Description
This Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken recipe delivers crispy, golden chicken breasts coated in a flavorful mix of Parmesan cheese and herbs. Quick to prepare and cook, it’s a perfect weeknight meal that’s both high-protein and deliciously satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (regular or panko)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon olive oil spray
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Slice each chicken breast in half lengthwise to create 4 thinner cutlets, ensuring even cooking and allowing the coating to adhere better.
- Set up coating stations: In a shallow bowl, beat the egg thoroughly. In a separate bowl, combine Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper to form the crust mixture.
- Coat the chicken: Dip each chicken cutlet into the beaten egg, then press firmly into the Parmesan breadcrumb mixture until fully coated on all sides for maximum crispiness.
- Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 375°F and preheat for 3 minutes to ensure a hot cooking environment for crispy results.
- Prepare the air fryer basket: Lightly spray the basket with olive oil to prevent sticking and promote browning of the crust.
- Cook the chicken: Place the coated chicken cutlets in a single layer in the basket. Spray the tops lightly with olive oil. Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is golden, crispy, and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Serve: Remove the chicken from the air fryer and serve hot with a squeeze of lemon or your favorite dipping sauce for added zest and flavor.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, opt for panko breadcrumbs instead of regular ones.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the coating mixture to introduce a subtle heat.
- Ensure chicken cutlets are of uniform thickness to cook evenly.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to accurately check that chicken reaches the safe internal temperature.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cutlet
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 460 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
