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This air fryer parmesan crusted chicken with mayo is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. It is big on flavor and will be ready in less than 15 minutes.
Air Fryer Chicken Dinner
This is an absolutely fantastic air fryer dinner. It has all the hallmarks of classic home-style comfort food, and all the convenience of the new cooking appliance craze: the air fryer. With this recipe, in only twenty minutes you’ll be serving crispy, tasty, coated chicken fillets. Curious? Read on!
Parmesan Crusted Chicken Air Fryer
One thing that’s really cool about this recipe is that the air fryer makes it so crispy and tender. Of course, you can get similar results in an oven, but not with this level of convenience, and not without using way more oil. In the air fryer, we use less oil and it takes less time.
We’ll also be using mayonnaise to secure the seasoning on the chicken during the cooking process. Making dinner like this at home is a great way to have restaurant-quality meals at a lower price, and you don’t even have to leave the house!
You’ll Need
You will need two chicken breasts cut horizontally to make 4 fillets, Parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, mayo, garlic and seasoning of your choice.
How To Make Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken
- First, you’ll want to gently rinse your chicken and pat it dry with a paper towel. This is to help mayonnaise to stick to the chicken.
- Next, mix the mayonnaise with garlic, Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder and salt. Divide the mixture between four fillets and coat on both sides.
- In a shallow dish combine your panko bread crumbs and parmesan cheese.
- Then, pat down your panko crumbs onto the chicken. While you’re doing this you’ll want to preheat your air fryer to about 390 degrees, lightly brush the air fryer basket with olive oil, and cook your chicken for 5-6 minutes before turning over and returning to the fryer for 4-6 minutes.
- Use an instant read meat thermometer to check if your chicken is done. Overcooked chicken will be dry and rubbery, while undercooked chicken is pink in the middle and can make you very, very sick. Using a meat thermometer to ensure your chicken is perfectly cooked all the way through isn’t just convenient, it’s better for you! That’s why they do in the best restaurants, as well.
Air Fryer Chicken FAQs
Strictly speaking, you don’t have to flip it in order for the chicken to cook through. However, unflipped chicken won’t have the crispy sear all over that you get from flipping it. It only takes a couple of seconds to do and it makes your dinner even better, so why wouldn’t you flip the chicken
This will vary based on how many people you’re feeding and the volume of your air fryer. It’s more important that all the pieces are about the same size so they cook evenly and in a similar amount of time. Thinner pieces will cook faster than thick ones, so bear that in mind.
Parmesan cheese is a big deal to a lot of Italian people. The ones from Parma, from which the style of cheese originates, take it even more seriously. Parmesan cheese should be soft and crumbly, with a distinctive odor and taste. It goes really well with a lot of different foods, and is known for how well it pairs with both savory and sweet flavor.
If you don’t have parmesan available, a similar crumbly white cheese will do well. You could use pecorino, which has a similar taste except it’s a little saltier. Softer cheeses are no good for this recipe as they melt at a lower temperature and lack the crumbly grated texture we need for a good chicken coating. Most of the harder milk cheeses from Italy or similar countries will do grea
For seasoning, simple is often better.
If you just have regular breadcrumbs, you can make your own Italian-style seasoning with a few pantry staples. Salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic and onion powder are a great place to start.
More Air Fryer Dinner Ideas
If you make this recipe be sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! We will be happy to hear from you!
Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 large boneless and skinless chicken breasts, sliced horizontally to make 4 fillets
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano or parsley leaves, to garnish
The Garlic Mayounnaise
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, optional
- salt, to taste
The Parmesan Coating
- 1 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 390°F | 199°C.
- Slice 2 large boneless and skinless chicken breasts in half horizontally to make 4 fillets.
- Place the chicken on the cutting board, cover with plastic and pound into an even piece with a rolling pin or meat tenderizer.
- In a small bowl mix together 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and salt. Divide the mixture between fillets and spread all over the chicken.
- Mix together 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs and 1 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese in a shallow bowl. Dredge each fillet in the parmesan mixture, pressing lightly into the coating with the tongs. Then turn and repeat. Shake off excess coating.
- Place the chicken in the basket and cook for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. After 5-6 minutes of cooking, remove the basket and carefully flip over the chicken, using tongs.
- Garnish with 1 tablespoon fresh oregano or parsley leaves. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I cut the chicken into nugget sized pieces to cook and serve on a salad. They came out moist and crispy and were a great addition to my salad.
I’ll be making these again!
Hi Donna! I’m glad to hear they were a hit in your salad and that you plan to make them again. Thanks for sharing your twist on the recipe!
What do you recommend to serve this with? Thank you!
Hi Victoria! I recommend serving it alongside garlic mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a fresh Caesar salad.
This recipe was such a hit! Made it for my husband and I last night, cooked each side for 5 min at 400 degrees in the air fryer. Then added a little marinara and motz cheese on top and cooked for another 3 min. Came out delicious!! Definitely making again.
Hi Kadie! I’m so glad to hear the recipe was a hit! Your addition of marinara and mozzarella sounds absolutely delicious. Thanks for sharing your cooking tips—I’ll definitely try that next time!
Wow this was amazing!!
Easy, fast & flavorful
So glad you loved it Kathy! Easy, fast, and flavorful is always a win. Thanks for sharing! 😊
This looks amazing. I do not have an air fryer. Can I make it in the oven. Recommend a temp and time-lease if so.
Thanks, Gloria! Yes, you can definitely make it in the oven. I recommend baking it at 400°F for about 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the crust is golden and crispy.
I have a similar recipe, mayo just doesn’t have the extra yummy sounding ingredients, that is baked in the oven. It bakes at 425°F for 20 minutes. It also has a step to put a tablespoon or two on top of each breast and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese then bake another 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. There is one small difference, though. My recipe does not instruct to cut the breasts in half.
Can you make this ahead of time? Approximately 1-2 hours. Coat the chicken, then put in fridge, then cook in air fryer.
Yes, you can definitely make it ahead of time! Coat the chicken, pop it in the fridge for 1-2 hours, and then cook it in the air fryer when you’re ready. It’ll still come out crispy and delicious!
What temp and how long in convected oven? I don’t have an air fryer.
Does it work well with chicken thighs?
Hi Dawn! Yes, chicken thighs work great for this recipe! They’ll be extra juicy and flavorful. Just keep an eye on the cooking time since thighs may take a little longer than chicken breasts. Let me know how it turns out if you give it a try! 😊