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Make delicious chicken parmesan in the air fryer quickly and easily. Ready to serve in less than 30 minutes, this air fryer chicken parmesan comes out wonderfully crispy and full of flavor. It’s so quick and effortless to prep, and it makes for one tasty family meal.
Table of Contents
- Recipe at a glance
- Ingredients you’ll need to make chicken parmesan in the air fryer
- Popular substitutions & additions
- How to make air fryer chicken parmesan
- Tips for making the best air fryer chicken parm
- What to serve with chicken parmesan
- How to store & reheat chicken parmesan
- Frequently asked questions
- More chicken recipes:
- Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Recipe
A classic Italian favorite with a modern twist. This air fryer chicken parmesan transforms simple ingredients into a crispy, cheesy, and delicious weeknight meal. The air fryer gets that golden, crunchy crust we all love, but without the extra oil to fry it!
“Made this and it was so delicious! First timer making chicken Parmesan ever and it was a hit with my family and super easy just how I like it!” – Renee
Recipe at a glance
Cuisine Inspiration: Italian
Primary Cooking Method: Air Frying
Dietary Info: High Protein
Key Flavor: Savory & Cheesy
Skill Level: Easy
Summary
- Ready in 30 Minutes: The chicken parm only takes 15 minutes in the air fryer, and while it cooks, you can toss in some pasta to go along with it for a complete meal in just 30 minutes!!
- Simple Ingredients: You only need 6 ingredients to make this recipe, and I bet you have at least 4 of the 6, if not all, in your pantry and fridge right now!
- Kid-Friendly: I mean, chicken parm is pretty much a big chicken tender with cheese and red sauce, so you really can’t go wrong here.
- Versatile Serving Options: You can make sandwiches, top a big plate of pasta, serve alongside a salad, or even rice if you prefer. This air fryer chicken parmesan can be used in so many different ways!
Ingredients you’ll need to make chicken parmesan in the air fryer
- Chicken: For the best results use breasts for this recipe. Pound them to a thinner thickness to ensure even cooking before dredging them.
- Flour: Coat each breast in flour to help them get nice and crispy when fried. You can use an all purpose flour or a 1:1 gluten-free flour.
- Egg: Each breast is dredged in beaten egg so that the breadcrumbs stick.
- Breadcrumbs: Use seasoned breadcrumbs for added flavor to coat the chicken. If you use plain, you may want to add a teaspoon of dried herbs and garlic powder to them for extra flavor. This recipe will also work using panko or gluten free breadcrumbs.
- Marinara sauce: You can use your favorite store bought sauce, or make your own marinara.
- Mozzarella: Use a fresh mozzarella ball that you cut into slices and place on top of the chicken. Buffalo mozzarella has a great creamy flavor, but any type will work well.
Popular substitutions & additions
- Vegan Cheese: A great option for those avoiding dairy. Modern vegan cheeses melt beautifully and can provide a similar creamy texture and rich flavor as traditional mozzarella.
- Homemade Marinara Sauce: Making your own sauce allows you to adjust the flavors to your preference. Experiment with herbs, spices, and tomato varieties. Try my homemade marinara sauce if you like.
- Breadcrumbs: Swap out regular breadcrumbs for a light and crispy panko breadcrumb or even a gluten-free variety.
- Different cheeses: Beyond mozzarella, consider varieties like provolone, a mild and sweet fontina cheese, or an Italian cheese blend of parmesan, asiago, and romano cheese that add a depth of nutty to sharp flavors.
How to make air fryer chicken parmesan
- Coat the pounded chicken breasts in flour all over.
- Dredge each breast in the egg.
- Coat all over with the breadcrumbs, making sure to press down.
- Place the breaded chicken in the air fryer.
- Cook until golden brown.
- Flip the chicken and top with marinara sauce and slices of mozzarella.
- Cook until the cheese has melted and the chicken is cooked through.
“This is a super good recipe for the air fryer, the chicken came out moist and the coating came out crispy. I did mix some parmesan cheese with the mozzarella cheese which I would definitely recommend doing. This is definitely some top-tier healthier chicken parmesan.” – Chantal
Tips for making the best air fryer chicken parm
- Lightly pound the chicken breasts before dredging them. This not only flattens them so that they cook evenly, but it also helps to tenderize them.
- Set up your dredging station first. This will help to keep you nice and organized. When dredging the chicken, try and keep one hand wet and one dry so that the flour and breadcrumbs don’t clump.
- Place the chicken breasts in an even layer in the air fryer basket. If they are overlapping, they won’t get crispy all over. Cook in a couple of batches if needed.
- Ensure that your chicken is cooked all the way through. Thicker breasts may take a minute or two longer. Use an instant read thermometer, which should register at 165F. The chicken should be an even and opaque white color throughout when you slice it open.
What to serve with chicken parmesan
The most popular option is to serve up crispy chicken parm with a sprinkle of fresh basil and on a bed of spaghetti. Serve alongside your favorite veggie side dishes like:
How to store & reheat chicken parmesan
Before storing, let the chicken cool to room temperature first. Then transfer it to an airtight container.
How long will air fryer chicken parmesan last in the fridge?
When stored properly chicken parmesan will last up to 4 days in the fridge.
Can I freeze chicken parmesan?
You can freeze leftover air fryer chicken parmesan. I would recommend freezing them in portions or individual pieces for easy thawing. Once cooled, store in a freezer safe airtight container or resealable bag. They’ll freeze for 2 to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating air fryer chicken parmesan: For best results, reheat chicken parm in the air fryer. Set to 375 and reheat for about 4 minutes or until it’s heated through and crispy.
Frequently asked questions
This air fryer chicken parmesan is best enjoyed as soon as it’s cooked. You can bread it a few hours ahead of time and keep it covered in the fridge until you are ready to cook. Any leftovers will keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days and can be reheated in the air fryer at 375°F for 4 minutes to get it nice and crispy again.
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can make this recipe in the oven as well. Place the breaded chicken on a lined baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes til the chicken is fully cooked through. Add the marinara and mozzarella and broil for a few minutes to melt the cheese.
The most popular option is to serve up crispy chicken parm with a sprinkle of fresh basil and on a bed of spaghetti. Serve alongside your favorite veggie side dishes like green beans or mashed sweet potatoes.
Chicken parmesan is so quick and easy to make in the air fryer, and it’s a great way to get out of your dinner rut. Kids and grown-ups both love it and you don’t need a long list of ingredients. Winning!
More chicken recipes:
- Pickle Brined Chicken Tenders
- Breaded Air Fryer Chicken
- Broccoli and Cheese Stuffed Chicken
- One Pan Chicken and Potatoes
- Chicken Lemon Rice Soup
If you try this healthy-ish feel good Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!
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Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pound chicken breasts 3-4 pieces equal size
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1 ¼ cups seasoned breadcrumbs
- ½ cup marinara sauce
- 4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese sliced
- Torn basil for serving
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts in a plastic bag or wrap them in plastic wrap and pound them until the breast is a uniform ¼-½” thick.
- Add the flour to a shallow bowl, the beaten egg to another shallow bowl, and the breadcrumbs to a third bowl.
- Dip the chicken breasts one at a time into the flour, followed by the eggs, and breadcrumbs.
- Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray and add the breaded chicken, making sure not to overcrowd the basket.
- Cook the chicken breasts at 375°F for 10 minutes.
- Flip the chicken and top with marinara (about 2 tablespoons each), followed by one ounce of mozzarella each.
- Cook for an additional 4 minutes at 375°F, or until the cheese has melted. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
This was amazing!!! My partner loved it. I accompanied it with a mandarin salad.
Next time I will test having provolone slices instead of fresh mozzarella, I think it will give it a kick on flavor.
I do not have an air fryer. Can I make this another way?
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can make this recipe in the oven as well. Place the breaded chicken on a lined baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes til the chicken is fully cooked through. Add the marinara and mozzarella and broil for a few minutes to melt the cheese.
Made this and it was so delicious! First timer making chicken Parmesan ever and it was a hit with my family and super easy just how I like it!
Thank you! That’s amazing!
I loved it,, so tasty, fast and eas
So quick and sooo good! Thank you.
Yay!! You’re so welcome!
This is a super good recipe for the air fryer, the chicken came out moist and the coating came out crispy. I did mix some parmesan cheese with the mozzarella cheese which I would definitely recommend doing. This is definitely some top-tier healthier chicken parmesan
Thank you so much! That’s exactly what I was going for!!
So good
Yay!!