Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Breast (Printer-Friendly)

Golden crispy chicken breasts with parmesan-panko coating, ready in 30 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (5-6 oz each)

→ Breading Station

02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 2 large eggs beaten
04 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
05 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
06 - 1 tsp garlic powder
07 - 1 tsp paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
09 - 1/2 tsp black pepper

→ Cooking Oil

10 - Olive oil spray or neutral cooking spray

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes while preparing ingredients.
02 - Pat chicken breasts completely dry with paper towels. If thicker than 3/4 inch, pound to even thickness using meat mallet.
03 - Arrange three shallow bowls: flour in first, beaten eggs in second, panko mixed with Parmesan garlic powder paprika salt and pepper in third.
04 - Coat each chicken breast in flour shaking off excess, dip into egg wash allowing excess to drip off, then press firmly into panko mixture to coat completely.
05 - Lightly spray both sides of breaded chicken with oil spray. Place in single layer in air fryer basket without overlapping.
06 - Cook at 400°F for 7 minutes until golden brown on bottom.
07 - Flip chicken breasts, spray top lightly with oil, and cook additional 6-8 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
08 - Transfer to plate and let rest 2-3 minutes before serving to retain juices.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The breading gets outrageously crispy without deep frying, and the chicken stays juicy every single time
  • From start to finish in 30 minutes, making it perfect for those weeknights when you want something special but have zero energy
  • The seasoning blend hits all the right notes, and you can customize the spices to match whatever mood youre in
02 -
  • Dont skip pounding the chicken to an even thickness, or youll end up with dried out thin pieces and undercooked thick ones
  • Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket, since overlapping pieces will steam instead of crisp up and defeat the whole purpose
  • Let the breaded chicken sit for about 10 minutes before cooking if you have time, which helps the coating adhere better and resist flaking off
03 -
  • Use a light hand with the oil spray, as too much can make the breading soggy instead of crispy
  • Season each layer as you go, with a pinch of salt in the flour and another in the breadcrumb mixture

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