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Crispy Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Air fryer Parmesan crusted chicken with an impossibly crispy golden panko-Parmesan coating that shatters at the fork, while the inside stays juicy. This quick chicken recipe bakes in the air fryer for a deeply golden crust without deep frying.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 33 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts pounded to even thickness
  • 0.5 tsp salt to taste
  • 0.5 tsp pepper to taste
  • 1 tsp garlic powder for seasoning
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise or Dijon mustard use either
Parmesan crust
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 0.75 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp garlic powder for crust
  • 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.5 tsp cooking spray for spraying
Serving
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley
  • 1 lemon wedges

Equipment

  • 1 air fryer

Method
 

Prep and preheat
  1. Preheat the air fryer to 390°F.
Season and crust
  1. Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, then brush both sides with mayonnaise.
  2. Combine panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
  3. Press the crust mixture firmly onto all sides of each chicken breast so it fully adheres.
Air fry
  1. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer and spray generously with cooking spray.
  2. Air fry at 390°F for 16-18 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the crust is deeply golden and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Serve
  1. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

Notes

For the shatteriest crust, press the panko-Parmesan mixture firmly and avoid overcrowding—cook in a single layer so hot air can circulate. Store leftovers in the fridge up to 3 days; reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes to re-crisp. Freezing is not recommended because the crust softens. If you want a lighter option, swap mayonnaise for Dijon mustard to reduce richness while keeping the coating adhered.