Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan (Printable)

Golden-crisp breaded chicken cutlets with marinara and melted mozzarella, air fried for a quick Italian-style main.

# What you'll need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb / 450 g), halved horizontally
02 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Breading

04 - ½ cup all-purpose flour
05 - 2 large eggs
06 - 1 tablespoon water
07 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
08 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
10 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs

→ Toppings

11 - 1 cup marinara sauce
12 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
13 - 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
14 - Fresh basil leaves, for garnish (optional)

# How to make it:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes.
02 - Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper on both sides.
03 - Prepare three shallow bowls: In the first, add flour. In the second, whisk eggs with water. In the third, combine panko, ½ cup Parmesan, garlic powder, and Italian herbs.
04 - Dredge each chicken cutlet in flour, shaking off excess. Dip in egg mixture, then coat thoroughly with the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
05 - Arrange the breaded chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket; spray lightly with olive oil or nonstick spray.
06 - Air fry for 8 minutes.
07 - Flip the chicken, spray again lightly, and air fry for 4 more minutes.
08 - Spoon 2–3 tablespoons of marinara sauce over each cutlet. Top evenly with mozzarella and a sprinkle of Parmesan.
09 - Air fry for an additional 2–3 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
10 - Garnish with fresh basil before serving.

# Expert suggestions:

01 -
  • Once you taste that crunchy coating and gooey cheese, you'll wonder why you ever bothered turning on the oven.
  • The air fryer makes weeknight Italian completely doable, even when your energy is flagging.
02 -
  • Once, I crowded the air fryer basket and ended up with soggy chicken—always give your cutlets room.
  • Mixing Parmesan directly into the breadcrumbs gave a far tastier, crispier crust than sprinkling on later.
03 -
  • Let your breaded cutlets rest for a few minutes before air frying for extra crispiness.
  • Pressing the panko mixture firmly onto the chicken keeps the coating from slipping off after cooking.
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