Air-Fryer "Fried" Chicken Thighs

"Healthy" and "fried" are two words that don't often go hand-in-hand, but with the help of an air-fryer, you can get the benefits of fried chicken thighs (think crispy golden crust) with much less oil (which means less fat and calories.) Here's how to make healthier fried chicken thighs:

Whether you're deep frying or air-frying, chicken thighs can benefit from a marinade. We marinate our chicken thighs in buttermilk with garlic and a dash of hot sauce. This flavors and tenderizes the meat and helps keep it moist when it's cooked. You can marinate the chicken for as little as 4 hours, or overnight. We use boneless, skinless chicken thighs trimmed of excess fat. This helps keep saturated fat in check and allows for quicker cooking.

We dredge our chicken thighs in a whole-wheat breadcrumb coating which will eventually become that signature, crispy golden crust we all crave when it comes to fried food. Whole-wheat breadcrumbs offer an added boost of fiber, but plain white breadcrumbs will work well too. Once the coating is applied, it's time to cook them! It's important to spray both sides of the chicken thighs with cooking spray. This helps achieve an even, crispy crust as the hot air from the air-fryer circulates around the chicken eliminating the need for cups of oil to get crispy results.

Since air-fryer sizes vary, you may need to cook the chicken thighs in batches. It's important to keep the chicken thighs in a single layer vs. cramming them into the air-fryer basket. A crowded basket will steam as opposed to "fry" and the chicken thighs won't cook evenly. To keep the first batch crispy and fresh as the second batch cooks, pre-heat your oven to warm and line a baking sheet with foil. Transfer your first batch to the baking sheet and let it sit in the warm oven while the second batch cooks.

Fried chicken thighs are best served right away. You can enjoy them on their own with a side of mashed potatoes and a green vegetable, or add them to the top of a salad. Or you can slice them up and serve them with your favorite dipping sauce from ketchup to creamy ranch dressing.

Additional reporting by Hilary Meyer