This Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan is a classic comfort food made healthier in the air fryer. Breaded chicken is air fried until golden and crispy, then topped with your favorite tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese.
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Chicken Parmesan is one of those classic comfort foods that sounds good pretty much all of the time.
Now, I have classic Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Parmesan Foil Packets, and Healthier Skillet Chicken Parmesan, so of course I needed to bust out one of my favorite kitchen appliances with this Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Recipe.
This recipe couldn’t be easier. It’s made with simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen and you need just 15 minutes to prep. Just slice and bread the chicken, pop it in the air fryer, and dinner is served.
Serve your Chicken Parm over a pile of Buttered Noodles or on its own with a couple of simple side dishes. This is a meal the whole family will love!
Ingredients Needed:
- Chicken Breast: you’ll need 1 large boneless and skinless chicken breast or two small ones. I like to take one chicken breast and butterfly it because it cooks more quickly and evenly.
- Eggs: whisked eggs coat the outside of the chicken to help the breading and seasonings stick.
- Breadcrumbs: I use Panko breadcrumbs for the crispiest texture, but regular bread crumbs will work too.
- Parmesan Cheese: mixed with the breadcrumbs to add salty, cheesy flavor.
- Seasonings: a simple blend of Italian seasoning, salt, paprika, and black pepper gives your Air Fryer Chicken Parm just the right amount of flavor.
- Tomato Sauce: use seasoned tomato pasta sauce for extra flavor.
- Mozzarella Cheese: a sprinkle of shredded mozzarella on top of the breaded chicken completes this classic comfort food.
How to Make Chicken Parmesan in an Air Fryer
This Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan could not be easier. Dinner is prepped and on the table in just over 30 minutes!
- Prep the chicken: Butterfly the chicken to make two thinner pieces, then use a sharp knife to cut it in the middle all the way through. Pat dry.
- Bread it: In one shallow dish, whisk eggs. In another, combine breadcrumbs, some of the parmesan, and seasonings. Coat the chicken in the egg, then press it firmly into the breadcrumb mix.
- Air fry: Preheat the air fryer and spray the basket with oil spray. Spray both sides of the chicken with the oil spray, then place into the air fryer basket. Cook until light golden.
- Add the toppings: Top each chicken breast with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and parmesan. Cook until the cheese is melted, then serve as desired.
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan FAQs
That really depends on the size of the chicken breast you’re cooking. Since we slice our chicken into thinner pieces, it only takes about 10 minutes for it to cook all the way through. Since the total time can vary, I recommend checking the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to make sure it’s done. It should be 165ºF!
If you’re looking for a basic recipe, check out this Air Fryer Chicken Breast.
Any kind you want! Chicken parmesan is often served on top of a pile of pasta with marinara sauce. If that’s the route you’re going with this Air Fryer Chicken Parm, feel free, but the pasta shape you use really doesn’t matter! Just use your favorite.
Chicken Parmesan is best eaten immediately but leftovers can be saved.
Leftover Chicken Parm will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge if frozen, then warm in the oven on convection mode or in the air fryer to re-crisp.
Totally! To reheat the leftovers back in the air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 360ºF, add in the chicken, and cook for 5 minutes or until heated through.
Tips and Notes
- Pat it dry. Before breading the chicken, pat it dry gently with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. The less moisture there is, the crispier it will be.
- Slice thinly. Slicing the chicken into thinner pieces allows it to cook more quickly and evenly.
- Use Panko. Panko gives the chicken the crispiest texture. If you don’t have Panko, regular breadcrumbs will work too.
- Preheat and grease the air fryer. Don’t forget to preheat and grease the air fryer basket with a non-aerosol oil spray. Preheating allows it to start crisping up right away and greasing the basket prevents the chicken from sticking.
- Spray the chicken. Spraying the outside of the breaded chicken with cooking spray gives it that delicious golden-brown color.
- Flip halfway through. After 5 minutes, flip the chicken in the air fryer to make sure it gets cooked and crispy all the way around.
Serving Suggestions
This Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan is delicious on its own, but you can also round out your meal up by serving it over a pile of your favorite pasta with red sauce.
Try Creamy Tomato Rigatoni Pasta, Garlic Parmesan Orzo Pasta, your favorite pasta topped with a scoop of Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce, or even zucchini noodles for a lighter option.
Looking for some side dish ideas? Whip up some Homemade Garlic Bread or Breadsticks, Roasted Green Beans, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, or a simple side salad.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 1 boneless skinless chicken breast (or two small)
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup Panko bread crumbs
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup tomato sauce (seasoned tomato pasta sauce)
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Split chicken breasts (butterflying them) to make two thinner pieces. Simply place your chicken breasts on a cutting board and place one hand flat on top. Use a sharp knife to cut the chicken breast in the middle all the way through. Pat dry with paper towel.
- Whisk eggs together in a large shallow dish.
- In another large shallow dish, combine bread crumbs, ¼ cup Parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, paprila and black pepper.
- Coat chicken in egg mixture, and allow excess to drip off.
- Coat chicken in Panko mixture, pressing firmly to make sure they adhere well.
- Spray the air fryer basket with non-aerosol oil spray. Spray both sides of the chicken with oil spray as well and place into the air fryer.
- Cook for 5 minutes per side, until light golden.
- Top each with half of the tomato sauce and mozzarella. Divide remaining 1 tablespoon Parmesan between the two and cook another 2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Check that the internal temperature has reached a minimum of 165 degrees F. Serve.
Notes
- Spray the chicken. Spraying the outside of the breaded chicken with cooking spray gives it that delicious golden-brown color.
- Flip halfway through. After 5 minutes, flip the chicken in the air fryer to make sure it gets cooked and crispy all the way around.
- If using seasoned bread crumbs, you may wish to reduce the added seasoning.
- Panko bread crumbs can be swapped for regular bread crumbs.
- If you wish to make Chicken Parm without the breading, use this Air Fryer Chicken Breast recipe, then top with marinara sauce and cheese.
Nutrition Information
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Brian says
I would only add a suggest to prep… pound the chicken to break up fibers and get a better tenderness after its cooked
Ian says
Oh my word! I was really surprised by the contrasting textures and taste of the cheese and chicken. It’s a surprising combination but well worth the effort. I am tempted to add something spicier. Thank you for the recipe Ashley.