Quick 20 Minutes Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan (Light & Crispy)
This air fryer chicken parmesan is a quick and lighter take on a classic comfort dish. The coating turns perfectly crisp while the inside stays tender and juicy—all without deep frying. It’s a simple, reliable meal that comes together fast and delivers great flavor every time.
Print
Pin
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.