If you’re looking for a chicken dinner idea that is flavorful and easy to make, try this air fryer chicken parmesan.
All you need is chicken breast, flour, egg and breadcrumbs for the breading, marinara sauce, and some cheese to enjoy this classic Italian-American dish.
We really like it because it comes together fast (in under 20 minutes) and you can customize it to suit your taste (more sauce, cheese, etc.). We usually eat it on a bed of pasta, and a green salad, garlic bread, and other sides can round out your plate.
Ingredients
- Chicken breast – We use a large chicken breast, cut in half horizontally.
- Flour – Regular all-purpose flour works well.
- Egg – For breading the chicken.
- Italian breadcrumbs – Alternatively, you can use regular unseasoned breadcrumbs and season them yourself.
- Oil spray – Helps the chicken get crispy. Use a neutral-tasting oil.
- Marinara sauce – Use a good marinara sauce of your choice.
- Mozzarella cheese – We like to use sliced mozzarella cheese since it’s the easiest. You can also use fresh mozzarella cut into slices.
- Fresh parsley – Optional garnish. You can also use fresh basil if you prefer.
Recipe Tips
- You can use regular breadcrumbs and add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning to season it. You can also use Panko breadcrumbs (lightly crushed), but we don’t like them as much for this recipe.
- You can easily double the recipe if you need more chicken parmesan. One large egg is usually enough for two chicken breasts (four chicken cutlets). If you have a large air fryer, you may be able to cook four pieces of chicken at once (they shouldn’t overlap). Otherwise, cook in batches.
- You can add more sauce or cheese depending on your preference and the size of the chicken cutlets.
- Be careful when you remove the breaded chicken from the air fryer since you don’t want to ruin the breading.
- The chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius). Use a meat thermometer if you’re unsure whether it’s fully cooked.
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Step-by-Step Instructions
First, cut the parchment paper so it fits your air fryer basket. You can also use pre-cut air fryer liners if you have them. Then remove it again (you’ll need it later).
Pat the chicken dry if needed, then cut it in half horizontally.
Prepare your breading stations. Then dip the chicken cutlets in flour, whisked egg, and finally the breadcrumbs.
Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) and spray all sides of the breaded chicken with oil spray.
Place the chicken into the air fryer basket with space between them and air fry for about 8-10 minutes or until the breading is browned and crispy and the internal temperature is almost at 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).
Flip halfway through (at the 4-5 minute mark).
Carefully remove the chicken, add the parchment paper, and then add the chicken back in.
Now add the marinara sauce and the cheese.
Air fry for another 3-5 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked and the cheese is melted and bubbling. The exact cooking time can vary.
Remove the chicken parmesan from the air fryer, let it sit for a minute, and then serve it with sides of your choice. Enjoy!
Storage Tips
This chicken parmesan is best hot and fresh out of the air fryer. If you have leftovers, store them in a sealed container in the fridge once cooled.
It will last up to 3-4 days, but the sooner you eat it the better, since the breading can get soggy from the moisture of the sauce and chicken.
We usually reheat leftovers in the air fryer and it works well. I’d cut it into 2-3 smaller pieces to help the middle get hot quicker. You might also want to add more sauce if you find it dried out in the fridge.
Related Recipes
Here are some more air fryer chicken recipes that you can make:
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Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Ingredients
- 1 large chicken breast, about 10 ounces (280 grams)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- oil spray
- 4 tablespoons marinara sauce
- 2 slices mozzarella cheese
- chopped parsley, optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Cut the parchment paper to fit inside the air fryer basket (it doesn’t need high sides), then remove it.
- Pat the chicken dry if needed, then slice the chicken breast in half horizontally so you have two thin cutlets.1 large chicken breast
- Prepare the breading station: add flour to one plate or shallow bowl, crack and whisk an egg into another bowl, and add breadcrumbs to the final bowl.2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1 egg, 1/4 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- One at a time, dip the chicken cutlets in flour, then the egg, and finally the breadcrumbs. They should be coated all around. Set aside on a plate.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
- Spray all sides of the breaded chicken cutlets with oil spray. Then place the chicken pieces into the air fryer basket with space between them.oil spray
- Air fry at 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) for 8-10 minutes, flipping at around 4-5 minutes, until the breading is browned and crispy and the internal temperature is close to 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).
- Carefully remove the chicken from the air fryer, place the parchment paper into the basket, and add the chicken back in.
- Place 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce on top of each chicken cutlet, then add one slice of cheese on top.4 tablespoons marinara sauce, 2 slices mozzarella cheese
- Air fry for another 3-5 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) and the cheese is melted and bubbling. The exact cooking time can vary depending on your air fryer and the thickness of the chicken cutlets.
- When done, remove the chicken parmesan from the air fryer. Let it sit for a minute, then garnish with chopped parsley if desired, and enjoy with pasta and salad or other sides of your choice.chopped parsley
Notes
- You can easily double the recipe if you need more chicken parmesan. One large egg is usually enough for two chicken breasts (four chicken cutlets). If you have a large air fryer, you may be able to cook four pieces of chicken at once (they shouldn’t overlap). Otherwise, cook in batches.
- We use store-bought marinara sauce for this recipe, so be sure to use one that you like.
- You can use regular breadcrumbs and add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning to season it.
- You can add more sauce or cheese depending on your preference and the size of the chicken cutlets.
- The chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius). Use a meat thermometer if you’re unsure whether it’s fully cooked.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
