Description
Parmesan-crusted chicken delivers crispy, golden perfection straight from your air fryer. Creamy mayo and savory cheese create an irresistible coating that locks in juicy chicken while delivering maximum flavor for quick, delightful dining.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Cheese and Seasoning Blend:
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 0.5 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Binding and Flavor Enhancers:
- 0.5 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley or basil
Instructions
- Set air fryer to 375°F, ensuring proper preheating for optimal crispiness.
- Whisk mayonnaise with garlic powder and Italian seasoning to create a flavorful base coating.
- Generously brush the mayonnaise mixture across both surfaces of each chicken breast, ensuring complete coverage.
- Create a crispy exterior by mixing parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs in a separate dish.
- Thoroughly dredge each chicken breast in the parmesan-breadcrumb blend, pressing gently to help coating adhere.
- Arrange chicken pieces in a single layer within the air fryer basket, maintaining space between each piece.
- Lightly mist chicken with cooking spray to enhance golden browning and prevent sticking.
- Air fry for 15-18 minutes, rotating chicken midway through cooking process to ensure even browning.
- Verify doneness by checking internal temperature reaches 165°F, confirming chicken is fully cooked.
- Allow chicken to rest for 2-3 minutes after cooking to retain moisture and set crispy crust.
- Plate immediately and serve while crispy exterior remains crunchy and warm.
Notes
- Choose thin chicken breasts for even cooking and crispy crust, ensuring uniform thickness around 1/2 inch.
- Pat chicken completely dry before applying mayo mixture to help breading adhere perfectly and create crunchier exterior.
- Replace regular breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives like almond flour or gluten-free panko for celiac or gluten-sensitive diets.
- Swap traditional mayonnaise with Greek yogurt or low-fat mayo to reduce calories while maintaining moisture and flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 467 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 534 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 23 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 141 mg