Parmesan Crusted Chicken in the Air Fryer
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.
Making Parmesan Crusted Chicken in the Air Fryer is so simple – plus dinner is ready in less than 20 minutes! Ordinary chicken becomes irresistible when it’s topped with a creamy, crunchy Parmesan crust. Plain chicken be gone!
What You Will ❤️ About Parmesan Crusted Chicken
- Fast! I love this recipe because it’s super quick! You’ll have dinner in 20 minutes! Serve with pasta and marinara sauce for a complete meal.
- Easy! I like this method because there’s no need for eggs or having to dip your chicken and bread it – you just put the toppings ON TOP!
- Juicy! Making chicken in the air fryer is the best – the quick convection cooking seals in all the juices and makes the most tender chicken. It’s literally the ONLY way to make chicken!
Ingredients in Air Fryer Parmesan Chicken Recipe
You’ve definitely got some flexibility in these ingredients – but here’s what you need and what you can swap:
- boneless skinless chicken breasts – I used pre-marinated Italian chicken. You can do the same – or marinate yourself with Italian dressing. This really adds flavor to these juicy chicken breasts.
- grated Parmesan – this is pretty much 100% necessary since it’s in the name
- Caesar salad dressing – you could also use ranch or even plain mayo
- Breadcrumbs – regular, Italian or even panko bread crumbs would work fine
- Minced garlic – jarred or fresh – whatever you like or garlic powder if you don’t have garlic
- Melted butter – I prefer salted butter but you could also use unsalted
- Monterrey Jack cheese – you could sub provolone or mozzarella if you like
How do you make Parmesan Crusted Chicken in the Air Fryer?
Because this chicken recipe is so quick to make – it’s perfect for those busy weeknights when you need a quick dinner!
- Pop your marinated chicken in the air fryer basket and air fry at 350º for 10 minutes
- If you need to marinate your chicken, rinse and pat chicken dry with a paper towel. Place chicken and marinade in a ziploc bag and refrigerate overnight.
- You could also season with Italian seasoning, salt & pepper vs. marinade.
- While the chicken is cooking, prepare toppings.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together Caesar dressing and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan.
- In a separate bowl, mix together panko breadcrumbs, garlic, 1/4 cup Parmesan and melted butter.
- After 10 minutes, open the air fryer basket. Spoon the Caesar dressing mixture on top of the chicken breasts. Then – spoon the crumb mixture on top of the dressing and pat down lightly. Finally – sprinkle on the shredded Monterrey Jack.
- Shut the air fryer basket and Air fry at 375º for 3 minutes until cheese melts and topping begins to brown.
- Using an instant read meat thermometer, check the temperature of the chicken at the thickest part of the breast to be sure it registers at 160º. If not, air fry 2-3 minutes longer.
- Using a spatula, remove the chicken and garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley.
This post contains affiliate links which I make a little money on purchases. Thanks in advance! I am an Amazon associate as well as a member of other affiliate programs.
Tips, Tricks & FAQs
You’ll need to check your Caesar dressing and be sure to use keto-friendly breadcrumbs.
Sure – there will be a little less crunch – but yes – feel free to leave them out.
Yes – you could easily use boneless, skinless chicken thighs as a substitution.
You can use the air fryer on reheat (250 degrees) for 8 min or the microwave for 1-2 min. If you use the microwave, you’ll lose some crunch – but it’s quicker.
You can put these Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breasts in the freezer before or after cooking them. Thaw in the fridge and then cook according to recipe instructions.
Get Heather’s NEW cookbook – Air Fryer Cooking for One today!
Favorite Side Dishes to serve with Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Other delicious Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Best Air Fryer Accessories
Here’s my ultimate list of best air fryer accessories – whether you have a basket- or oven-style! I’ve also included a price guide as well as my favorite recipes for those accessories.
Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts Italian marinated if you like
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup Caesar salad dressing
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 1/2 cup shredded monterrey jack cheese
Instructions
- If you have plain chicken breasts: rinse and pat chicken dry with a paper towel. * Place chicken and marinade in a ziploc bag and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight.* Or season with Italian seasoning, salt & pepper vs. marinade.2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Place marinated chicken in the air fryer basket and air fry at 350º for 10 minutes
- While the chicken is cooking, prepare toppings.In a medium bowl, whisk together Caesar dressing and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan. In a separate bowl, mix together panko breadcrumbs, garlic, 1/4 cup Parmesan and melted butter.1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup Caesar salad dressing, 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, 1 tbsp minced garlic, 2 tbsp melted butter
- After 10 minutes, open the air fryer basket. Spoon the Caesar dressing mixture on top of the chicken breasts. Then – spoon the crumb mixture on top of the dressing and pat down lightly. Finally – sprinkle on the shredded Monterrey Jack.1/2 cup shredded monterrey jack cheese
- Shut the air fryer basket and Air fry at 375º for 3 minutes until cheese melts and topping begins to brown.Using an instant read meat thermometer, check the temperature of the chicken at the thickest part of the breast to be sure it registers at 160º. If not, air fry 2-3 minutes longer.
- Using a spatula, remove the chicken and garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley.
