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These Air Fryer Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs have crispy skin, juicy meat, and plenty of savory garlic butter flavor. Parmesan adds another layer of flavor without turning the chicken into a breaded or heavily crusted recipe.
If you want a simply seasoned version, start with my Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. For this garlic butter version, I like adding Garlic Butter Rice and Air Fryer Broccoli to make it a meal.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Garlic butter in every bite: The chicken cooks in melted garlic butter and gets coated in it before the skin finishes crisping.
- Crispy skin and juicy meat: Bone-in, skin-on thighs work especially well in the air fryer because the skin can brown while the meat stays juicy.
- Simple but flavorful: Parmesan, garlic butter, salt, and pepper give the chicken plenty of flavor without a long ingredient list.
Ingredients Needed
Grab the exact amounts from the recipe card below.
- Chicken thighs: Use raw, bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. Pat them dry before seasoning to help the skin crisp.
- Sea salt and black pepper: Keep the added salt light since both Parmesan and the garlic butter add flavor.
- Garlic butter: I use my Garlic Parmesan Herb Butter. It melts around the chicken while it cooks and becomes the main source of flavor.
- Parmesan cheese: Grated Parmesan adds a light savory coating. This recipe does not have a thick Parmesan crust or breading.
How to Make Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer
Season the chicken
Pat the thighs dry, then toss them with the salt, pepper, and Parmesan. You want a light, even coating rather than a heavy layer of cheese.
Let the garlic butter melt around the thighs
Arrange the chicken skin-side down and add the garlic butter. As the thighs begin cooking, the butter melts around the chicken and picks up the Parmesan and seasonings.
Coat, flip, and crisp
Turn the thighs through the melted garlic butter so both sides get coated, then finish them skin-side up. The skin should look browned and crisp when the chicken is done.
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Recipe Tips
- Start with dry skin: Blotting away surface moisture helps the chicken brown instead of steam.
- Start skin-side down on purpose: This gives the garlic butter a chance to melt around the thighs before you flip them for crisping.
- Use the melted butter: When you flip the chicken, turn it through the garlic butter instead of leaving all that flavor underneath it.
- Account for different thigh sizes: Bone-in chicken thighs can vary quite a bit in size, so use the doneness guidance in the recipe card rather than relying on appearance alone.
Can I Use Boneless Chicken Thighs?
Yes. Boneless, skinless thighs cook faster, so I wouldn’t use the bone-in cooking time from this recipe.
My Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs has the tested method for that cut. Use that cooking guidance and add the garlic butter and Parmesan flavors from this recipe.
Try Another Chicken Thigh Flavor
If you want to change things up, these recipes give you a different flavor while keeping chicken thighs on the menu.
- Lemon garlic: Try my Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs for a brighter version with fresh lemon, garlic, and butter.
- Cajun: Make my Air Fryer Cajun Chicken Thighs when you want a spicier dry-seasoned version.
- BBQ: My Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs gives you a saucy BBQ option instead.
What to Serve With Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs
The garlic butter gives the chicken plenty of flavor, so you don’t need complicated sides.
- Garlic butter dinner: Add Garlic Butter Rice and your favorite green vegetable. The rice gives you something to enjoy with the extra buttery juices from the chicken.
- Air fryer meal: Make Air Fryer Broccoli before or after the chicken. If you have a dual-zone air fryer or air fryer oven, you can make both at the same time.
- Comfort-food plate: Serve the chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Green Beans for an easy, classic dinner.
- Chicken and mac: Add Macaroni and Cheese with roasted green beans when you want something a little more comforting.
Storage and Reheating
- Store: Refrigerate leftover chicken thighs in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days.
- Reheat: I prefer reheating them in the air fryer so the skin has a chance to crisp again.
- Keep the garlic butter: Store any flavorful butter or juices with the chicken so you can spoon them back over the meat when reheating.
More Air Fryer Chicken Thigh Recipes
The garlic butter is what makes this version different. If you want another flavor or cut, try:
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs for simply seasoned bone-in, skin-on thighs.
- Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs for a saucy BBQ finish.
- Air Fryer Cajun Chicken Thighs for a spicy dry-seasoned version.
- Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs when you’re starting with boneless, skinless meat.
Air Fryer Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs
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Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb Chicken Thighs, bone-in and skin-on
- ¼ tsp Natural Ancient Sea Salt
- ½ tsp Black Pepper
- 4 tbsp Garlic Butter, click for the recipe
- 1 tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F, if your model requires preheating.
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels.
- Add the chicken thighs, sea salt, black pepper, and Parmesan to a bowl. Toss to coat the chicken evenly.
- Arrange the chicken thighs skin-side down in the air fryer. Add the garlic butter over the chicken.
- Air fry at 400°F for 13 minutes.
- Use tongs to turn and coat the chicken thighs in the melted garlic butter. Arrange the thighs skin-side up.
- Air fry for another 11 to 12 minutes, or until the skin is crisp and the thickest part of the chicken reaches at least 165°F. Check the temperature without touching the bone.
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Recipe Notes
- Chicken thigh size: Cooking time can vary depending on the size of the thighs and your air fryer. Use an instant-read thermometer to confirm doneness.
- Crispier skin: Pat the thighs dry before seasoning and finish them skin-side up.
- Garlic butter: I use my Garlic Parmesan Herb Butter. If you use another prepared garlic butter, adjust the added salt as needed.
- Parmesan: This adds a light savory coating and flavor. It does not create a thick Parmesan crust or breading.
- Boneless thighs: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs cook faster. Use the cooking time in my Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs recipe as your guide rather than following the timing here.
- Batch size: Leave space between the thighs so hot air can circulate. Cook in batches if needed.
Nutrition Details
The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used.
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