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Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan

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A quick and easy air fryer chicken parmesan recipe featuring crispy golden chicken breasts topped with melted mozzarella and tangy marinara sauce, perfect for a satisfying dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz / 170 g each), pounded to even thickness
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • ½ cup (60 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs, beaten, room temperature
  • 1 cup (100 g) Italian-seasoned panko breadcrumbs (seasoned with dried oregano, basil, and garlic powder)
  • ¼ cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • Olive oil spray
  • ½ cup (120 ml) marinara sauce
  • 4 oz (115 g) fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced or torn
  • Fresh basil (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Place each chicken breast between two sheets of plastic wrap or parchment paper. Gently pound with a meat mallet or rolling pin until about ½ inch (1.25 cm) thick.
  2. Lightly season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
  3. Set up breading station: place flour in one shallow bowl, beaten eggs in a second bowl, and combine Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs with grated Parmesan cheese in a third bowl.
  4. Coat each chicken breast first in flour, shaking off excess, then dip into beaten eggs, and finally press into breadcrumb mixture until well coated.
  5. Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3 minutes.
  6. Lightly spray chicken breasts with olive oil spray on both sides. Place in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 10 minutes at 400°F (200°C), flipping halfway through.
  7. Spoon about ¼ cup (60 ml) marinara sauce on top of each chicken breast. Layer slices or torn pieces of fresh mozzarella over the sauce.
  8. Return chicken to air fryer and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes at 400°F (200°C), until cheese is melted and bubbly with slight browning.
  9. Carefully remove chicken and garnish with fresh basil if desired. Let rest for 1-2 minutes before serving.

Notes

Pound chicken to even thickness for uniform cooking. Use panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch. Lightly spray olive oil before air frying to achieve golden crispiness. Add mozzarella near the end to prevent sogginess. Flip chicken halfway through cooking. For gluten-free, substitute breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free panko. For dairy-free, use vegan mozzarella and omit Parmesan or use nutritional yeast. Reheat leftovers in oven or air fryer to maintain crispiness; avoid microwaving.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer chicken parmesan, crispy chicken parmesan, easy chicken parmesan, quick dinner, melted mozzarella, Italian chicken recipe

Find it online: https://blairrecipes.com/crispy-air-fryer-chicken-parmesan-recipe-easy-perfect-dinner-with-melted-mozzarella/