Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan

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One of my most common requests is for easy and delicious dinner recipes the whole family will love. This air fryer chicken parmesan recipe, my friends, is one of those recipes. Juicy chicken breasts are coated in a panko mixture and are air fried to crisp, golden, and melty cheesy perfection. Though this air fryer recipe looks like you worked all day in the kitchen, it’s actually ready in just a few simple and doable steps.

Serve the chicken parmesan with hot buttered noodles and spaghetti sauce, freshly toasted bread, and a light green salad for an Italian-inspired feast you won’t soon forget. If you’d like more delicious chicken dinner recipes, check out my honey garlic chicken, roasted chicken, chicken milanese, and chicken cacciatore.

What You Need to Make This Recipe

Ingredients needed to make air fryer chicken parmesan.

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – bone-in chicken breasts do not work for this recipe, as the chicken will need to be cut in half to make cutlets for easy and quick air frying. Chicken thighs do not work either, as they do not provide the right texture.

Panko Breadcrumbs – a lighter and flakier bread crumb than traditional, panko breadcrumbs provide a simply irresistible crunch to the air fryer chicken breading!

Parmesan Cheese – freshly grated or shredded cheese will provide the best flavor, but pre-shredded cheese also works just fine.

Italian Seasoning – made with basil, oregano, rosemary, marjoram, and thyme, Italian seasoning is a big factor in adding that quintessential Italian flavor to this chicken. For the best results, use dried Italian seasoning that has a good expiration date.

Marinara Sauce – marinara sauce is front and center in this recipe, so use a good quality brand, if possible.

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan

Set of two photos showing chicken breasts sliced in half and pounded flat.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 370°F for 3 minutes. Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise, creating 4 chicken cutlets.

2. Pound each piece of chicken between two sheets of plastic wrap to an even thickness, if needed. Season generously with salt and pepper.

Set of two photos showing eggs whisked and parmesan added to a bowl of bread crumbs and Italian seasoning.

3. Beat the eggs in a shallow dish.

4. Combine the panko bread crumbs, a ½ cup of the Parmesan cheese, and the Italian seasoning in another shallow bowl.

Set of two photos showing chicken dredged in egg and parmesan bread crumbs.

5. Dip each piece of chicken in the egg mixture and fully coat.

6. Then, coat the chicken pieces in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing to adhere. Spray the breaded pieces with cooking spray. Working with 2 pieces of chicken at a time, place the breaded chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry on one side until golden brown, about 7 minutes.

Set of two photos showing chicken breasts flipped in an air fryer basket then topped with marinara and cheese.

7. Flip the chicken and air fry for 2 minutes.

8. With the chicken still in the air fryer, top each piece with 3 tablespoons of marinara sauce, 2 tablespoons of mozzarella cheese, and 1 tablespoon of parmesan cheese. Air fryer for 3 minutes longer, or until the cheese is melted and lightly browned. Repeat steps 3 and 4 with the remaining 2 pieces of chicken.

A platter showing three air fryer chicken parmesan with some noodles in a plate in the background.

Pro-Tips For Making This Recipe

Pound the chicken breasts if necessary. That is, if some of the chicken pieces are thicker than others. This will help the chicken to cook more evenly and quickly.
Season the chicken well with salt and pepper. These seasoning ingredients, though they may seem simple, enhance the flavor of the chicken and breading ingredients, making them essential to recipe success! You can even throw some garlic powder in the mix for an extra bump of flavor.
Air fry the chicken in a single layer. The chicken need hot air to circulate in order for the chicken to cook evenly and for the breading to get nice and crisp. If your air fryer is large enough to accommodate all four cutlets in a single layer at once, cook the chicken all at once. Otherwise, cook the chicken in batches.
Keep prepared chicken warm while the second batch cooks. Keep the freshly air-fried chicken parmesan in an oven preheated to 225°F until serving with the second batch.

A plate with spaghetti noodles with air fryer chicken parmesan on top. A glass of wine and a platter with three air fryer chicken parmesan in the background.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between chicken parmesan and chicken parmigiana?

Chicken parmesan and chicken parmigiana are actually the same dish! Parmigiana is the Italian word for parmesan, so they are just two ways of saying the same thing.

How do I make chicken cutlets?

Though chicken cutlets can often be purchased from major grocery stores, you can also cut the chicken pieces yourself. To do so, cut boneless skinless chicken breasts in half lengthwise, through the thickest part of the breast.

Do you need to preheat the air fryer?

Though technically you do not need to preheat the air fryer, doing so can help the chicken cook more efficiently and evenly. For the best results, preheat the appliance with the air fryer basket inside and follow any other preheating instructions listed in your air fryer manual.

How do I store leftovers?

Store leftover chicken parmesan in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or wrapped up well in a freezer-safe container for 2-3 months. Reheat the chicken in an air fryer preheated to 350 degrees for 3-5 minutes, or until heated through and crisp.

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