread Crumbs – Panko breadcrumbs have a delicious crunch and make for crispy breading. You can use regular breadcrumbs if preferred, but the chicken will not be as crispy.
- Ranch Seasoning – Look for powdered ranch seasoning in the salad dressing aisle.
See recipe card for exact quantities and instructions.
Instructions
- Beat two eggs with salt and pepper and coat each chicken thigh in a shallow bowl.
2. Dredge the chicken pieces in the panko mixture of bread crumbs, ranch seasoning and paprika.
3. Lightly oil the air fryer basket or rack or spray with cooking spray. Arrange the chicken in a single layer, leaving space between each thigh.
4. Cook air fryer panko chicken for 23-30 minutes at 400 degrees F.
Hint: Cooking times can vary based on the size of your chicken and the make and model of your air fryer. Cook the chicken thighs until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F when tested with a meat thermometer.
Substitutions/ Variations
- Smoky Air Fryer Chicken Thighs - For a smoky flavor, use smoked paprika instead of regular paprika. You can also add a bit of liquid smoke to the egg mixture.
- Spicy – Season the breadcrumb mixture with cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes and some garlic powder or onion powder.
- Gluten Free - Substitute the panko with a gluten free panko to make a gluten free version.
- Swap The Chicken – Use boneless skinless chicken thighs, chicken breast or chicken tenders instead of bone-in chicken thighs. Adjust the air frying cooking times as needed.
If you prefer baking bone-in chicken thighs, try my Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs.
Serving Suggestions
Chicken is one of my favorite meals because it goes with almost anything. I can always go to my fridge or freezer and grab something that pairs perfectly with juicy chicken. Here are a few of our favorite sides to serve with this easy air fryer chicken recipe:
- Air Fryer Bang Bang Brussels Sprouts
- 5-ingredient Stove Top Mac and Cheese
- Oven Roasted Baby Potatoes
- Braised Collard Greens with Turkey Bacon
- Cranberry Pecan Salad with Blue Cheese
- Air Fryer Biscuits from Grumpy's Honey Bunch
Equipment
Compared to an oven, air fryers cook chicken more quickly and efficiently, meaning you can get dinner on the table fast. Compared to deep frying, these air-fried chicken thighs get a crispy coating without using oil, so it's a healthy option when you crave fried chicken.
There are a variety of air fryer models available, so you will need to determine which type is best for your family. Basket-style air fryers are popular, but the cooking space is limited compared to toaster oven style air fryers with cooking racks. If your air fryer is a smaller one, you can always cook the chicken in batches and keep warm in a 250 degree oven while the second batch is cooking.
Storage/ Leftovers
Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container or freezer bag in the fridge for up to 3 or 4 days. I love making a double batch and slicing the leftovers to use in salads and sandwiches all week.
While you can freeze air fryer panko chicken for up to 3 months, the coating will not be very crispy when thawed and reheated.
Top tip
Set up the egg wash and panko bread crumbs dredging stations in two bowls. As you dip and dredge, use one hand for wet and one for dry. This will prevent the bread crumb mixture from clumping onto your hands.
FAQ's
Chicken should always be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F at the thickest part of the chicken when checked with a meat thermometer. You can open the air fryer during the cooking process to check the temperature. Chicken thighs can handle being cooked to a slightly higher temperature but especially with chicken breasts, you want to avoid overcooking.
Bread crumbs and other dry coatings work well in the air fryer. After dipping the chicken and egg and dredging in bread crumbs, you can gently press the bread crumbs into the chicken to make sure they stick well.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
- Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Chicken Legs
- Healthy Air Fried Chicken and Veggies via Gimme Delicious
If you like this air fried chicken thighs recipe please give it a 5-star rating below.
RECIPE
Crispy Air Fryer Panko Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 6 large bone-in chicken thighs (about 2 lbs)
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 teaspoon salt, plus to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, plus to taste
- 1 ½ cups panko bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
- 1 taspoon paprika
Instructions
- Trim any extra fat from the chicken thighs. Beat together the eggs with the salt and pepper in one shallow bowl. Mix together the bread crumbs, ranch seasoning and parika in another shallow bowl.
- Dip each piece of chicken in the egg wash then the panko bread crumb mixture until all are well coated. Discard any extra bread crumbs or egg mixture.
- Spray your air fryer basket or rack with cooking spray and arrange chicken in a single layer. Place in the air fryer at 400 degrees and cook for 25 - 30 minutes depending on how big the chicken pieces are. Chicken will be done when juices run clear and have an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Season with extra salt and pepper if necessary.
Nutrition
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Michelle
I love how quick and juicy these chicken thighs are in the air fryer
Nancy
Perfectly crispy and easy to make chicken. Great for weeknights
cam
these breaded chicken thighs were SO juicy and crispy at the same time!! I was afraid they would be soggy like I've had in the past but they turned out perfect!
Holley
This recipe is the best! The chicken comes out perfectly crisp and juicy everytime!
Aimee Mars
Everyone in my family enjoyed this! Was a hit and will be making again!
Kristina
They turned out perfectly crisp and very flavorful. A little trick for extra crunch and golden brown coloring, spray the breaded chicken with cooking spray!
Megan
these are every bit as delicious as I thought they would be. We loved them.
Marie-Pierre Breton
I love Air fryer recipes! This chicken looks sooo crunchy and delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Kristina
The breading was quite flavorful and the air fryer turned them perfectly crisp yet juicy. Will definitely make again.
Min
Panko breading it my favorite and this recipe lives up to its hype! Super crispy and still juicy on the inside. YUM!
Cathleen
I can't believe I have never thought of making this! It is perfect, thank you so much for sharing this recipe 🙂
Katie Crenshaw
Crunchy on the outside, and juicy on the inside. These chicken thighs turned out fantastic. Cooking them in the Air Fryer we so easy.
Claire
We received an air fryer for Christmas, and while I'm loving it thus far, I'm definitely still figuring out how to use it. Chicken has been on my list of things to try, so I can't wait to make your crispy chicken thigh recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Dennis
this chicken was so crispy and delicious! Thanks for sharing your recipe
Ramona
I’ve never made a recipe like this but I’m convinced I should try this as it looks delicious, thank you for sharing this!
Veronica
Great recipe! The panko seasoning was so simple and tasty. I like the idea of mixing the salt and pepper in with the egg before dredging. I've never done that, and it helped me to avoid over salting the chicken, which I often do. I like one commenter's tip about spraying the panko crumbs with oil before baking. I'm going to try that next time and see what happens.
lisa
Veronica
Yes you can lightly spray with oil for the crust to get crispier. Glad you enjoyed and thanks for the review!
Best,
Lisa
Tom Jones
Some recipes say to cook skin side down for +/- 1/2 of the chooking time and then flip them. I noticed this recipe doesn't mention that.
Could you add this little bit of info so that it's 100% clear for this recipe.
lisa
Tom,
This chicken does not have to be flipped in my air fryer and is very crispy.
Good luck and happy coooking!
Lisa