Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Burgers

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons Italian herbs ((can be mixed herbs or just basil, oregano, thyme))
• 4 chicken thighs (opened out so they are mostly flat)
• salt and pepper (for grinding over the raw chicken)
• 4 brioche buns (I prefer the good quality ones with minimal ingredients!)
• 8 tablespoons mayonnaise (or to taste)
• 1 avocado (sliced (you need about 1/4 small avocado per person))
• 4 small handfuls mixed salad
• 4 sundried tomatoes (Sometimes I use sundried tomato strips or sundried tomato halves - it doesn't matter.)

Instructions

1. 1

   --- Crumbing the chicken ---

2. 2

   Prepare the coating.: Put the flour, egg and panko crumbs in 3 separate bowls.

3. 3

   Add seasonings to panko.: Add all the spices and herbs to the panko crumbs and mix well.

4. 4

   Season the chicken.: Fold out each chicken thigh so it's mostly flat. Grind over plenty of salt and pepper.

5. 5

   Press each chicken thigh first in the flour, then in the egg, then in the crumbs. Use one hand to dip in the flour and egg, and the other hand to press into the crumbs.

6. 6

   --- Air frying the chicken ---

7. 7

   Preheat and prepare air fryer.: Preheat the air fryer to 390F/200C for 3 minutes. Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket lightly with oil. Put the chicken in the air fryer basket (it's OK if it overlaps slightly) and spray the chicken lightly with oil.

8. 8

   Air fry.: Air fry for 8 minutes. Turn the chicken over and spray lightly with oil again. Air fry for another 7 minutes. At this point the chicken might be golden and crispy, or it might need another 5 minutes (it depends on your particular air fryer). In my air fryer I usually cook for another 5 minutes (so 20 minutes in total).

9. 9

   --- Pan frying the chicken (alternative to air frying) ---

10. 10

    Prepare pan.: Heat up about 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large frying pan. When the oil is quite hot, add the chicken.

11. 11

    Cook chicken.: Let cook for about 5 minutes without moving the chicken. Turn chicken over and turn down the heat to medium. Cook for about another 10 minutes or until golden and crispy on both sides.

12. 12

    --- Assembling the burger ---

13. 13

    Toast burger buns.: Lightly toast the burger buns.

14. 14

    Spread with mayonnaise.: Spread 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise on each burger half (top and bottom).

15. 15

    Top with chicken.: Put one crispy chicken thigh on top of each burger bottom.

16. 16

    Add toppings and serve.: Top each chicken thigh with a handful of green salad and a sundried tomato. Put the tops on the buns and serve immediately.