Air Fryer Ranch Chicken
Air Fryer Ranch Chicken are breaded ranch chicken thighs that are delicious on a sandwich, salad or as an entree. Make this crispy breaded boneless chicken thighs recipe in the air fryer for a satisfying weeknight meal.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- ¾ cup unseasoned panko breadcrumbs
- ¾ cup unseasoned plain breadcrumbs
- ⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- ¾ teaspoon Diamond crystal kosher salt plus more to taste
- ½ cup ranch dressing plus more for dipping if desired
Instructions
Breading the Chicken
- Set up your breading station. In a shallow dish or quarter sheet tray combine breadcrumbs, cheese, thyme and ¾ teaspoon kosher salt.
- In a second shallow dish or quarter sheet tray add ranch dressing.
- Season the chicken thighs with kosher salt. Preheat the air fryer to 390 F.
- Bread the chicken using one hand, take one chicken thigh and dip it in ranch until evenly coated. Allow extra dressing to drip off. Add the chicken thigh into the breadcrumb mixture.
- With the other hand, sprinkle breadcrumb mixture over the chicken. Press down breadcrumb with the dry hand and flip to coat the other side. Once well coated in breadcrumbs, set aside on a plate.
- Continue with the rest of the chicken thighs until all four pieces are well coated with ranch and breadcrumbs. Try to keep the wet hand and dry hand method going to avoid breading your fingers.
Cooking the Chicken
- Arrange the chicken in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket. Cook for 5 minutes, flip and cook for another 4-6 minutes until at least 175 F internally.
- Allow the chicken to rest by removing it to a clean plate. Rest for 3-5 minutes. Serve hot on a sandwich, salad or as a main protein with sides.
Notes
- If you’re using seasoned breadcrumbs, reduce the amount of salt.
- Cook chicken thighs in a single layer for even cooking. If your thighs are too big, cook in batches.
- Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days.
- Reheat chicken thighs at 350 F in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes or until warmed through. Thighs can be reheated in the microwave but will be less crispy.
- Build in time to rest/sit down
- After setting up the breading station.
- After breading the chicken.
- While the chicken and cooking and while the chicken is resting.