Description
This Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan recipe offers a crispy, golden-brown breaded chicken cutlet topped with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese, all cooked quickly and healthfully using an air fryer. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, this version reduces oil usage while delivering all the classic flavors of traditional chicken parmesan.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Breading
- 1 egg + 1 tablespoon water
- ½ cup flour
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Toppings
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Slice the chicken breasts horizontally to create thinner cutlets. Pat them dry thoroughly with a paper towel to ensure better breading adhesion. Season both sides with salt and pepper evenly.
- Mix Wet and Dry Coatings: Whisk together the egg and 1 tablespoon of water in a small bowl to form the egg wash. In a separate shallow bowl, combine the Panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.
- Bread the Chicken: Coat each chicken cutlet first in the flour, shaking off any excess. Then dip it into the egg wash, allowing excess to drip off. Finally, press both sides of the chicken into the breadcrumb mixture to achieve an even coating.
- Air Fry the Chicken: Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF. Place the breaded chicken cutlets in a single layer inside the basket. Spray generously with non-stick cooking spray. Cook for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through at 5 minutes and spraying the other side with cooking spray.
- Add Sauce and Cheese: After the initial 10 minutes, spoon marinara sauce over each cutlet and sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top. Return the chicken to the air fryer and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the cheese melts and the internal temperature reaches 165ºF.
- Serve: Remove the chicken from the air fryer carefully. Serve hot alongside cooked pasta or crusty bread for a complete meal.
Notes
- Storing leftovers: Place leftover chicken parmesan in an airtight container and refrigerate for 2-3 days.
- Reheating: Rewarm in the air fryer at 350ºF for 10-15 minutes to maintain crispiness.
- Freezing: Freezing is not recommended as it may compromise the texture of the breading and cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken cutlet with toppings
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
