Ingredients
Chicken and Coating
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (or chicken cutlets)
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (regular, panko, or a combo)
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese (divided)
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 large eggs
Toppings and Sauce
- ½ cup marinara sauce (plus more for serving)
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Chicken: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Cut the chicken breasts horizontally to create thinner cutlets and pound them to an even thickness, then set aside.
- Mix Coating Ingredients: In a shallow bowl, combine breadcrumbs, 6 tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and kosher salt. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs until smooth.
- Coat the Chicken: Dip each chicken piece into the beaten eggs, letting the excess drip off. Press the chicken into the breadcrumb mixture thoroughly to coat evenly on all sides.
- Arrange in Air Fryer: Place the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Lightly spray the tops with oil using an oil sprayer to help crisp the coating.
- Air Fry Chicken: Cook for 8-11 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through, until the coating is golden and the chicken is mostly cooked through.
- Add Sauce and Cheese Toppings: Spread 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce on each piece of chicken. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese and the remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese evenly on top.
- Finish Cooking: Return the chicken to the air fryer and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the cheese melts and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, indicating it is fully cooked.
Notes
- For best results, use panko breadcrumbs for extra crispiness.
- Make sure to pound the chicken cutlets to an even thickness to ensure uniform cooking.
- If you don’t have an oil sprayer, lightly brushing the chicken with oil works as well.
- Serve additional marinara sauce on the side for extra flavor.
- Check internal temperature to ensure chicken is safely cooked through.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian-American
