Shake n bake chicken thighs in air fryer

Are you ready for some crispy and delicious fried chicken? Why not let your air fryer do all the hard work?! This Air Fryer Shake and Bake Chicken has the perfect crunch and flavor that will have you coming back for more!

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DELICIOUS AIR FRYER SHAKE AND BAKE CHICKEN BREAST

It’s safe to say that we can all agree that dried-out chicken is the WORST. This simple air-fried chicken breast recipe is one that I’ve tried and tested more times than I can count, and I assure you – it’s amazing. 

If you don’t already have an air fryer yet, it’s time my friend…and I highly recommend this one you can easily buy on Amazon and have dropped right on your doorstep! …LIKE A BOSS!

You’ll be adding this to your weekly meal plan rotation because of how big a hit it’s going to be with the family! 

TRY SOME OF MY OTHER FAVORITE CHICKEN RECIPES:

If you eat as much chicken as I do, you know it’s important to vary up the flavors! Here are some other delicious chicken dishes that we always gobble up: Chicken and Dumplings with Tortillas, Oven-Baked Chicken Thighs, Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup 

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

• It’s all about the crunch! (and the moist and tender juicy chicken on the inside!)
• It’s an easy way to get “fried” chicken with WAY less mess to have to clean up after. 
• You can pair this shake and bake air fryer chicken breast with just about any side dish that you want. (I’m thinking tater tots and french fries are screaming my name!)

INGREDIENTS USED

• Dry bread crumbs
• Cornstarch
• Garlic salt
• Black Pepper
• Onion powder
• Dried parsley
• Thyme
• Paprika
• Olive oil
• Chicken breasts

*see recipe card for detailed measurements

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KITCHEN SUPPLIES YOU’LL NEED

• Air fryer
• Resealable freezer bag
• Measuring spoons

HOW TO MAKE SHAKE AND BAKE CHICKEN IN AIR FRYER

Step 1: Pour all the dry ingredients (bread crumbs, cornstarch, salt & pepper, paprika, onion powder, parsley, and thyme) into a large freezer bag. Mix together well.

Step 2: Add in one tablespoon of olive oil and mix until a sandy texture is created.

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Step 3: Coat each piece of chicken with the remaining olive oil in a bowl or on a plate. 

Step 4: Put the chicken breasts into the bag, one at a time. Mix the mixture around and coat the chicken. (You can make a super thick coating by coating the chicken again in oil and adding back into the bag for a second coat!)

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Step 5: Preheat the air fryer for 3 minutes to 350 degrees. 

Step 6: Put the chicken breasts into the air fryer for 25 minutes of cook time. Cook until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees. 

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Step 7: Take the chicken out of the air fryer and let it cool on a cooling rack. (This will prevent the bottom coating of the chicken from getting soggy as it cools.) 

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HELPFUL TIPS & TRICKS

• Keep in mind that thinner pieces of chicken may not need as much baking time. If it’s thin, decrease the cooking time down to 17 minutes and then check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. 
• Resist the urge to flip the breadcrumb chicken in the air fryer! The air circulation of the hot air in the air fryer will cook and crisp it evenly without the need to flip. 
• This recipe can be made in the oven as well – but it will lack that crispiness that the air fryer brings! 
• Adding in thyme is totally up to you. It has a “love it or leave it” mentality for many so you can leave it out without worries if you’re not a huge fan. 
• Use this seasoning mix on chicken legs, chicken drumsticks, and any other air fryer chicken recipe that you want to create a crispy texture on.
• Make sure to put the chicken pieces in a single layer so that all parts of the chicken crisp up!
• If you’re worried about the shake n bake chicken sticking to the air fryer basket, all you need to do is spray air fryer basket with some nonstick cooking spray.

SUBSTITUTIONS AND VARIATIONS

• Use panko – If you don’t have bread crumbs or are looking for a different option, using panko breadcrumbs is a great choice to still get that crispiness. 
• Substitute for air fryer chicken thighs – Shake and bake chicken thighs are totally a thing! You can honestly use any type of chicken that you want with this recipe – it’s just that simple to do.  
• Can I make this chicken shake and bake in the air fryer spicy? Yes, just add some chili powder with the rest of the ingredients. 
• Will vegetable oil work in place of olive oil? Yes, swapping out the olive oil for vegetable oil is totally fine. You could even use coconut oil as well.  
• Omit the garlic salt – You could use ¾ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon garlic powder instead of adding garlic salt. This is a great option that tastes great.
• Add parmesan cheese – Who knew simple ingredients would add so much flavor? The first time we added a bit of parmesan cheese, we gobbled up the first batch!
• Can I use pork rinds to coat the boneless skinless chicken breast? Yes, you can. In fact, this is a great way to make this crispy chicken breast low carb as well.

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STORAGE NOTES

Air fryer chicken is perfect for leftovers! Make sure that you store the leftover chicken in an airtight container and keep it nice and cool in the fridge. It should stay fresh for up to 4 days. 

How Long Does Frozen chicken thighs take in air fryer?

How long do you cook thighs in an air fryer?

Can you put shake and bake in the air fryer?

Can you use shake and bake on chicken legs in the air fryer?