This air fryer chicken parmesan brings the classic Italian favorite to your table in just 22 minutes. With a perfect balance of protein and carbs, each golden-brown cutlet delivers restaurant-quality results while keeping the fat content mindful at just 12g per serving.
The crispy coating and melted cheese create an irresistible combination that’s both nutritious and satisfying. Plus, with only 420 calories per serving, it’s a smart choice for family dinners or meal prep.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
- Chicken Breasts: 2 pieces, sliced lengthwise into 4 cutlets for even cooking
- Flour Mixture: 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Egg Wash: 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- Coating: 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs mixed with 1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- Toppings: 1/2 cup marinara sauce, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, 1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Pound chicken cutlets to even thickness for consistent cooking
- Set Up Stations: Arrange three shallow dishes – seasoned flour, beaten eggs, and breadcrumb-parmesan mixture
- Coating Process: Dredge each cutlet in flour, then egg wash, finally coat with breadcrumb mixture
- Initial Air Frying: Place in air fryer basket at 380°F for 8 minutes
- Final Touch: Flip chicken, add marinara and mozzarella, air fry 3-4 minutes until cheese melts
- Garnish: Sprinkle fresh parsley before serving when internal temperature reaches 165°F
Cooking Techniques
The three-step breading process (flour, egg, breadcrumbs) creates an amazing crispy coating! For the best results, use one hand for dry ingredients and the other for wet ingredients – this keeps your fingers from getting too messy. When pounding the chicken, place it between two pieces of plastic wrap and gently flatten to about 1/4 inch thickness. This helps it cook fast and evenly in the air fryer.
Variations & Substitutions
Want to switch things up? Try these simple swaps:
- Use chicken tenders instead of breast cutlets – just reduce cooking time by 2 minutes
- Swap regular breadcrumbs with panko for extra crunch
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to your marinara for some heat
- Replace mozzarella with provolone cheese for a stronger flavor
- Make it gluten-free using GF flour and breadcrumbs
Serving Suggestions
This chicken parm pairs perfectly with:
- A side of pasta tossed in extra marinara sauce
- A fresh green salad with Italian dressing
- Roasted garlic bread to soak up the sauce
- Sautéed Italian vegetables like zucchini and bell peppers
Storage & Reheating
Keep leftover chicken parmesan in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, pop it back in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes – this brings back the crispy coating! The microwave works too, but the breading won’t be as crunchy. For best results, add a fresh sprinkle of cheese when reheating.
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts sliced lengthwise into 4 cutlets
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning blend
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley finely chopped
Instructions
- Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness if need be. Set aside.
- Place the flour, salt, Italian seasoning blend, garlic powder, and ground black pepper in a shallow dish. Stir to combine.
- Place the eggs in a second shallow dish. Lightly beat them.
- Place the Italian seasoned breadcrumbs and shredded parmesan cheese into a third shallow dish. Stir to combine.
- First, dredge the chicken breast cutlets one at a time in the flour mixture.
- Then, dip in the egg mixture, shaking off any excess.
- Finally, place in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing the crumbs to the sides of the chicken.
- Place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook in batches if need be.
- Air fry at 380°F/190°C for 8 minutes.
- Flip the chicken over and then top with marinara sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese. Air fry an additional 3-4 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C.
- Top with parsley before serving.
