Parmesan Crusted Chicken (Air Fryer Recipe)

4 from 1 vote

Parmesan Crusted Chicken (Air Fryer Recipe)

Say goodbye to boring chicken! This air fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken is golden, crunchy, and packed with flavor in every bite—quick to make and even quicker to disappear.

Cuisine American, American-Italian

Keyword air fryer chicken recipes, air fryer Parmesan chicken, Parmesan chicken

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 12

Total Time 22

Servings

Calories 291kcal

Author Irena Macri

Ingredients

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in 2-3 pieces
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, beaten
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup panko breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon Italian herbs
½ teaspoon black pepper
Olive oil spray or cooking spray
Lemon wedges, extra Parmesan and fresh parsley for serving (optional)

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 395°F (200°C).
Prepare the egg wash and coating: In a shallow dish, beat the two eggs until smooth. In another dish, combine the Parmesan cheese and panko breadcrumbs. In a third shallow dish, combine flour with garlic powder, onion powder, Italian herbs and pepper.
Prepare the chicken: Cut the chicken breasts in halves, going diagonally, and make sure to cut through the thickest part. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. This helps the coating stick better.
Coat the chicken: Coat each chicken piece with flour and shake off the excess. Then dip each piece into the beaten egg, allowing any excess to drip off. Finally, press the chicken into the Parmesan-panko mixture, ensuring it's fully coated on all sides. Press the coating onto the chicken to make sure it sticks.
Air fry the chicken: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil or cooking spray to prevent sticking. Place the chicken slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches. Spray the top half with more oil and cook.
Cook: Air fry the chicken for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through and spraying the opposite side with a little oil as well. The chicken should be golden brown, crispy, and reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Serve: Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for a couple of minutes. Grate extra Parmesan cheese on top. Serve with lemon wedges and fresh parsley for an extra burst of flavor.

Notes

Batch cooking: Depending on the air fryer size, you might need to cook in batches—don’t overcrowd!

Smaller chicken pieces (like tenders or chunks): They’ll cook faster! Reduce the cooking time to around 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway. Just keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t dry out.

Whole chicken breasts: They’ll take longer to cook, so I recommend increasing the cook time to about 15-18 minutes. Be sure to check that the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) for perfectly cooked chicken.

Nutrition