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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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Our 1st air fryer recipe. Hubby said it smelled delicious, and tasted even better! Huge hit here, and it will go into our menu rotation. Thank you so much!
That’s awesome, Sharyl! I’m so glad it was a hit. And thanks for trying the recipe!
This dish was perfect. Tasted amazing. I will make this again.
So happy to hear that, Renee! Glad you enjoyed it, and I love that it’s a repeat-worthy recipe for you. Thanks for trying it!
Ok…have to tell you.I made this again for the second time.It makes plenty for me to freeze for hubby & I to have a dinner for left overs..it comes out perfect each time.Yes,obviously we really enjoy it..thanks again.
Hi Holly! That makes me so happy to hear! I love that it’s become a go-to for you and your husband—and that it freezes well for easy dinners later. Thanks so much for coming back to share your feedback! 💛
I have made this a few times since finding it on Pinterest.I used boneless thighs this time.This always tastes amazing & hubby devoures it each time. Thank you for a delicious recipe.👍
Hi Holly! That makes me so happy to hear! Boneless thighs are a great choice—extra juicy and flavorful. Thanks so much for coming back and sharing 😊
Very delicious. Cooked up quickly. I will definitely make it again!
Hi Carol! So glad you enjoyed it! Quick and delicious is always a win — thanks for trying the recipe, and I’m glad it’s a keeper for you! 😊
This chicken is so easy, good flavor and crispy. This was the first recipe I made with my air fryer. This is definitely a good to when short on time to make dinner.
Hi Michelle! That makes me so happy to hear — especially knowing it was your very first air fryer recipe! I’m so glad it turned out crispy and full of flavor. It really is a lifesaver when you need something quick. Thanks so much for trying it and sharing your thoughts! 😊
We love these chicken breasts! This recipe is part of our regular rotation now. They make really good chicken sandwiches too, much better than the frozen ones.
Hi Diane! I’m so happy to hear that you love the recipe—and I love the idea of turning the chicken into sandwiches! Definitely better than frozen. 😊 Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!
I’m saving this recipe in my “Make it Again” Pintrest board. Even without the parmesan, fresh garlic and salt, this was very flavorful, tender, quick to put together and cook, and so good! My husband is diabetic and on a low sodium diet. Things can get pretty bland but this was any thing but bland!
Hi Mary! Thank you so much for sharing this! I’m really glad to hear it worked well even with the adjustments—especially for your husband’s dietary needs. Appreciate you saving it to your “Make it Again” board—means a lot! 💛
Made this quite a few times..I have a question for you. If I make a larger batch,perhaps 8, what do you suggest for reheating but wanting to retain the yum crispness? (I mentioned once before I planned on freezing left overs but we decided to have again the next day.)Thank you !
I made this air fryer chicken recipe for the first time tonight. It was absolutely delicious! Will definitely make again 😋
Thank you so much, Annette! I’m glad to hear you loved the recipe 😊 It’s one of our favorites too!