Parmesan Crusted Chicken Air Fryer

Air fryer parmesan crusted chicken features tender, juicy chicken breasts coated with Italian bread crumbs and cheese and cooked to golden perfection.

We use our air fryer to get deliciously crispy crusts on all kinds of dishes, and we particularly love it for this one because of how wonderfully it comes out.

This chicken is perfectly juicy and crunchy every single time, and it's so easy even beginners can make it with ease. That's the perfect combo.

Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken

This was inspired by my recipe for parmesan crusted chicken, air fryer directions were all that was needed. I reworked the recipe a bit to make it air fryer friendly. It's absolutely delicious when paired with a nice vegetable side.

Why You Will Love this Recipe

• It only uses a few simple ingredients.
• It's an easy recipe that's perfect for weeknight dinners.
• It's loaded with delicious Italian flavors and a crispy coating.

Top Tip:

Gently tap the chicken to remove excess coating while dredging. This ensures an even coating.

Ingredients

This recipe only uses a few basic ingredients that you'll easily find at the store. The major ingredients are listed here, but you'll find the complete list of ingredients along with amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post.

• Chicken breasts
• All purpose flour
• Red pepper flakes
• Eggs
• Italian seasoned breadcrumbs - or you can use unseasoned breadcrumbs and add italian seasoning
• Parmesan cheese
• Sauce, if desired
• Mozzarella

Substitutions and Variations

• Spicy - Add a teaspoon of chili pepper flakes, jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the crumb mixture to imbue heat into the dish. I will also occasionally add a teaspoon of our homemade hot pepper sauce, or use your favorite hot sauce, to the egg mixture.
• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts - Use cutlets, tenderloins, or boneless skinless chicken thighs instead.
• All purpose flour - Use gluten-free flour, almond flour, or ground almonds instead
• Kosher Salt - Use sea salt instead.
• Black Pepper - Use some cayenne pepper instead if you enjoy the heat.
• Italian Seasoned Breadcrumbs - Use unseasoned breadcrumbs or panko bread crumbs and add Italian seasoning instead.
• Parmesan cheese - Use pecorino, romano, or cotija cheese instead
• Marinara sauce - Alfredo sauce, pesto sauce, and even barbecue sauce work well.
• Mozzarella - Try provolone, bel paese, gouda, edam, fontina, monterey jack or white cheddar.
• Parsley - Chervil, chives, cilantro, or celery Leaves work as garnish
• Add Flavor - Add a teaspoon or two of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, oregano, basil, rosemary, marjoram, sage, or thyme to your crumb or flour mixture.
• Add Vegetables - Saute some mushrooms, onions, and sweet peppers and add them on top of your chicken.
• Make a Sandwich - Grab a crusty bun to serve your chicken on
• Vegetarian - Use zucchini, eggplant slices, or your favorite vegetables instead

Instructions

This is a basic recipe that only takes a few minutes to make. The highlights are listed here, but you'll find the exact instructions in the recipe card at the end of the post.

1: Combine flour coating ingredients in one shallow bowl, add whisked egg to another bowl, and a bread crumb parmesan cheese mixture in a third bowl.

2. Dredge the chicken in the flour, eggs, and parmesan. Then air fry until golden brown on both sides. Flip the chicken at the midway point.

3: Top with sauce if desired, along with mozzarella cheese. Then, air fry until the cheese is melted.

Serve air fried chicken with a side salad or over rice or pasta.

Storage

Refrigerator: Store in an air-tight container for up to 3 days.

Freezer: Store in an air-tight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

Reheat: Air fry for 2 to 3 minutes at 350 degrees until heated through.

Make Ahead: Coat the chicken and store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator until ready to cook.

What to Serve with Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Serve this chicken with a side salad or over noodles. It's also delicious with your favorite steamed or roasted vegetables. If you're like me and you'd like a list to choose from, check out these super sides for your chicken dish and I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

This amazing Parmesan Crusted Chicken would go perfectly with a side dish to elevate the meal. To find some delicious ideas, go to What to Serve With Coq Au Vin.

If you're looking for an amazing side dish to add to this meal, check out What to Serve With Chicken Piccata.

Tips

• Combine all of the dry ingredients together before beginning to dredge each piece of chicken in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs.
• Be sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket when placing the chicken inside so everything gets cooked through properly without being under or overcooked.
• If using frozen chicken, make sure you thaw it completely prior to cooking for the best results and cooking time accuracy.
• Use a thermometer to check that your chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F before serving for food safety purposes.
• If you want an extra crunchy crust, try spraying some additional cooking spray over each piece after coating them in the crumb mixture and before air frying.
• For the best results, cut each chicken breast in half lengthwise, then pound flat for even cooking.
• I recommend using freshly grated parmesan and not the kind in the jar.

FAQ

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Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.