Healthy Chicken Parmesan
This healthy chicken parmesan is a quick, family friendly dinner made entirely in the air fryer for maximum crunch with a fraction of the calories. Tender chicken cutlets are coated in seasoned panko and topped with marinara and melted mozzarella for a classic comfort meal ready in under 15 minutes!**Allow additional time if you need to work in batches (chicken pieces shouldn't overlap in basket while cooking).
Equipment
- air fryer (one with an oblong basket that's not too deep works best)
- cutting board
- serrated knife
- 3 shallow bowls
- meat thermometer
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Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breasts butterflied and sliced thin into cutlet size; see above post for tips; you can also use store-bought cutlets, like Purdue
- salt & pepper to taste
- ⅓ cup flour
- 2 eggs whisked
- 1 & ¼ cups Italian panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- fresh parsley or basil chopped; optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 390℉.
- Slice and pound chicken according to tips in above post. Blot with a paper towel; then lightly season with salt and pepper.
- Set up a dredging station by filling three shallow bowls with the following: Bowl #1: flourBowl #2: whisked eggs Bowl #3: combined breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, parmesan cheese
- Using clean hands, coat each chicken piece by doing the following: Dredge the chicken through the flour; make sure both sides of chicken are evenly coated; shake off any excess.Dip coated chicken in egg bowl, making sure all of the flour is covered; allow any excess egg to drip back into bowl.Dredge egg-coated chicken through breadcrumb mixture in third bowl, taking time to evenly coat on both sides.
- Arrange prepared chicken in air fryer basket. Do not overlap pieces or allow them to touch. (You most likely will have to work in batches.)
- Air fry for 7 minutes; use kitchen prongs to flip. Air fry for an additional 5 minutes. Once both sides are golden and crispy, add a dollop of sauce to one side; top with 1-2 tablespoon mozzarella. Air fry for an additional 1-2 minutes until cheese starts to melt.**Cooking time varies according to the size of chicken pieces. Refer to baking time info in above post. Chicken needs to reach 165℉ to be considered safe for consumption.
- Air fry additional batches, if needed, following the above steps. Serve warm; optional to sprinkle with chopped parsley or basil.
Notes
Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket, which traps steam and prevents the chicken from getting crispy on all sides.
Also avoid adding too much sauce at the end of cooking, since this can make the coating soggy instead of keeping that satisfying crunch.
If you don’t have an air fryer or need to make a larger batch all at once, you can easily bake these cutlets. Lightly spray a wire rack with cooking spray and set it over a baking sheet (this helps the hot air circulate underneath!). Bake at 425°F for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway. Add your sauce and cheese during the last 3-4 minutes just to melt.
See above post for storing and reheating instructions.
Nutrition
Calories: 428kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 41gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 187mgSodium: 985mgPotassium: 739mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 724IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 323mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
