Best Air Fryer Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Cutlet

If you’re someone who loves chicken and loads of cheese, this is the recipe to try. This Air Fryer Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Cutlet delivers it all, juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and packed with cheesy goodness.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

There’s so much to love about this Air Fryer Cheesy Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Breast.

Cheesy and full of flavors: Between Parmesan and mozzarella, this recipe has it all. The saltiness also blends perfectly with the flavors from the salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.

Versatile: Air Fryer Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Breast works well whether you’re looking for a snack, a meal, or something for a special occasion. It also pairs with any dip or drink you like!

Healthy: Air frying this dish means you don’t have to use oil to achieve that crunchy, crispy bite. Hot air from this godsend appliance does the job perfectly without sacrificing quality. The chicken absorbs less oil, which means less fat and fewer calories. If you’re looking for some guilt-free pleasure, here you go!

Easy to make: Air fryer meals like this are easy to prepare. Just coat the chicken with mayo and breadcrumbs, pop it into the basket, and wait for it to cook. No need to deal with the mess.

How to prepare your chicken breast

Besides seasoning, the results often hinge on how the chicken breast is prepared. For this recipe, I combined brining with coating the chicken in mayonnaise, the best of both worlds.

Brining Your Boneless Chicken Breast

Remove the skin, and trim off the tendons. In a baking dish, pour 4 cups of water and ¼ cup of salt. I personally prefer just salt and water, but you could also bring some citrus juice like lemon, along with garlic cloves and peppercorns, into the mix.

Next, place your chicken in the dish. Make sure it’s submerged enough to cover the entire breast. Cover it and refrigerate for about 30 minutes to an hour. You definitely don’t want to over-brine the chicken, as it may turn out too salty, learned that the hard way!

Remove the chicken from the brine and use paper towels to pat it dry.

Pound chicken

Slice your chicken breast into cutlets and place them in ziplock bags or between two sheets of plastic wrap. Using a rolling pin or meat mallet, gently pound the meat until the thickness is uniform. About ½ inch should be enough as you don’t want the cutlet to become too thin. Just flatten it enough to ensure even cooking.

Mayonnaise coating

Spread mayonnaise on both sides of your chicken cutlet. In addition to brining, coating the chicken with mayonnaise is the secret to making it tender and juicy. It also helps the seasonings and breadcrumbs stick better. Sometimes, I add a bit of Dijon mustard, but that’s totally optional.

If you’re not a fan of mayonnaise, egg whites or Greek yogurt are great alternatives.

Air Fryer Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Ingredients

You can find all of the ingredients here, and what to look for in each of them.

• Parmesan and Breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs are preferable for chicken cutlets, as they’re lighter and often create a crispier exterior. Mix them with chopped fresh thyme, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Parmesan. As for the Parmesan, I recommend purchasing a block and grating it yourself rather than using pre-shredded cheese.
• Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise serves a double purpose in this dish. When combined with seasonings, it coats the chicken and helps prevent it from drying out.
• Chicken Breast: Skinless, boneless chicken breasts are ideal for making cutlets.
• Mozzarella: Much like in Chicken Parmesan, don’t be shy with the Mozzarella, pile it on for those cheesy bites!

Best Ways to Cook Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Cutlet

Now, if you’re wondering the secret to the best Parmesan-crusted chicken cutlet, here’s exactly how I made mine and how you can make yours just as good.

• First step is brining your chicken. You can totally skip this, but it helps me achieve that juicy chicken meat I’m always craving. Brining involves soaking chicken in salted water. Pour 4 cups of water and 1/4 cup of salt, and submerge the chicken breast in it. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

• Place the chicken breast in a ziplock bag or between two sheets of plastic wrap, and pound it thin with a meat mallet. The goal is to make it thin for faster cooking and to ensure each part cooks evenly.
• Stir together the mayonnaise, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. This will serve as the first layer of coating. The mayonnaise will help with browning and will keep the meat moist and tender.
• Once the mixture is ready, spread the mayonnaise mix across the entire chicken cutlet. You can use the back of a spoon, a silicone brush, or any utensil that can help you get a thin layer of mayo. Remember, a thin layer. Too much mayo can make the coating heavy or greasy.

• Get another bowl and prepare the breadcrumbs. Combine panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and chopped thyme. Then, dip the chicken cutlet into the breadcrumb mixture, flipping it multiple times. You can also press the breadcrumbs into the meat so they won’t fall off. Shake the cutlet to remove excess breadcrumbs.
• Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (190°C), or according to your air fryer’s instructions.
• Place the chicken cutlet in the air fryer basket and get it ready. Spray the inside of the basket and the chicken itself. Dishes like this still require a little oil so they can cook easily.
• Cook the chicken cutlet for 7 minutes on each side. When there are only five minutes left, open the air fryer and sprinkle a generous amount of mozzarella. Make sure to cover the entire top so there are no bald spots.

• Wait till the timer finishes, or until the exterior becomes golden brown. You can check the chicken’s doneness by measuring the temperature of the meat’s thickest part. To know whether it’s cooked, see if the temperature is at least 165°F or 75°C.

Tips for making the best Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Cutlet

Especially if it’s your first time cooking, you might be intimidated but don’t worry. Here are some notable (could be beginner) tips that you can follow.

• Do not overlap: When cooking multiple pieces, you’d want to avoid overlapping cutlets and not making spaces between them. If you do so, you might regret it right away, as it can cause soggy or uncooked spots.
• Don’t skip the oil. I know air fryers are known for not relying much on oil, but you’ll want to add just a little to get a nice golden-brown exterior. Use oils such as avocado, canola, or olive oil. Mist the inside of the air fryer basket and both sides of the chicken.
• Pound the chicken evenly!

What to serve with Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Cutlet

Parmesan-crusted chicken cutlets are already a showstopper on their own, but the right side dish can take them from great to unforgettable.

• Quick and Easy Air Fryer Fried Rice
• Cheesy and Crispy Air Fryer Pizza Pocket
• Quick Air Fryer Roasted Baby Potatoes
• The Best Air Fryer Cheesy Garlic Bread Recipe
• Crispy Air Fryer Cheesy Garlic Egg Toast

How to store leftover Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Ingredients

You can store your leftovers in the refrigerator. Let them rest and cool first on a plate or wire rack before placing them in an airtight container and into the refrigerator. This will help them last for up to a week. If you want to prepare meals in advance, you can store them in the freezer, which will keep them for up to a month.

How to reheat Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Ingredients

When reheating your Parmesan cutlet, you can use a microwave, air fryer, or oven. However, based on experience, I recommend using an air fryer or oven. Reheating it in the microwave tends to make the dish a bit mushy and soggy, while the air fryer or oven helps crisp up the exterior.

Reheating Instructions:

• Air Fryer: Preheat to 350°F (175°C) and cook for 6 minutes, flipping halfway through. If frozen, add 4 more minutes.
• Oven: Preheat to 375°F (190°C). Place the cutlet on a rack or baking tray and bake for 10 minutes, or 15 minutes if frozen.

Note that if the chicken is frozen, there’s no need to thaw it before reheating.

Estimated Nutrition

Note: The nutrition details provided are based on general calculations and may not reflect exact results. Actual values can differ depending on the ingredients used, portion sizes, and how the food is prepared. Use this as a general guide, not a medical or dietary recommendation.

Thanks for giving this recipe a try! Hope it brought as much flavor to your table as it did to mine. If you enjoyed it, don’t forget to share your creation, tag me on TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook so I can see your delicious version. While you’re at it, follow us on these platforms to stay updated on every new recipe we share.

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