I know some of you may be thinking: Chicken breast + Air fryer = Cardboard disaster

But this Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan is crispy, juicy, and covered in melted cheese — basically everything you expect from chicken parm but WITHOUT the fuss of deep frying. I can’t count the number of times I’ve ordered breaded chicken and the smell of grease prevented me from properly enjoying the dish. This version gives you all the satisfaction without any of that heaviness!

Pair this with your favourite pasta or just with a side of salad or vegetables. You can follow our Aglio Olio or Carbonara recipe if you wish!

Why You'll Like This

✅ It's actually crispy — None of that soggy coating nonsense. The air fryer creates this gorgeous golden crust that stays crunchy even after you add the sauce and cheese.

✅ No grease, no guilt — All the indulgent flavours of traditional chicken parm but without feeling heavy and it’s lower in calories!

✅ Weeknight-friendly — From start to finish, you're looking under 30 minutes! Perfect for those nights when you want something special but still want it easy (because who doesn’t!)

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 14 minutes (depending on your air fryer)

Serves: 2

Ingredients

For the chicken:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups breadcrumbs (I made my own with this bread)
⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese (I recommend this)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp mixed herbs (oregano or Italian seasoning works too)
4 tsp salt
Black pepper

For the topping:

Your favourite marinara or pasta sauce (I used homemade, recipe down below!)
Mozzarella, or I used this shredded cheese I have on hand

**Pizza/Pasta sauce recipe**

We always make our own because it tastes better and fresher ❤️

Method

Get your chicken ready: Slice those chicken breasts in half lengthwise — we want thinner cutlets that'll cook evenly and quickly. Give them a pat dry with paper towels and flatten them with something heavy and flat. I used a glass jar lol. But if you have a meat tenderiser, please use it. Then season lightly with salt and pepper on all sides.

Set up your breading station: You'll need 1 bowl and 1 tray. Bowl gets the beaten eggs. Tray gets your breadcrumbs mixed with grated parmesan, garlic powder, dried herbs, salt, and pepper. Also get ready your air fryer basket so you can place the breaded chicken in right away after breading.

Bread away: Dip each piece of chicken into the egg first and let residue egg drip off. We don’t want too much of it - just enough for the breadcrumbs to stick to the chicken. Next, coat thoroughly in that breadcrumb mixture. Be generous here and press gently so those crumbs really stick! We don’t want to see any egg or chicken through the breading.

First air fry: Pop the chicken in a single layer (if you need to work in batches, that's totally fine). Cook for 5 minutes, flip, then another 5 minutes at 190ºC. I did not preheat my air fryer - sometimes if I feel I need that little bit of “warm-up” I just cook the first side for an additional minute, so 6 minutes, flip, then another 5 minutes.

Almost done: Spoon pasta sauce over each cutlet, and spread it out like you’re making a pizza. Then pile on that shredded cheese! Back into the air fryer for another 4 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and getting those lovely golden edges😍

If you’re wondering how to make your own homemade breadcrumbs like I did,

Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan

This version beats the Italian restaurant for me only because it’s grease-free! This recipe is quick enough for any weeknight dinner but still feels special enough that you won't feel like you're settling, especially if you’re already going to cook at home! If you've been put off by dry chicken breastdisasters in the past, I genuinely think this might be your redemption story:)