Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken (Printable Version)

Golden crispy parmesan crusted chicken with minimal oil. Perfectly juicy and ready in 33 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz each)

→ Breading

02 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
03 - 2/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
06 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Coating

09 - 2 large eggs
10 - 2 tablespoons milk

→ For Spraying

11 - Olive oil spray

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
02 - Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. If thick, pound to even thickness (about 3/4 inch).
03 - In a shallow bowl, whisk together eggs and milk.
04 - In another shallow bowl, combine panko, parmesan, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper.
05 - Dip each chicken breast into the egg mixture, coating completely, then press into the parmesan breadcrumb mixture, ensuring an even, thick crust.
06 - Lightly spray both sides of the coated chicken breasts with olive oil spray.
07 - Arrange chicken breasts in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if necessary.
08 - Air fry for 9 minutes, flip, spray again lightly, and air fry for another 7–9 minutes until the crust is golden and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
09 - Let rest for 3 minutes before slicing and serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The parmesan creates this incredible salty, nutty crust that shatters when you bite into it
  • You get that guilty pleasure crunch without the mess or heaviness of frying
  • The chicken stays impossibly juicy while the outside gets restaurant-style crispy
02 -
  • Overcrowding the air fryer basket creates steam instead of crunch, so cook in batches if needed
  • Pressing the crumbs onto the chicken firmly is the secret to preventing bare spots during cooking
  • Letting the chicken rest before cutting locks in all those precious juices you worked to create
03 -
  • Let the coated chicken sit for 10 minutes before air frying to help the breading set
  • Use a meat thermometer instead of guessing—165°F is the only way to guarantee perfectly cooked chicken

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