Easy Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan (Crispy, Juicy & Ready in 20 Minutes)
When it’s too hot to cook, this air fryer chicken parmesan is exactly what you need. Crispy, juicy, and ready in 20 minutes—perfect for easy summer meals without turning on the oven.
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Servings: 4
Notes
Ingredients
- 2 (6 oz) chicken breasts – cut into cutlets (see recipe tips in the post on how to cut them) or you can use store-bought cutlets.
- 2 cups seasoned panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2–3 large eggs
- Olive oil cooking spray
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Chopped basil and parsley for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer
Set your air fryer to 390° F and allow it to heat up. - Prepare the coating station
In a shallow bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
In another shallow bowl, crack the eggs and whisk them with a little salt and pepper. - Bread the chicken
Pat the chicken dry using a paper towel. Dip each cutlet into the egg mixture, letting any excess drip off, then press it into the breadcrumb mixture until fully coated. Place each piece on a clean plate and repeat until all chicken is coated. - Air fry the chicken
Lightly coat the air fryer basket with olive oil spray. Arrange the chicken in a single layer without overlapping. Spray the tops with olive oil spray and cook for 5 minutes. Flip each piece, spray again, and cook for another 5 minutes.
Note: use non-aerosol cooking spray. - Add sauce and cheese
Open the air fryer and spoon tomato sauce over each piece of chicken. Top with shredded mozzarella and a sprinkle of parmesan. Return to the air fryer and cook for 2 more minutes, until the cheese is melted. - Finish and serve
Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. Pair it with a spinach salad or your favorite pasta.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F until warmed through.
- Try to use evenly sized chicken cutlets so they cook at the same rate.
- Cooking times vary by size:
- 4-ounce chicken breasts: about 9–10 minutes
- 5-ounce chicken breasts: about 10–12 minutes
- 6-ounce chicken breasts: about 11–13 minutes
- Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.