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Air Fryer Parmesan Chicken Breasts

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Air Fryer Parmesan Chicken Breasts are a flavorful way to cook your chicken breast. They come out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside and are totally delicious.

This recipe will show you how to cook chicken breast with a delicious crispy coating, plus tips and tricks for avoiding dried-out overcooked chicken.

crispy air fryer parmesan chicken breasts on a white plate with napkin and forks beside it

Air Fryer Parmesan Chicken Breasts

Looking for a new recipe to use up those chicken breasts you have? I love parmesan chicken because it creates a delicious crispy outside with moist juicy chicken on the inside.

These chicken breasts are created with a few simple ingredients and can be prepped and cooked in under 30 minutes.

I love cooking a variety of chicken cuts in the air fryer including chicken drumsticks, salt and pepper chicken wings, and one of my absolute favorites… cooking a whole chicken with a simple delicious spice rub (it’s seriously good).

A Note About Air Fryers

Before we go any further let me quickly rave about how much I love air fryers. If you just bought one, you’re probably beginning to realize how amazing this tool can be in your kitchen. You can air fry so many foods to create crispy deliciousness.

I have the Ninja Foodi Deluxe – it’s an all-in-one that allows me to use it as an air fryer, an instant pot, I can sear, slow cook, steam and even bake food. I love this tool because it saves space in my kitchen – no need to have an extra instant pot as this appliance will do it all! If you haven’t purchased an air fryer yet, I highly recommend checking out the Ninja Foodi Deluxe Here.

air fryer parmesan chicken breast cut open and detail of the cooked white chicken on the inside

Air Fryer Parmesan Chicken Breast Ingredients

Chicken Breasts – Each chicken breast will vary. Look for ones that are similar in size so that they will cook more evenly.

Panko Crumbs – I love to use panko crumbs for an extra crispy flavor. You can usually find these at your grocery store. If not you can buy them online here. There are also gluten-free panko crumbs.

Parmesan Cheese – I love to use freshly grated highly parmesan cheese versus the pre-grated shaker versions that you can get at the store. However, both will work for this recipe.

SPICES – This recipe uses simple spices: garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt and pepper.

Eggs – You’ll need two eggs to coat the chicken before dipping it in the parmesan crust mixture.

Fork with one bit of chicken on it

How To Make Air Fryer Parmesan Chicken Breasts

Parmesan chicken breasts are so easy to make in the air fryer. Everything including prep time and cook time is all done in less than 30 minutes.

  1. First, even out your chicken breasts using a meat tenderizer or a rolling pin.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together the panko crumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt and pepper. In a separate bowl, beat the two eggs and set them aside. Dip one chicken breast into the egg mixture and then add it to the parmesan crust to evenly coat both sides.
  3. Preheat the air fryer for two minutes at 375°F. Add in the chicken breast and cook for 12 minutes, then flip them using a fork or pair of tongs. Cook for another 12-15 minutes, keeping an eye on them in the last couple of minutes so that it doesn’t overcook. Every air fryer is different so the exact time to cook will vary.

Tips For Perfect Crispy Air Fryer Parmesan Chicken Breast:

  • Take a minute to even out the chicken with a meat tenderizer or the side of a rolling pin. It will help the chicken to cook more evenly.
  • Pay attention to the time cooking. Unfortunately, there is no magic answer here – every size of chicken breast will be different and so will each air fryer. But when you do find the right time, write it down so that you can remember for next time.
  • Always flip the chicken halfway through cooking to get an even crispiness.
  • Check the chicken in the last couple of minutes to make sure they’re not overcooking. Slice a piece open to see how the inside looks. Every air fryer is different so it might take a little bit of practice getting used to your own air fryer temperature and how it works.
  • According to the USDA recommended cooking temperatures, the safest internal temperature for cooking all types of poultry products is 165°F. This is the interior temperature that the meat will read at once removed from the heat source. You can use a food thermometer, which will be poked into the thickest part of the chicken to read the temperature.
looking into an air fryer with cooked parmesan chicken breasts inside

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes:

Now that you know this recipe, make sure to check out my other easy air fryer recipes:

Air Fryer Parmesan Chicken Breasts

This recipe will show you how to cook chicken breast with a delicious crispy coating. This recipe makes enough coating for 4 chicken breasts. (if you only have 2, make half or save half in the freezer for later)
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Prep Time: 8 minutes
Cook Time: 24 minutes
Total Time: 32 minutes
Servings: 4 chicken breasts

Ingredients

Instructions

  • First, even out the chicken breasts using a meat tenderizer, or the slide of a rolling pin. This will help the chicken to cook more evenly. (this part is optional, but can help prevent overcooked chicken)
    raw chicken in a bag with rolling pin beside it
  • In a large bowl, mix together parmesan cheese, panko crumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt and pepper.
    spices in a white bowl with for beside it
  • Beat the eggs in a separate bowl. Add one chicken breast and coat evenly on each side.
    raw egg and raw chicken in a white bowl with a fork
  • Take the chicken and dip into the panko crumb mixture.
    raw chicken on a white plate with parmesan coating around it
  • Preheat the air fryer for 2 minutes at 375°F. Add in the chicken breasts in a single layer. Cook for 12 minutes then flip them with a fork.
    raw parmesan chicken breasts inside an air fryer
  • Cook an additional 12-15 minutes depending on the size and quantity of chicken breasts. Check for doneness by slicing one open to see the inside – chicken will no longer be pink and juices run clear.
    cooked parmesan chicken breasts in an air fryer

Recipe Notes:

  • The exact time for cooking will depend on the size of the chicken and your air fryer. 
  • The chicken will be done when the inside is no longer pink and juices run clear. The internal temperature should reach 165°F with a meat thermometer.

Nutrition

Calories: 280kcal

The nutritional information provided is an estimate and is per serving.

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