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Chicken Parmesan in the Air Fryer Recipe
Chicken Parmesan is one of those classic recipes that blew me away when I came to Canada. As with many timeless classics, my first time indulging in this recipe was made by me! Ah, so good! Ask me what my favorite pasta dish is and I think I’d actually tell you chicken Parmesan! You can enjoy it in so many ways! The Classic Chicken Parmesan with Spaghetti Marinara is my favorite way. I love that beautiful brown crispy crust you get from frying the chicken! Ah, that’s heavenly! If you haven’t made that yet then I highly recommend you check out that recipe! If I’m not feeling like serving with spaghetti, then I love to transform the chicken Parm and put it into a sandwich with Chicken Parm Sandwich! That’s so much fun to make and eat!
I love my restaurant-style dishes at home. What can I say, I’m a huge foodie, as I’m sure many of you are too. I got into cooking because I wanted to recreate my restaurant favorites at home! The problem is that we must reserve these indulgences for, well, indulgences! As much as I love to make complex dishes for a great feast, I’ll admit that it’s a pain to get all that oil into a pan and shallow fry. Plus, vegetable oil certainly is not the healthiest for you! Yes, I’ll always argue that the chicken cutlet won’t absorb anywhere near all that oil, but that being said even a small amount of veggie oil isn’t the best to have on a daily basis!
Another thing that’s cumbersome is cleaning up after. Being totally transparent here, I procrastinate putting the oil away. Then the pan is just so greasy to clean! Yes, it’s worth it for that amazing taste, but it’s a lot of work!
For a healthy alternative, you could indeed make Baked Chicken Parmesan. You’ll avoid all of the oil and still get a super delicious and crispy crust on your cutlet!
However, this takes some time! You have to preheat your oven and then it takes a while to bake in there. Additionally, oven baking requires you to baby your chicken Parmesan.
Why Use an Air Fryer?
Ever since I got an air fryer I pretty much stopped using the oven to bake unless the dish is too big to fit in the air fryer! But for Potato Wedges and Chicken Wings, I’m all for using the air fryer instead!
An air fryer is an appliance that works in a similar method to a convection oven. The fan circulates hot air inside the basket, giving your food a wonderful crispy exterior! I’m all about honesty here, so I’m going to tell you that no, sorry, you won’t get results that are 100 percent comparable to deep frying. BUT I’d say depending on what you’re making, you can get about 80 to 90 percent of the way there in terms of texture and taste! What I can guarantee is that it’ll be super crispy and satisfying, and close enough to the shallow-fried version!
Is Air Frying Healthy?▼
I’m going to say yes! You’re avoiding all of the vegetable oil that’s used when you deep fry food. I’m going to add a little drizzle of olive oil to help get the Panko crust nice and crispy, but the amount I’ll use is honestly extremely negligible. A little bit of olive oil for cooking isn’t bad for you, unlike the vegetable oils! Vegetable oils are refined oils, meaning that they have been heavily processed and are cheaper. On the other hand, olive oil has heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. The small amount of olive oil here will also add a great flavor to our chicken cutlet. A bit of fat in a dish contributes to a balanced meal nutritionally, and it contributes to satiety.
If you’re looking for a close-to-the-real-thing alternative, then I definitely recommend this Air Fryer recipe! You’ll achieve a taste much closer to the Classic Chicken Parmesan than baking it in the oven!
What Air Fryer do I recommend?▼
The air fryer I have is the Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 2-Basket Air Fryer. One of my favorite parts about it is that there are two baskets! If you’re making two different items, then you can set the two baskets at different cook methods, temperatures, and cook times. This is great if you’re planning on making an entire meal in an air fryer!
Let me share a secret with you! I actually recorded my Air Fryer Crispy Cajun Potato Wedges and the Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings recipes simultaneously! I got to enjoy both together for an awesome dinner, and two videos were recorded at once! Yay!
There are six settings for this air fryer, which are:
- Air Fry
- Air Broil
- Reheat
- Dehydrate
- Bake
- Roast
I’ve only ever used the Air Fry and Reheat settings, but I’d love to try the others! I still have lots to explore with this air fryer, but I’m very excited to do so! If you want an in-depth review of my first impressions after only a week of using the air fryer, then be sure to check out this video!
What drew me to this air fryer were the settings, the two baskets, and I’ll be honest, the brand! I love my Ninja prep blenders for sauces and purees as well as my Ninja professional blender for smoothies and protein ice creams, so I trusted Ninja would make an awesome air fryer! When I saw it was at a great sale price at Canadian Tire and I totally bought it on impulse! It was love at first use, and I used it every day for a week, sometimes twice a day! I can’t ever go back to not having one, so if you’re on the fence about getting an air fryer and you love your fried food, then I definitely say to go for it!
Why Make Chicken Parmesan in the Air Fryer?
Let’s go over why you should be making this Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan recipe for you and your family tonight!
- (almost) oil-free!
- Cooks in half the time compared to baking in the oven!
- A super crispy crust!
- Minimal clean-up!
Tools Needed
Ingredients for Air Fried Chicken Parmesan
Let’s break down the ingredients we’ll need to make this easy and healthy Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan.
For Breading the Chicken
- 2 small chicken breasts or 1 large chicken breast
- 1 large egg, lightly whipped
- All-purpose flour
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Pasta
- Classic Italian Marinara Sauce (or any marinara sauce you’d like)
- Spaghetti
- Fresh basil (for garnish)
- Grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for topping
- 1 Tbsp butter (optional)
For Preparing the Chicken Parmesan
- Classic Italian Marinara Sauce
- Sour cream
- Part-skim mozzarella
- Parmesan
- Fresh basil (for garnish)
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste (optional)
How to Make Air Fried Chicken Parmesan
For the Crispy Baked Chicken
- If using a large chicken breast (>150 g) cut the chicken into smaller portions by cutting it diagonally in two equal halves. Place the portions in a Ziploc bag or between two plastic wraps and pound thin using a meat tenderizer (about 1/4 inch thickness).
- Measure out flour, egg and breadcrumb in different plates/large bowls. Season flour with salt and pepper, lightly whisk the egg and sprinkle oregano on the breadcrumbs.
- Working with one chicken portion at a time, dredge the chicken in flour, shake off excess. Dip the chicken in the egg and evenly coat both sides. Let excess drip off and coat the chicken in the breadcrumbs. Make sure to press the breadcrumbs on the chicken for an extra crispy chicken.
- Place breaded chicken in the air fryer drawer and set Air Fryer to Air Fry setting. Bake at 390 F and set timer to 15 minutes.
- After 5-6 minutes, pause the air fryer and brush each side of the chicken with olive oil. Continue cooking until the chicken is golden brown all over.
For the Pasta
- In the meanwhile, boil water for pasta in a large pot and season generously with salt.
- Once water starts to boil, add pasta and cook until al dente, 7-8 minutes. With 4 minutes remaining for the pasta, warm up the marinara sauce in a large saucepan or pot, reserving 1/4 Cup for the chicken parmesan.
- Toss the pasta with the sauce and keep warm until the chicken finishes cooking.
For Preparing the Chicken Parmesan
- Once the crust of the chicken is golden brown, take chicken out of the oven. Top the chicken with marinara sauce, sour cream, mozzarella and parmesan. Gently pat down the toppings and place back in the air fryer drawer.
- Set the Air Fryer to Air Broil mode and place baking tray back in the oven on the top-most rack and cook until the cheese is bubbly and a light golden brown, about 1-2 minutes. Remove the chicken parmesan from the oven.
- Serve pasta in a bowl or plate and serve with the freshly baked chicken parmesan with a garnish of basil and extra parmesan.
Tips & Tricks for Amazing Chicken Parmesan
- Make sure to press on the Panko breadcrumbs well on the chicken cutlets for an even and crispy breading.
- Usually the Air Fryer drawers go quite deep, be careful while placing or removing the chicken to/from the drawer.
- Adding the oil helps bring color to the crispy chicken crust. Without the oil, the breadcrumbs will look bland and may get charred.
- Given the small space in the air fryer, be careful with the broiling step, that cheese will be ready fast!
Serving Suggestions for Crispy & Cheesy Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
I’m having my chicken parm with spaghetti marinara, as you can see! If you don’t feel like having the spaghetti, then that’s okay! You could certainly use the chicken cutlet and have it in a sandwich, or you could serve with some vegetables or zoodles. Here are some other side dish ideas:
- Instant Pot Steamed Baby Potatoes
- Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
- Super Crispy Air Fryer Cajun Potato Wedges (Hint: you can use the other basket if you get the Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 Air Fryer!!)
- Juicy Air Fryer Buffalo Wings (again, you can use the second basket here!)
Air Fryer, Not Deep Fryer: What Changes
Traditional chicken parmesan is shallow fried or deep fried in a lot of oil and then finished in the oven under cheese. This one is not, and the difference shows up in the ingredient list: there is no melted butter anywhere, and the only fat on the chicken is olive oil brushed on at the 5 to 6 minute mark. That is the whole point of using the air fryer. The breading station is the same three bowls as always though: the 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour seasoned with salt and pepper, 1 large egg lightly whipped, and the 1/2 cup of panko breadcrumbs with oregano sprinkled through. If italian seasoning or a little garlic powder is what you have in the cupboard, either goes into that breadcrumb mixture happily. Press the crumbs on firmly; without hot oil rushing in on all sides, the crust needs the contact. As written this makes 2 pieces from 2 small skinless chicken breasts. If yours are bigger than about 150 g, roughly 5 ounces, cut each diagonally in half and pound them to a 1/4 inch thickness so they cook evenly. Chicken thighs will work in place of breasts if you prefer them, but they do not pound as flat and will want a few extra minutes.
A Single Layer, and Getting It to 165 F
Lay the breaded chicken in the air-fryer basket in a single layer with a little space around each piece of chicken. This is the one rule that matters: air fryers cook by moving hot air, so overlapping pieces steam instead of crisping. Two portions fit most machines, but the size of your air fryer decides everything, and if you are cooking for four you are working in batches, holding the rest of the chicken warm while the next lot goes in. Air Fry at 390 F for about 15 minutes, pausing at 5 to 6 minutes to brush each side with olive oil. Chicken is done at an internal temperature of 165 F, so a meat thermometer into the thickest part is worth more than any timer, especially once you start changing thickness or switching to thighs. Then top with the 1/4 cup of marinara, the 2/3 cup of part-skim mozzarella cheese and 2 tbsp of parmesan, and Air Broil for 1 to 2 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and melty. For what it is worth, the whole plate, chicken and spaghetti together, comes to roughly 1,250 calories per serving with about 66g protein, 139g carbs and 1,703mg sodium, so if you want it lighter, halve the pasta and lean on veggies. Roasted brussels sprouts, a green salad, angel hair instead of spaghetti or a slice of garlic bread all work alongside, with parsley or basil over the top. Leftovers keep in an air-tight container, though the crust will soften; a few minutes back in the air fryer brings it most of the way back.
Let me know what you think of this recipe in the comments! If you’ve tried this recipe, be sure to post it on social media and tag it with #cookingwithanadi and mention me @cooking.with.anadi. Thank you!
Recipe by Anadi Misra
Crispy, cheesy, and made in the air fryer — this classic Chicken Parmesan is faster and easier than ever. Serve it over spaghetti for a perfect Italian dinner the whole family will love.
Air fryer
Rate this recipe ✦
15 min
Prep
30 min
Cook
45 min
Total
2
pieces
medium
Level
Ingredients
Ingredients
Tap any quantity to scale
For breading the chicken
- small chicken breasts
- large egg (lightly whipped) · make your own
- (31 g) all-purpose flourShop →
- (30 g) panko breadcrumbsShop →
- salt(to taste)Shop →
- pepper(to taste)Shop →
For the pasta
- Classic Italian Marinara Sauce (reserved to top chicken Parmesan) · make your own
- (227 g) spaghettiShop →
- fresh basil(for garnish)Shop →
- (15 g) grated Parmesan cheese(plus extra for topping)
- (14 g) butter(optional)
For preparing the chicken parmesan
- (60 ml) Classic Italian Marinara Sauce · make your own
- (30 ml) sour cream
- (75 g) part-skim mozzarella
- (8 g) Parmesan
- fresh basil(for garnish)Shop →
- olive oil(drizzle)Shop →
- salt(to taste, optional)Shop →
- pepper(to taste, optional)Shop →
Instructions
For the crispy baked chicken
- 1
If using a large chicken breast (>5.5 oz) cut the chicken into smaller portions by cutting it diagonally in two equal halves. Place the portions in a Ziploc bag or between two plastic wraps and pound thin using a meat tenderizer (about 1/4 inch thickness).
If using a large chicken breast (>5.5 oz) cut the chicken into smaller portions by cutting it diagonally in two equal halves. Place the portions in a Ziploc bag or between two plastic wraps and pound thin using a meat tenderizer (about 1/4 inch thickness).
- 2
Measure out flour, egg and breadcrumb in different plates/large bowls. Season flour with salt and pepper, lightly whisk the egg and sprinkle oregano on the breadcrumbs.
Measure out flour, egg and breadcrumb in different plates/large bowls. Season flour with salt and pepper, lightly whisk the egg and sprinkle oregano on the breadcrumbs.
- 3
Working with one chicken portion at a time, dredge the chicken in flour, shake off excess. Dip the chicken in the egg and evenly coat both sides. Let excess drip off and coat the chicken in the breadcrumbs. Make sure to press the breadcrumbs on the chicken for an extra crispy chicken.
Working with one chicken portion at a time, dredge the chicken in flour, shake off excess. Dip the chicken in the egg and evenly coat both sides. Let excess drip off and coat the chicken in the breadcrumbs. Make sure to press the breadcrumbs on the chicken for an extra crispy chicken.
- 4
Place breaded chicken in the air fryer drawer and set air fryer to Air Fry setting. Bake at 390 F and set timer to 15 minutes.
Place breaded chicken in the air fryer drawer and set air fryer to Air Fry setting. Bake at 390°F (199°C) and set timer to 15 minutes.
- 5
After 5-6 minutes, pause the air fryer and brush each side of the chicken with olive oil. Continue cooking until the chicken is golden brown all over.
After 5-6 minutes, pause the air fryer and brush each side of the chicken with olive oil. Continue cooking until the chicken is golden brown all over.
For the pasta
- 1
In the meantime, boil water for pasta in a large pot and season generously with salt.
In the meantime, boil water for pasta in a large pot and season generously with salt.
- 2
Once water starts to boil, add pasta and cook until al dente, 7-8 minutes. With 4 minutes remaining for the pasta, warm up the marinara sauce in a large saucepan or pot, reserving ¼ cup for the chicken parmesan.
Once water starts to boil, add pasta and cook until al dente, 7-8 minutes. With 4 minutes remaining for the pasta, warm up the marinara sauce in a large saucepan or pot, reserving ¼ cup for the chicken parmesan.
- 3
Toss the pasta with the sauce and keep warm until the chicken finishes cooking.
Toss the pasta with the sauce and keep warm until the chicken finishes cooking.
For preparing the chicken parmesan
- 1
Once the crust of the chicken is golden brown, take chicken out of the oven. Top the chicken with marinara sauce, mozzarella and parmesan. Gently pat down the toppings and place back in the air fryer drawer.
Once the crust of the chicken is golden brown, take chicken out of the oven. Top the chicken with marinara sauce, mozzarella and parmesan. Gently pat down the toppings and place back in the air fryer drawer.
- 2
Set the Air Fryer to Air Broil mode and place baking tray back in the oven on the top-most rack and cook until the cheese is bubbly and a light golden brown, about 1-2 minutes. Remove the chicken parmesan from the oven.
Set the Air Fryer to Air Broil mode and place baking tray back in the oven on the top-most rack and cook until the cheese is bubbly and a light golden brown, about 1-2 minutes. Remove the chicken parmesan from the oven.
- 3
Serve pasta in a bowl or plate and serve with the freshly baked chicken parmesan with a garnish of basil and extra parmesan.
Serve pasta in a bowl or plate and serve with the freshly baked chicken parmesan with a garnish of basil and extra parmesan.
Did you make this recipe? Tag @cooking.with.anadi on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingwithanadi
Tested & written in Anadi’s kitchen
Recipe history
- April 16, 2026 — Reworked and refreshed for the 2026 relaunch — new photography, restructured and standardized ingredients & instructions.
Filed under
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