Easy air fryer chicken parmesan is coated in crispy breadcrumbs, hot and juicy on the inside, smothered in marinara and melted mozzarella, and oh-so-irresistible!
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Air Fryer Chicken Parm
I can never have too many easy recipes that I know will be devoured by kids and adults alike.
And when it comes to crowd-pleasing meals that can be ready in 45 minutes flat, you just can’t beat this air fryer chicken parmesan!
The chicken breasts are coated in crispy breadcrumbs, cooked to golden perfection, and smothered in marinara and melted mozzarella.
And the chicken stays perfectly juicy on the inside! No dry chicken breast here.
Whether you’re looking for a high-protein meal that tastes like comfort or you’re craving Italian-inspired flavors, there’s never a bad time to make this air fryer chicken parm recipe.
It’s one you’ll come back to over and over!
Air Fryer Chicken Parm Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts – boneless, skinless
- Breadcrumbs – regular, Panko, or combo
- Parmesan Cheese – shredded
- Italian Seasoning
- Garlic Powder
- Kosher Salt
- Eggs
- Marinara Sauce
- Mozzarella Cheese – shredded
How to Make Chicken Parm in Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F.
STEP TWO: Cut the chicken breasts in half horizontally, pounding them to even thicknesses as needed, then set aside.
STEP THREE: In a shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs, 6 tablespoons of Parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt. In a second bowl, whisk the eggs.
STEP FOUR: Dip each piece of chicken in the whisked eggs, let excess egg drip off, then press the chicken pieces into the breadcrumb mixture, coating evenly.
STEP FIVE: Place the chicken parmesan in a single layer in the air fryer, working in batches if necessary.
STEP SIX: Spray the top of the chicken with cooking spray, then air fry for 8-11 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is golden and mostly cooked through.
STEP SEVEN: Carefully spread 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce over each breast, then sprinkle with mozzarella.
STEP EIGHT: Continue cooking for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted and the chicken is cooked through to 165 degrees F using a meat thermometer.
STEP NINE: Serve hot with a green salad or over pasta with more sauce.
How long to Cook Chicken Parm in Air Fryer
One of my favorite parts about making this chicken parmesan recipe in the air fryer is how much faster it is compared to baking it in the oven.
The chicken breasts cook in 15 minutes flat!
Depending on the size of the chicken breasts, you want to cook them for 8-11 minutes to start, being sure to flip halfway through.
After that, smother them with marinara and mozzarella, then continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. This should only take another 2-3 minutes.
However, you do want to move quickly during this step. If the chicken sits out too long, it might start to cool down, and it will take longer to cook all the way through.
Move carefully but quickly, so you don’t lose too much heat.
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Recipe Tips
- Try to slice the chicken breasts as evenly as possible so they will cook at the same rate.
- If your chicken breasts are very thick, you may want to pound them down. Again, try to keep each piece around the same thickness.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. It’s better to cook in batches so the hot air can properly circulate around the chicken and crisp up the breadcrumbs.
- Make sure to flip halfway through so the chicken will crisp up evenly on all sides.
- Try to add the marinara and mozzarella quickly so the chicken won’t cool down too much. I recommend having the marinara and cheese ready to go so you can work quickly but carefully to avoid spilling in the air fryer.
Side Dishes for Chicken Parmesan Air Fryer Recipe
- Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan
- 4 Ingredient Potato Soup
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Air Fryer Ravioli
- Garlic Cheese Bread (or Garlic Bread in the Air Fryer)
- Roasted Carrots and Asparagus
How to Store this Chicken Parm Air Fryer Recipe
Let your air fryer chicken parmesan cool completely before placing leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
Leftover chicken parm will keep for 3-4 days when properly stored.
How to Reheat Chicken Parm in Air Fryer
Reheat your leftover chicken parmesan in a preheated air fryer basket at 350 degrees F for 5 to 8 minutes.
If your dish is very saucy, use an air fryer safe pan or aluminum foil to help clean up.
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Recipe FAQs
Yes! There’s no need to pre-cook raw chicken before putting it in the air fryer — it’s perfectly safe to air fry raw meat. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
There is no difference between chicken parmesan and chicken parmigiana. It’s the same exact dish (made by breading chicken and topping it with marinara and melted cheese), just spelled differently.
“Parmesan” is often used in the US, and “parmigiana” reflects the Italian influence — it’s the Italian word for parmesan!
There are a few key things that will help the breading stick to chicken parmesan.
– Pat the chicken breast dry with paper towels before getting started to remove any excess moisture.
– After dredging the chicken in beaten eggs, press it into the breadcrumb and cheese mixture.
– Before adding the chicken parmesan to the air fryer basket, let it rest for 5 minutes to allow the coating to really stick.
Always cook chicken breast directly on the air fryer basket or tray to get crispy breaded chicken par, but you can use aluminum foil to help with clean up when needed.
If using foil in the air fryer, flip the chicken halfway through cooking as the foil will block the hot air from circulating properly in the air fryer.
If you don’t have breadcrumbs for chicken parmesan, you can use crushed crackers, crushed cornflakes, or even Parmesan cheese mixed with herbs instead.
More like this Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan:
Other Delicious Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love:
- Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken
- Air Fryer Bone In Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
- Air Fryer Cornish Hen
- Air Fryer Gnocchi
- Air Fryer Lamb Chops
- Air Fryer Prime Rib
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken
- Teriyaki Salmon in the Air Fryer
- Thin Pork Chops in the Air Fryer
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Chicken Parm Air Fryer Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup bread crumbs regular, panko, or combo
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese divided
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup marinara sauce plus more for serving
- ½ mozzarella cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees. Cut the chicken breasts in half horizontally, pounding them to even thickness as needed; set aside.
- In a shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs, all but 2 tablespoons of Parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt. In a second bowl, whisk the eggs.
- Dip each piece of chicken in the egg, and let the excess egg drip off. Press the chicken pieces into the breadcrumb mixture, coating evenly.
- Place the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer. Spray the top of the chicken with cooking spray.
- Air fry for 8-11 minutes, flipping halfway, until the chicken is golden and mostly cooked through. Carefully spread 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce over each breast, then sprinkle with mozzarella. Continue cooking for 2-3 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the chicken is cooked through to 165 degrees F.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
I’m confused. The cook time is 35 minutes but the recipe says “ Air fry for 8-11 minutes, flipping halfway, until the chicken is golden and mostly cooked through. Carefully spread 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce over each breast, then sprinkle with mozzarella. Continue cooking for 2-3 minutes”. That totals no more than 14 minutes.
I’m not catching where it says 35 minutes cooking time but I can certainly understand how that would be confusing. Just to clarify, the total cook time for this recipe is 20 minutes which includes prep and cooking time in the air fryer.
I am making this now! It says to reserve 2 Tbsp of parmesan, but doesn’t say what to do with it after that. I am assuming we add it add the same time as the mozzarella?
You are right, the 2TBSP of reserved parmesan is to be added with the mozzarella. Sorry about any confusion!