Air Fryer Chicken Parmesanrn

close up shot of Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan on a plate

Indulge in the irresistible combination of crispy breaded chicken, gooey melted cheese, and zesty marinara with this quick and easy air fryer chicken parmesan recipe.

Jump to Recipe

Table of Contents

Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Ingredients
Substitutions and Additions
How To Make This Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Recipe
How To Serve
Storage
Why We Love This Recipe:
Frequently Asked Questions
More Recipes You’ll Love
JUMP TO RECIPE
Even More Recipes You’ll Love

Say goodbye to lengthy cooking times and hello to an easy, flavorful meal with this air fryer chicken parmesan, which elevates a classic favorite to new heights. Crispy and tender chicken meets gooey cheese and zesty marinara for a weeknight winner.

overhead shot of a couple of Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan on a plate

Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Ingredients

Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan raw ingredients that are labeled

The succulent chicken breasts are coated in a flavorful medley of flour, Italian seasonings, and panko bread crumbs, all perfectly cooked in your air fryer.

This air fryer chicken parm takes the taste of classic comfort food to a whole new level.

You’ll need:

For The Chicken:

2 (12-ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts
salt and black pepper to taste

For The Breading:

½ cup of flour
1 teaspoon of salt
½ teaspoon of pepper
1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of onion powder
1 teaspoon of paprika
2 eggs
1 cup of Italian panko bread crumbs

For The Toppings:

½ cup of grated parmesan cheese
¼ cup of sliced mozzarella cheese
½ cup of marinara sauce (plus more for pasta if using)

Substitutions and Additions

CHICKEN BREASTS: Looking to switch things up? Swap in chicken tenderloins for quicker cooking times. Just remember to reduce the cooking time to around 6-7 minutes, flipping them halfway through.

ITALIAN PANKO BREADCRUMBS: If you’re in a pinch, replace the Italian panko breadcrumbs with regular panko breadcrumbs. To maintain the seasoning levels, double the amount of Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika used.

How To Make This Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Recipe

Air frying the chicken parmesan is a quick and easy way to make this dish on a busy weeknight.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

Make sure to check your air fryer manual for cooking time guidelines for your specific model, as cook times and temperatures vary depending on the type of air fryer you have.

STEP ONE: Cut the raw chicken breasts in half by butterflying them. This will create four thin chicken breasts.

STEP TWO: Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, place on a plate or a piece of parchment paper, and set aside.

STEP THREE: Build your breading station by pulling out three shallow bowls. Pie pans work great for this.

STEP FOUR: Add the flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, and 1 teaspoon paprika to one of the shallow bowls. Using a whisk, stir to combine.

flour, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika stirred together

STEP FIVE: In the second bowl, add the two eggs. Using a whisk, stir to break up the yolks and mix the eggs together.

STEP SIX: Add the Italian panko breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese to the third shallow bowl. Using a whisk, stir to combine.

breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese combined in a bowl

STEP SEVEN: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.

STEP EIGHT: Place one of the seasoned chicken breasts into the flour mixture, making sure to coat the chicken breast fully.

Then, place the floured chicken breast into the egg mixture. Cover to fully coat. Finally, place the chicken breast into the breadcrumb mixture. Cover to fully coat.

chicken coated with flour mixture, egg mixture, and breadcrumb mixture

STEP NINE: Place the breaded chicken on a clean plate and repeat this process for the rest of the chicken breasts.

STEP TEN: Once your air fryer has come to temperature, place one or two of the prepared chicken breasts into a parchment-lined air fryer basket.

Note that lining your air fryer basket with parchment paper is optional.

Cook for ten minutes at 400°F. Make sure to flip the chicken over after six minutes. Repeat this process until all of the chicken has cooked.

PRO TIP:

When working in batches, you can heat the oven to 300°F and place the cooked chicken in the oven to stay warm.

chicken cooked for 6 minutes in an air fryer

STEP ELEVEN: While the chicken is cooking, slice some mozzarella cheese and open the jar of marinara.

STEP TWELVE: Once all four pieces of chicken have finished cooking, spoon a small amount of marinara sauce (about 2 tablespoons) over each piece of chicken and then top with a slice or two of mozzarella.

PRO TIP:

Make sure the chicken pieces reach an internal temperature of 165°F on a meat thermometer to ensure they are cooked through.

marinara sauce spooned on top of the chicken

STEP THIRTEEN: Place one or two of the pieces of chicken at a time into the air fryer and cook for two minutes at 400°F or until the mozzarella has melted and just started to brown on top.

pieces of chicken placed in the air fryer

STEP FOURTEEN: Repeat this process until all of the chicken has melted mozzarella on top.

STEP FIFTEEN: Serve with your favorite pasta and more marinara sauce for a complete meal.

How To Serve

This delicious chicken parmesan recipe makes an easy dinner for a busy weeknight. Serve it with spaghetti, a crisp Caesar salad, and garlic bread for a hearty meal.

Transform this classic into a sandwich sensation by placing the crispy chicken between buns, topped with extra marinara and mozzarella, for a delectable twist on a chicken parmesan sub.

Our air fryer pizza and air fryer quesadilla are two more of our favorite air fryer recipes.

MORE AIR FRY RECIPES

Hot Appetizers

Air Fry Baked Potato

Chicken Dinner Ideas

Air Fryer Chicken Breasts

Storage

This air fryer chicken parmesan recipe is a great one to make ahead or freeze the leftovers for later.

MAKE AHEAD: Prepare these juicy chicken breasts up to the breading stage and store them in the fridge for up to 24 hours before cooking.

IN THE FRIDGE: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat in the air fryer or microwave for around three minutes.

IN THE FREEZER: Freeze cooked chicken parmesan in an airtight container for up to three months. Reheat in the air fryer or oven until heated through.

REHEATING: To reheat, cook in the air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes until warm and crispy.

Why We Love This Recipe:

QUICK AND EASY: Satisfy cravings in no time with a recipe that’s a breeze to make.

BURSTING WITH FLAVOR: The combination of crispy coating, melty cheese, and zesty marinara is a flavor explosion.

FAMILY FRIENDLY: A crowd-pleasing dish that’s sure to bring smiles to both kids and adults.

overhead shot of Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan in a air fryer

Elevate weeknight dinners, casual gatherings, or special occasions with this air fryer chicken parmesan dish that’s both easy to prepare and incredibly delicious. The crispy chicken, melty cheese, and tangy marinara blend perfectly, making it a recipe you’ll come back to time and again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my chicken parmesan tough?

Overcooking can lead to tough chicken. If your chicken is thin or if you use tenderloins, reduce the cooking time accordingly.

How many minutes do you cook chicken in the air fryer?

Cook chicken parmesan in the air fryer for ten minutes, flipping after six minutes.

How to store chicken parmesan?

Store leftovers in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat in the microwave or air fryer for about three minutes.

More Recipes You’ll Love