Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Air fryer chicken parmesan recipe with crispy coating and melted cheese. An easy homemade dinner made in the air fryer.
Start with two chicken breasts and slice each lengthwise into two thinner pieces. Those four cutlets get an egg coating followed by seasoned crumbs and Parmesan. The marinara and mozzarella come later, after the breading has had time to brown in the air fryer.
Basket space matters more than fitting all four pieces into one round. Leave gaps between the cutlets and work in batches if necessary; overlapping them prevents the coating from crisping evenly. The listed cooking time is for one batch, so a smaller air fryer will take longer to finish the meal.
A golden crust and melted cheese do not tell you whether the chicken is cooked through. Check the thickest part of every piece for 165°F before serving, adding time if needed. Then give the cutlets their two-minute rest and finish with the chopped parsley.
Questions You May Have About This Recipe
Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
Boneless skinless thighs can be used, but their thickness changes the cooking time. The timings below are for thin breast cutlets; check every thigh reaches 165°F rather than following the clock alone.
Does this get crispy in the air fryer?
The air fryer browns the crumb coating without deep-frying. This recipe still uses olive oil spray; keep the chicken in a single layer so air can circulate.
Can I make this ahead of time?
You can bread the chicken earlier, keep it covered in the refrigerator, and cook just before serving.
What type of sauce works best?
A simple marinara with balanced acidity works well.
Can I reheat leftovers?
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), use within 3–4 days, and reheat in the air fryer to 165°F.
What You Need to Make Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup Italian style breadcrumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 large eggs
1 cup marinara sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil spray
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F.
Slice chicken breasts in half lengthwise to create thinner pieces.
In a bowl, mix breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
In another bowl, beat the eggs.
Dip each piece of chicken into the egg, then coat fully in the breadcrumb mixture.
Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray.
Place chicken in a single layer with space between the pieces; cook in batches if needed.
Cook for 8 minutes, then flip and cook for another 5 minutes until golden.
Top each piece with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese.
Cook for about 3 minutes, until the cheese melts and the thickest part of every chicken piece reaches 165°F on a food thermometer. Add cooking time if needed.
Let the chicken rest for 2 minutes, then garnish with chopped parsley and serve warm. Cooking times are approximate for one batch; allow longer for extra batches.
Tips
Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket.
Use thin chicken pieces for even cooking.
Let the chicken rest for 2 minutes before serving.
Reheat leftovers in the air fryer for best texture.
Reader Reviews
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Crispy without frying and full of flavor. This is a keeper.” Diane R
⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Easy enough for a weeknight and still felt like a treat.” Mark S
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “My husband asked for this again the next night.” Linda J
⭐⭐⭐⭐ “The air fryer made cleanup so easy.” Carol W
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Perfect balance of crispy chicken and melted cheese.” Susan M
Printable Recipe
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Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Air fryer chicken parmesan with crispy breaded chicken, marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella. A simple and comforting dinner.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup Italian style breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil spray
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F.
- Slice chicken breasts in half lengthwise to create thinner pieces.
- In a bowl, mix breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- In another bowl, beat the eggs.
- Dip each piece of chicken into the egg, then coat fully in the breadcrumb mixture.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray.
- Place chicken in a single layer with space between the pieces; cook in batches if needed.
- Cook for 8 minutes, then flip and cook for another 5 minutes until golden.
- Top each piece with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese.
- Cook for about 3 minutes, until the cheese melts and the thickest part of every chicken piece reaches 165°F on a food thermometer. Add cooking time if needed.
- Let the chicken rest for 2 minutes, then garnish with chopped parsley and serve warm. Cooking times are approximate for one batch; allow longer for extra batches.
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