Cody Casey
Chicken Parmesan is a classic Italian dish that is typically deep-fried, but with an air fryer, you can achieve the same delicious taste and crispy texture with much less oil and guilt! This recipe is not only healthier, but it's also quick and easy to make, requiring just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep work. So, if you're looking for a weeknight dinner that's both comforting and convenient, air-fried chicken parm is the way to go.
Characteristics and Values Table for Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Chicken breasts, Parmesan cheese, Breadcrumbs, Eggs, Marinara Sauce |
| Equipment | Air fryer |
| Temperature | 350-400°F |
| Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Oil | Not required |
| Health | Healthier alternative to deep frying |
| Taste | Crispy, golden, and cheesy |
| Sides | Pasta, salad, garlic bread, steamed vegetables |
| Storage | 3-4 days in the fridge, 2 months in the freezer |
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What You'll Learn
Chicken preparation
Slicing and Drying the Chicken:
Start by slicing the chicken breasts horizontally into two thinner pieces. This step ensures faster and more even cooking. You can carefully butterfly the chicken breasts to create these thin slices. Pat the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture, as this will result in a crispier texture.
Seasoning the Chicken:
Place the chicken pieces in a shallow bowl and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Set the seasoned chicken aside while you prepare the dredging station.
Creating the Dredging Station:
You will need three separate shallow bowls for this step. In the first bowl, combine flour with garlic powder and, optionally, Italian seasoning. The flour provides a dry base for the subsequent coatings to adhere to. In the second bowl, beat or whisk eggs until well blended. This egg mixture will act as a binder for the breadcrumbs. The final bowl will contain the dry coating mixture. Combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, oregano or Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper. You can adjust the seasonings to your taste preferences. If you want an extra-cheesy coating, feel free to add more Parmesan cheese.
Dredging and Coating the Chicken:
Now it's time to coat the chicken! Take a piece of chicken and dredge it in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Then, dip it into the egg mixture, allowing the excess to drip off. Finally, coat it in the breadcrumb mixture, gently pressing to ensure the coating adheres well. Repeat this process for each piece of chicken, working with one piece at a time to avoid clumping. This method will give your chicken a crispy and flavourful crust.
Cooking the Chicken:
Preheat your air fryer to a temperature between 350°F and 400°F, depending on your preference and the model of your air fryer. Spray the air fryer basket with oil or non-aerosol oil spray to prevent sticking. Place the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the chicken in batches. Cook for about 5 minutes on each side, or until the chicken is a light golden brown.
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Breading station
To create a breading station for chicken parmesan in an air fryer, you will need three shallow bowls. In the first bowl, place flour and season with salt and pepper. You can also add garlic powder to the flour. In the second bowl, beat or whisk eggs until blended. In the third bowl, combine breadcrumbs, parmesan, and seasonings. You can use Italian-style breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs. If using regular breadcrumbs, add Italian seasoning, paprika, and black pepper. You can also add red pepper flakes and oregano.
Make sure to pat the chicken dry with a paper towel before breading to remove any excess moisture, which will ensure a crispier texture. You can also use mayonnaise or egg whites as a base for the chicken to help the dry coating stick to the meat.
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Air fryer settings
To cook chicken parmesan in an air fryer, you will need to preheat your air fryer to a temperature between 350 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The higher the temperature, the shorter the cooking time. For example, at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, you should cook your chicken for around 9 minutes in total, flipping the chicken halfway through. At 400 degrees Fahrenheit, you should cook your chicken for around 10 minutes in total, again flipping the chicken halfway through.
If you are reheating leftovers, you can place them in the air fryer basket at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until heated through to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This should take around 5 minutes.
If you are using an air fryer model with different temperature settings, you may need to adjust the cooking time accordingly. For example, one source recommends preheating your air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit and setting the timer to 12 minutes. Another source recommends cooking at 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes or until heated through.
It is important to note that cooking times may vary depending on the size and model of your air fryer, as well as the thickness of your chicken. It is always best to check that your chicken is cooked through to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit before serving.
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Cooking the chicken
To cook chicken parmesan in an air fryer, start by preparing the chicken. You can use chicken breasts, cutlets, or butterflied chicken breasts. If you're using chicken breasts, slice them in half lengthwise, creating two thinner pieces. This will help the chicken cook more quickly and evenly. You can also pat the chicken dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture, which will result in a crispier texture.
Next, create a dredging station with three shallow bowls. In the first bowl, combine flour with salt and pepper. In the second bowl, beat or whisk eggs. In the third bowl, combine breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and seasonings like oregano, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, and black pepper. You can also add a small amount of mayonnaise to the eggs, which will make the chicken tender and help the dry coating stick.
Now, it's time to coat the chicken. First, dredge the chicken in the flour, shaking off any excess. Then, dip it into the egg mixture, letting the excess drip off. Finally, coat the chicken in the breadcrumb mixture, gently pressing to ensure it adheres well. Make sure to coat both sides of the chicken evenly.
Once the chicken is well-coated, arrange it in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding. Lightly spray the basket and the chicken with oil. Set the air fryer temperature to between 350 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for about 5 minutes per side, or until the chicken is a light golden brown.
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Storing leftovers
Firstly, allow any leftover chicken parmesan to cool down to room temperature after cooking.
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