If you love fried chicken, but want something a bit lighter, then you need to try this Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken. Golden and crunchy chicken, all cooked in the air fryer in just 15 minutes.
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About Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken
We are obsessed with our air fryer, and chicken is our favourite thing to cook in it.
Especially breaded chicken, as it gets super crispy, without having to fry it in a lot of oil, but still with the most juicy and tender chicken. Adding Parmesan to the breading is just next level delicious.
Parmesan crusted chicken in the air fryer is a quick and easy meal that the whole family will love. So many options when it comes to side dishes too.
Looking for more air fryer chicken recipes? Why not try our juicy Chicken Kebabs, spicy Chicken Fajitas, Wagamama copycat Katsu Chicken or kid's favourite, our Chicken Nuggets?
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Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Chicken breast - You want to use a boneless and skinless chicken breast for this air fryer Parmesan crusted chicken recipe. You are going to be slicing them in half to make them thinner, so this serves 4 people. They also cook quicker this way. You can use boneless and skinless chicken thighs too.
- Mayonnaise - This might sound weird, but trust us on it. Firstly, it helps to keep the chicken really moist and juicy. It also holds all the Parmesan and breadcrumbs on to the chicken. If you really don't like the idea of using mayo for air fried Parmesan chicken, then you could use buttermilk instead or sour cream.
- Garlic - Make sure you crush fresh garlic into a fine paste, so that it evenly distributes in the mayo.
- Breadcrumbs - We used panko breadcrumbs because it makes the chicken really crispy. Any breadcrumbs will work though, and you could use seasoned breadcrumbs for extra flavour.
- Parmesan - Try to grate this yourself, as it will be fresher that way.
- Salt & pepper - Generously season.
Variations
Not feeling like chicken this time? Why not use cod fillets and this Parmesan breading. It's SO good. Salmon would work too.
You can also add some seasoning to the breadcrumbs to change it up a bit. An Italian seasoning or Cajun seasoning works well.
How to Make Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Prep: Butterfly the chicken breasts and pound to flatten them out.
- Step 1: Mix together the mayonnaise and garlic and spread half of it over one side of each piece of chicken.
- Step 2: Mix together the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, salt and pepper.
- Step 3: Lay the chicken, mayo side down, into the breadcrumb mixture, then spread the rest of the mayo mixture onto the other side of the chicken. Flip over and cover with more breadcrumbs, ensuring all sides of the breasts are coated.
- Step 4: Spray your air fryer basket with a little olive oil and put the coated chicken in. Spray the top of the chicken with a little more oil and cook at 190°C for 15 minutes, flipping the chicken over halfway through cooking.
Serving Suggestions
This Parmesan crusted chicken tastes amazing on it's own, but even better with dip! Why not try our Healthy Ranch Dressing or Chipotle Southwest Sauce?
When it comes to sides, we love some crispy potatoes and asparagus. Why not try our Air Fryer Canned Potatoes and Air Fryer Asparagus?
We also love a big pile of Homemade Coleslaw on the side.
You could even serve it with some spaghetti and Homemade Marinara sauce.
Leftovers Tip
If you have leftovers of this Parmesan crusted chicken breast, then they are really good chopped up into our Healthy Chicken Caesar Salad, Chicken Pasta Salad or in our Leftover Chicken Pasta.
Storage
Store: Air fryer Parmesan chicken leftovers will store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Leftovers are great chopped up on a salad.
Freeze: You can either freeze these cooked, or before they are cooked (more on that in the FAQ below). They will keep in the freeze for up to 3 months.
Defrost: You can either cook from frozen or thaw in the fridge overnight.
Reheat: You can reheat it at 170°C for about 5 minutes, making sure it is hot throughout. Keep in mind that reheating this does dry it out a little. If reheating from frozen, it will take about 5 minutes extra.
Dannii's Top Tips
- Make sure to fully coat all the chicken, so there aren't any gaps in the breading.
- Spray your air fryer basket with a little oil before putting the chicken in, so that it doesn't stick to the basket.
- Make sure that there is enough space between the chicken in your air fryer basket. There needs to be space for the air to circulate and for the chicken to get crispy.
- Once you have flipped the chicken halfway, check on it after 5 minutes to make sure that it isn't burning, as every air fryer cooks differently.
- Preheat your air fryer first to ensure it will cook evenly.
- Spray the chicken with oil before cooking, as it will give a crispier coating.
- If you need to cook these in batches, then you can keep the cooked ones warm in the oven on a low heat until the rest are ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can. Follow our recipe for Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, and add Parmesan into it. They will cook quicker though.
Yes, you can and we love having some of these stored in the freezer. Make up the chicken, and then flash freeze them on a baking tray and store in a freezer bag.
Cheddar would work, but only in small amounts as it tends to be a bit more oily.
This air fryer parm crusted chicken cooks in the air fryer for around 15 minutes, but the exact cooking time will depend on your air fryer. The best way to ensure that it is cooked through is to use a meat thermometer. Chicken is cooked when it has an internal temperature of 75°C/167°F at the thickest part of the meat.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
If you've tried this Parmesan Crusted Chicken recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Ingredients
- 350 g (12.5 oz) Chicken breast - about 175g/6oz per breast
- 60 g (0.25 cups) Mayonnaise
- 2 Garlic cloves - crushed
- 20 g (0.5 cups) Parmesan - grated
- 75 g (1 cups) Panko breadcrumbs
- 2 pinch Sea salt
- 2 pinch Ground black pepper
Instructions
- Butterfly 350 g Chicken breast and pound to flatten them out.
- Mix together 60 g Mayonnaise and 2 Garlic cloves and spread half of it over one side of each piece of chicken.
- Mix together 75 g Panko breadcrumbs, 20 g Parmesan, 2 pinch Sea salt and 2 pinch Ground black pepper.
- Lay the chicken, mayo side down, into the breadcrumb mixture, then spread the rest of the mayo mixture onto the other side of the chicken. Flip over and cover with more breadcrumbs, ensuring all sides of the breasts are coated.
- Spray your air fryer basket with a little olive oil and put the coated chicken in. Spray the top of the chicken with a little more oil and cook on the Air Fry setting at 190°C/375°F for 15 minutes, flipping the chicken over halfway through cooking.
Recipe Tips
- Make sure to fully coat all the chicken, so there aren't any gaps in the breading.
- Spray your air fryer basket with a little oil before putting the chicken in, so that it doesn't stick to the basket.
- Make sure that there is enough space between the chicken in your air fryer basket. There needs to be space for the air to circulate and for the chicken to get crispy.
- Once you have flipped the chicken halfway, check on it after 5 minutes to make sure that it isn't burning, as every air fryer cooks differently.
- Preheat your air fryer first to ensure it will cook evenly.
- Spray the chicken with oil before cooking, as it will give a crispier coating.
- If you need to cook these in batches, then you can keep the cooked ones warm in the oven on a low heat until the rest are ready.
Nutritional Information
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The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Charah says
Very easy and healthy, no oils used. thanks for sharing
TAYLER ROSS says
I made this chicken for dinner last night and it was delicious! Perfectly crispy, and I loved that I could make it in the air fryer!
Gianne says
The chicken was perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The parmesan coating added the perfect amount of flavor. Definitely a new favorite in my recipe collection!
Ned says
Oh heck yeah! This chicken was delicious and awesome to make in my air fryer for lunch! Thank you for another amazing recipe!
Paula says
Obsessed with how quick and easy it is to make chicken dinners in the air fryer!
Kathryn says
I'm hooked on this chicken recipe! The parmesan crust is incredible and love the flavor! I love adding this on top of a salad for a satisfying meal :)
dana says
These turned out so crispy! I love doing air fryer chicken. Loved the hint of cheesiness in the breading.
suja md says
Outstanding recipe thanks so much! tasted so much good!
Kathleen says
This easy to make and marvelous air fryer parmesan crusted chicken is just the meal my family will love.
Mahy says
I love how delicious this chicken looks. Definitely the recipe I would like to try over the weekend!
Sky says
My family absolutely loved this chicken! So flavorful and really easy to make! Thanks for sharing!