Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
This Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan is a modern twist on a classic comfort food. Tender chicken cutlets are pounded thin, coated in a crunchy panko-Parmesan crust, and air-fried until golden and crisp. Topped with marinara, gooey mozzarella, and fresh basil, it’s a delicious, lighter way to enjoy this Italian favorite—no oven or deep frying required.
Equipment
- Air fryer
- Mixing bowls (3 shallow)
- Tongs
- Cutting board
- Chef’s knife
- Meat mallet
- Parchment paper
- Grater
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp granulated garlic
- Kosher salt and pepper
- 2 cups panko
- 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese divided
- 3 tbsp olive oil plus more for brushing
- 2 8- oz boneless skinless chicken breasts, trimmed and halved laterally into cutlets
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup marinara sauce divided
- 1/4 cup basil leaves roughly chopped, divided, plus more for topping
- 6 oz low-moisture mozzarella cheese not fresh, coarsely grated
Instructions
- In separate shallow bowls: add flour to one; beat eggs, garlic, 2 tbsp water, and 3/4 tsp salt in another; and in the third, mix panko with 1/3 cup Parmesan and toss with olive oil.
- Pound chicken cutlets to even thickness. Toss with lemon juice. Dredge each cutlet in flour, dip in egg mixture, then press into panko mix to coat.
- Preheat air fryer to 360°F. Brush basket with oil. Air-fry 2 cutlets at a time for 6 minutes, flip, then cook for 7–9 more minutes until golden and internal temp hits 165°F.
- Top cooked cutlets with 4 tbsp marinara, 1 tbsp basil, mozzarella, and remaining Parmesan. Increase fryer temp to 400°F. Cook 2–3 minutes until cheese is melted and golden.
- Repeat for remaining cutlets. Garnish with additional fresh basil before serving.
Notes
- Use low-moisture mozzarella to avoid watery toppings.
- Pound chicken evenly to ensure even cooking and crisping.
- Don’t skip the lemon juice—it adds brightness and tenderizes the chicken.
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to ensure crisp texture.
- Reheat leftovers in the air fryer for best results, not the microwave.