Parmesan Chicken Thighs

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These delicious parmesan chicken thighs are loaded with garlic parmesan flavor, the golden crunch of panko breading, and of course, tender juicy chicken!

Overhead shot of a garlic parmesan chicken thigh served on a white plate. The thigh is garnished with freshly chopped herbs.

I love the crunch you get when you fry anything, but these days, Ken and I are trying to live a healthier lifestyle. I love making these baked chicken parmesan thighs because they're loaded with flavor and a great crunch.

Why You Will Love this Recipe

It's crispy and delicious.
The breading is full of bold flavor.
It's an easy recipe that's ready in no time.

Top Tip:

Gently tap the thighs when dredging to remove excess breading. This makes the crispiest exterior possible.

Ingredients

You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this crispy baked parmesan chicken thigh recipe. The highlights are listed below, but you can find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Chicken thighs
Minced garlic
Panko breadcrumbs
Freshly grated parmesan cheese
Italian seasoning

Overhead shot of individual garlic parmesan chicken ingredients in bowls on table

Instructions

This parmesan crusted chicken thigh recipe only takes a few simple steps to make. The overview is below, but you'll find the complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of the post.

1: Mix egg and garlic in a shallow bowl and the remaining breading ingredients in another bowl to make a dredge station.

Overhead shot of bowlful of egg and garlic and another bowl full of breadcrumb mixture

2: Dip the chicken thighs into the egg mixture, then in the breadcrumb mixture to coat.

Hand dipping a chicken thigh in a bowl of egg mixture

Hand coating chicken thigh in panko mixture

3: Place the thighs on a prepared baking sheet and cook until golden brown and the internal temperature is 160 degrees.

Overhead shot of uncooked garlic parmesan chicken thighs on baking sheet

Overhead shot of baked paremsan chicken thighs on baking sheet

Substitutions and Variations

Panko Crumbs - Use regular or seasoned bread crumbs instead.
Minced Garlic - Use garlic powder instead.
Eggs - Use heavy cream, melted butter, melted garlic butter
Chicken Thighs - Use whole, boneless, skinless, chicken breasts or slice them into strips or nuggets, or use pork chops instead, just adjust your cook time accordingly.
Italian Seasoning - Use dried oregano leaves, basil leaves, or thyme leaves will work in a pinch
Spicy: Add a teaspoon of chili pepper flakes, jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the crumb mixture to imbue heat into the dish. I will also occasionally add a teaspoon of our homemade hot pepper sauce, or use your favorite hot sauce, to the egg mixture.

Closeup shot of garlic parmesan chicken thigh on a spatula

Storage

Refrigerator: Store in an air-tight container for up to 3 days.

Freezer: Store in an air-tight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

Reheat: Bake at 400 degrees until heated through and the breading is crispy again.

Can I make this recipe ahead? I don't advise it. The breading is best when fresh from the oven.

What to Serve with Chicken Thighs

Tips

If you choose to use chicken breast or pork or cut your chicken into smaller pieces, adjust your cooking time accordingly.
Be sure to gently tap the chicken to remove the excess breading for the crispiest coating.

FAQ

Why can't chicken be medium rare?

Chicken can be contaminated with salmonella, a nasty food poisoning bug that can't be killed as easily as others of its type. Fully cooking the chicken is the only way to kill it.

Can chicken thighs be pink when done?

As long as the internal temperature is 160 degrees, the chicken is cooked. Thighs can still retain a bit of pink color.

Are chicken thighs healthy?

While slightly higher in fat than breasts, chicken thighs are extremely healthy. They're full of protein, iron, and B vitamins.

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