main-dishes
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan is a lighter, weeknight-friendly twist on the classic Italian-American favorite. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are butterflied into thin cutlets, seasoned well, and coated in a three-step breading of flour, egg, and a crispy panko-Parmesan crust seasoned with oregano, garlic, and a touch of red pepper flakes. The chicken cooks in the air fryer until golden and crunchy outside yet juicy inside, then gets nestled into a skillet of hot marinara and topped with melted mozzarella. Served over a bed of spaghetti and finished with fresh basil, it delivers all the saucy, cheesy comfort of traditional chicken parm with less oil and an easy, hands-off cook time.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 large skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Breading
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Sauce & Serving
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- Cooked spaghetti noodles, for serving
- Freshly chopped basil, for garnish
Instructions
-
Butterfly the chicken: Carefully slice **2 large skinless, boneless chicken breasts** in half horizontally to create **4 thin pieces of chicken**. Season both sides of each piece with **salt to taste** and **black pepper to taste**.
-
Set up the breading station: Place **1/3 cup all-purpose flour** in a shallow bowl. In a second shallow bowl, beat **2 large eggs** until well blended. In a third shallow bowl, combine **1 cup panko bread crumbs**, **1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan**, **1 tsp dried oregano**, **1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes**, and **1/2 tsp garlic powder**, mixing to distribute the seasonings evenly through the panko.
-
Bread the chicken: Working one piece at a time, coat each of the **4 seasoned chicken cutlets** in the **1/3 cup flour**, shaking off any excess. Dip the floured chicken into the **beaten 2 eggs**, letting any excess egg drip off, then press the chicken into the **panko-Parmesan mixture** made from **1 cup panko, 1/4 cup Parmesan, 1 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, and 1/2 tsp garlic powder**, coating both sides thoroughly and pressing gently so the crumbs adhere.
-
Air fry the chicken: Arrange the **4 breaded chicken cutlets** in a single layer in the air fryer basket (work in batches if necessary so they are not overlapping). Air fry at **400°F** for about **11 minutes**, turning the cutlets halfway through the cook time, until the coating is golden and the chicken is cooked through.
-
Heat the marinara: While the chicken cooks, pour **2 cups marinara sauce** into a large skillet and heat over medium heat until the sauce is hot and gently simmering.
-
Melt the cheese: When the **4 air-fried chicken cutlets** are done, place them in the skillet directly on top of the hot **2 cups marinara sauce**. Sprinkle **1 cup shredded mozzarella** evenly over the tops of the chicken pieces. Cover the skillet with a lid and cook for about **3 minutes**, or until the mozzarella is melted and gooey over the chicken cutlets and marinara.
-
Serve: Divide the **cooked spaghetti noodles** among plates. Top each portion of spaghetti with a sauced **chicken Parmesan cutlet** and spoon extra **marinara sauce** from the skillet over the top. Garnish with **freshly chopped basil** and serve immediately.
Notes
- Butterflying the 2 chicken breasts into 4 thin cutlets helps them cook quickly and evenly in the air fryer.
- For extra crispiness, lightly spray the breaded chicken with oil before air frying.
- You can use homemade or jarred marinara; choose a sauce you enjoy since it is a key flavor.
- For a spicier version, increase the **1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes** in the panko mixture.
- Leftovers reheat well in the air fryer for a few minutes to re-crisp the coating while keeping the cheese melty.