Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Mayo

Jump to Recipe

This air fryer parmesan crusted chicken with mayo is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. It is big on flavor and will be ready in less than 15 minutes.

Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Mayo - Chefjar (1)

Air Fryer Chicken Dinner

This is an absolutely fantastic air fryer dinner. It has all the hallmarks of classic home-style comfort food, and all the convenience of the new cooking appliance craze: the air fryer. With this recipe, in only twenty minutes you’ll be serving crispy, tasty, coated chicken fillets. Curious? Read on!

Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Mayo - Chefjar (2)

Parmesan Crusted Chicken Air Fryer

Although when most people think of Italian food, their mind goes to pasta, pizza, and rich, ruby-red sauces, there’s a whole lot more to Italian cuisine than that. A staple of Italian food, particularly in the northern regions, is tender, perfectly cooked meat. Typically, around the dinner table in an Italian household, meat is served during the secondi or main course. Often, Italians know how to get the most out of a great piece of meat, and even more out of a cheaper piece. Chicken, pork, and lamb are staples of this type of food.

One thing that’s really cool about this recipe is that the air fryer makes it so crispy and tender. Of course, you can get similar results in an oven, but not with this level of convenience, and not without using way more oil. In the air fryer, we use less oil and it takes less time.

The trick here is to really perfect the coating. We’re using Italian seasoned panko breadcrumbs to get that crispy, characteristic finish. The crumbs seal moisture inside the chicken, and with the hint of seasoning from mayo bring a whole dimension of flavor to your chicken.

We’ll also be using mayonnaise to secure the seasoning on the chicken during the cooking process. Making dinner like this at home is a great way to have restaurant-quality meals at a lower price, and you don’t even have to leave the house!

Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Mayo - Chefjar (3)

You'll Need

You will need two chicken breasts cut horizontally to make 4 fillets, Parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, mayo, garlic and seasoning of your choice.

Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Mayo - Chefjar (4)

How To Make Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken

First, you’ll want to gently rinse your chicken and pat it dry with a paper towel. This is to help mayonnaise to stick to the chicken.
Next, mix the mayonnaise with garlic, Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder and salt. Divide the mixture between four fillets and coat on both sides.

Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Mayo - Chefjar (5)

In a shallow dish combine your panko bread crumbs and parmesan cheese.
Then, pat down your panko crumbs onto the chicken. While you’re doing this you’ll want to preheat your air fryer to about 390 degrees, lightly brush the air fryer basket with olive oil, and cook your chicken for 5-6 minutes before turning over and returning to the fryer for 4-6 minutes.

Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Mayo - Chefjar (6)

Use an instant read meat thermometer to check if your chicken is done. Overcooked chicken will be dry and rubbery, while undercooked chicken is pink in the middle and can make you very, very sick. Using a meat thermometer to ensure your chicken is perfectly cooked all the way through isn’t just convenient, it’s better for you! That’s why they do in the best restaurants, as well.

Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Mayo - Chefjar (7)

Air Fryer Chicken FAQs

Do I Have to Flip the Chicken?

Strictly speaking, you don’t have to flip it in order for the chicken to cook through. However, unflipped chicken won’t have the crispy sear all over that you get from flipping it. It only takes a couple of seconds to do and it makes your dinner even better, so why wouldn’t you flip the chicken

What Size Are Chicken Pieces?

This will vary based on how many people you’re feeding and the volume of your air fryer. It’s more important that all the pieces are about the same size so they cook evenly and in a similar amount of time. Thinner pieces will cook faster than thick ones, so bear that in mind.

Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Mayo - Chefjar (8)

What Type of Cheese Should I Use?

Parmesan cheese is a big deal to a lot of Italian people. The ones from Parma, from which the style of cheese originates, take it even more seriously. Parmesan cheese should be soft and crumbly, with a distinctive odor and taste. It goes really well with a lot of different foods, and is known for how well it pairs with both savory and sweet flavor.
If you don’t have parmesan available, a similar crumbly white cheese will do well. You could use pecorino, which has a similar taste except it’s a little saltier. Softer cheeses are no good for this recipe as they melt at a lower temperature and lack the crumbly grated texture we need for a good chicken coating. Most of the harder milk cheeses from Italy or similar countries will do grea

What Seasoning Should I Use?

For seasoning, simple is often better.

If you just have regular breadcrumbs, you can make your own Italian-style seasoning with a few pantry staples. Salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic and onion powder are a great place to start.

Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Mayo - Chefjar (9)

More Air Fryer Dinner Ideas

Air Fryer Salmon

Fish in Air Fryer

Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon

Chicken Breast in Air Fryer

If you make this recipebe sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a rating⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! I will be happy to hear from you!