Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan (2024)

Looking for a healthier way to make Chicken Parmesan? We have it! This Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan recipe is everything you love about the original but healthier. The chicken is nice and juicy and the Parmesan coating is crispy. This is an easy dinner in your Air Fryer and the whole family is going to love it. We like to pair it with steamed vegetables, zoodles or pasta!

My family loves Chicken Parmesan but until I got our air fryer, I never made it because frying the breaded chicken in oil is such a hassle and not the healthiest of dinners.

I’ve made Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Parmesan Burgers and Parmesan Crusted Chicken, but sometimes we want a classic chicken Parmesan with a super crispy crust like you get in a restaurant. You know, the totally delicious but really unhealthy kind? We love it, but it’s a pain to make and is fried in a lot of oil so until now it hasn’t been a go-to dinner at our house.

That’s all changed now that we have an air fryer! Now we can make juicy chicken with a crispy parmesan crust that tastes just like traditional Chicken Parmesan but without all the oil and mess. I hate splattering oil on the stovetop!

You only need a few simple ingredients and 15 minutes to get this chicken dinner on the table. My family loves it!

My kids love Chicken Parmesan but frying the chicken in a pan is just not the healthiest thing to do for everyday dinners. I love that you can make a healthier Chicken Parmesan in the air fryer and my family can’t tell the difference!

The chicken is coated in a crispy Parmesan coating just like you fried it, but without all of the oil. Topped with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese, it looks just like regular Chicken Parmesan but it’s so much healthier.

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan

• It will quickly become one of your favorite air fryer recipes because it’s so easy to make making it a great recipe for an easy dinner!
• Golden brown breading on the outside with crispy juicy chicken on the inside.
• Without all of the oil, this delicious Chicken Parmesan made in the air fryer is so much healthier, but you’d never guess because it tastes just like the original.

What is an Air Fryer?

Do you know what an air fryer is? It’s an appliance that works like a convection oven. The air fryer has a fan which circulates hot air around the food giving it a crispy exterior.

It’s a great alternative to frying because you don’t need all the oil and you can make your favorite fried dishes, like this Chicken Parmesan, without all the guilt.

Plus, it cooks food faster than the oven and, I don’t know about you, but less time cooking is always a good thing in my book!

Is Air Fryer Food Healthy?

Deep-fried foods are generally higher in fat than foods that are prepared with other cooking methods. The benefit of Air Fryers is they require a significantly less amount of oil than deep frying.

This is why the Air Fryer is touted as being a “healthier” alternative to deep frying. Using an Air Fryer over deep-frying food can significantly cut down on the overall fat content of your food due to the reduction in oil used.

What can you cook in an Air Fryer?

You can cook almost anything in an Air Fryer!

• Steaks
• Donuts
• French Fries
• Mozzarella Sticks
• Chicken Breasts
• Pork Tenderloin
• Sweet Potatoes

The options are endless!

Ingredients Needed to Make Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan

Not only is this air fryer chicken parmesan a healthier take on the original, but it’s also so easy to make. You only need six ingredients!

• Chicken Breasts – You could also use chicken cutlets and skip cutting the boneless skinless chicken breasts in half.
• Parmesan cheese – Use shredded Parmesan cheese instead of grated because the shredded cheese turns crispy as it cooks and will give your crust a better texture.
• Breadcrumbs – Use Italian-style breadcrumbs, which are already seasoned, instead of plain breadcrumbs. You could also use Italian Panko Breadcrumbs. If you just have regular bread crumbs add 1-2 teaspoons Italian seasoning to the breadcrumbs.
• Eggs – The binder to hold your breadcrumb mixture on your chicken breasts.
• Marinara Sauce – Use your favorite store-bought sauce.
• Mozzarella cheese – Grab a block and shred it yourself for best results.

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan

This recipe is so easy you only need five minutes to prep the chicken and 10 minutes to cook it!

1. Set the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. It will need about three minutes to preheat.
2. Slice the chicken breasts in half lengthwise.
3. Pound the chicken into thin slices that are of the same thickness. This will ensure they cook evenly.
4. Combine the breadcrumbs and shredded Parmesan cheese together in a medium sized bowl. In second bowl, whisk the eggs.
5. Dip the chicken in the eggs that are in a shallow dish and then dredge it in the breadcrumb mixture so that it’s evenly coated. Repeat with the rest of the chicken.
6. Place the breaded chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer you may need to cook the chicken in batches.
7. Cook the chicken for six minutes and then flip the pieces over and top them with 2 Tablespoons of marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese.
8. Cook the chicken for another three to four minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the chicken breast.
9. If you’re cooking the chicken in batches, repeat the process with the rest of the chicken.

How to Store Leftover Chicken Parmesan

Place any leftovers in an air-tight container and store in the refrigerator for up two 2 days.

How to Reheat Leftovers

The easiest way is to reheat any leftovers in the air fryer basket at 350 degrees until heated through to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

You can also use the microwave to warm leftovers but the breading will not be as crispy. A better option is to use the oven and reheat leftovers at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until heated through to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Serving Suggestions

This Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan is so quick and easy you have plenty of time to make a side dish to go with it! We love it with simple steamed vegetables, a green salad, pasta, or zoodles or serve it with some of our other favorite side dishes:

• Smashed Potatoes
• Oven Roasted Vegetables
• Olive Garden Breadsticks
• Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots

More Easy Air Fryer Chicken Recipes!

• Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
• Air Fryer Roast Chicken
• Air Fryer Chicken Legs
• Air Fryer Fried Chicken