Air fryer chicken parmigiana gives you the crunch you love without all the fatty oil you get from frying. Our version is a traditional recipe made healthier by air frying the chicken.
Our chicken parmigiana recipe is a bit different from the others you will find on Pinterest or the internet. Most online recipes take a breaded cutlet, place a tablespoon or two of sauce on top, then a slice of cheese and bake or air fry until the cheese melts. This takes a nice and clean photograph but is not traditionally what you will find at a reputable Italian restaurant in New York or any other city where you can find real Italian food.
Chicken parmigiana is a bit messy, baked in a bed of homemade marinara sauce, then topped with more sauce before a slab of mozzerella and pecorino romano are placed on top. After baking to melt the cheese, the cutlet is plated on top of more marinara and served with a side of spaghetti. This is a true Italian American comfort food. I searched for an hour and did not find one google rated site that came close to what the dish should resemble.
The secret to a good chicken parmigiana is a properly cooked breaded cutlet. The cutlet must be juicy, possess a crunchy exterior, a marinara sauce made with high quality tomatoes and plenty of cheese. The finished product could be plated and served with a side of pasta or placed in a roll (hero) with additional marinara and cheese for a classic chicken parm hero.
In the past Chicken Parmigiana was always prepared by frying the cutlets to ensure a crunchy breaded exterior. Frying the cutlets produced a delicious product but made the dish heavy and loaded with fat, making it an unhealthy dinner option. The advent of the air fryer created a way to prepare a crunchy and juicy cutlet without frying them in oil. Air fryer chicken parmigiana eliminates the extra fat and calories from frying, making the dish a delicious and healthy dinner option.
Can air fryer chicken parmigiana use panko?
Yes, panko will work great with an air fryer. We combine traditional breadcrumb with panko when we make our breadcrumb. The result is a delicious crunchy coating with a great texture due to the different breadcrumbs. Our homemade breadcrumb also reduces the additional salt found in store-bought seasoned breadcrumbs.
Can you air fry chicken Parmigiana?
Absolutely! The air fryer creates a juicy and crunchy cutlet that is perfect for chicken parmigiana.
Can you use air fry chicken tenders for chicken parmigiana?
Yes, however tenders are generally not flat like a cutlet. This will make it more difficult for the sauce and cheese to not slide off of the chicken. Also, if you plan to use store bought breaded tenders, always check the ingredients to be certain you aren’t ingesting things you would prefer to not include in your diet. This can be done but we recommend using a flat cutlet that you bread at home
What is the origin name of chicken parmigiana?
Many are surprised to find that chicken parm is not a classic Italian dish. For the most part, You will not find Chicken Parmigiana in Italy. Prior to the large scale emigration of Italians to America during the early 1900’s, chicken or most meat based proteins were not readily available in Italy. Eggplant parmigiana was consumed in Italy during that time and is likely the precursor to todays chicken parmigiana .
Chicken parmigiana appears to have been invented in the mid 1950s by Italian American immigrants who found chicken and other meat based proteins were readily available in America. Chicken was substituted for eggplant and the rest is history. Chicken parmigiana is a staple at all Italian American restaurants in the USA.
Is air fry Chicken parmigiana made with ham?
Yes, in Australia chicken parmigiana with a slab of ham is a popular pub food. In the USA a close cousin to this rendition would be chicken sorrentino which uses a breaded chicken cutlet, topped with ham, eggplant and marinara sauce.
Can you air fry chicken parmigiana without breadcrumb?
Yes, this can be done if you have an allergy to gluten however, your final result will be quite different. The lack of breadcrumb will eliminate the crunchy breadcrumb coating thereby affecting its taste and texture. However, if this is a dietary restriction you possess, this modification will allow you to still enjoy this dish.
Is air fry chicken parmigiana healthy?
Traditional chicken parmigiana starts with a deep fried cutlet. During the frying process, the chicken and breadcrumb absorb the oil they are fried in adding fat and calories to an otherwise healthy meal. The advent of air fryers permitted the preparation of a juicy cutlet with crunchy breading eliminating the need for the deep fryer. This modification makes this traditional comfort food a healthy and satisfying meal option.
Can air fryer chicken parmigiana be served as a slider?
Yes. You can place a piece of prepared air fryer chicken parmigiana in a slider or Hawaiian roll creating a great option for an appetizer.
Can air fryer chicken parmigiana be served as a sandwich?
Yes! In New York we call this a chicken parm hero. Simply take a hero roll (roll approximately 8-10 inches long,), place sauce on the rolls base and add the finished chicken parmigiana. You can also roll the prepared sandwich in aluminum foil leaving the top of the roll exposed. Add additional mozzarella and place the sandwich under a broiler. Enjoy a rustic chicken parm dinner once the cheese melts.
Can you prepare the chicken parmigiana without egg?
Yes, but you will get a thinner breading, or crust. When you remove the cutlets from the marinade immediately dip in breadcrumb and air fry.
Can you serve air fry chicken parmigiana with spaghetti?
Spaghetti is the traditional side for chicken parmigiana at Italian restaurants.
What is the correct time and temperature to cook air fryer chicken parmigiana?
We air fry our breaded cutlets at 375F for 7 minutes. We have noted a tremendous variation in cook time from one recipe to another. The thickness of your cutlets and brand of air fryer appear to directly affect this. We suggest that until you are familiar with you air fryer you start with our recommendations but use a meat thermometer once you remove the cutlets. The cutlets should be around 150 degrees to remain juicy. Remember they will return to the oven or air fryer to melt the cheese whee they will continue to cook. If you cook our cutlets to 165 they will end up dry and tough.
How to make air fryer chicken parmigiana
Tenderize the chicken cutlets and place in Italian dressing marinade. While marinating, prepare the marinara. If you are OK with jarred sauce you can save some time. We consider this a cardinal sin, however we promise not to judge you. While the sauce is cooking, bread the marinated cutlets and cook in the air fryer. Each air fryer is a bit different. We have found cooking the cutlets for 7 minutes at 375F yields positive results. Your cutlets should be crunchy and around 150F if using a meat thermometer.
When all of the cutlets are cooked you will prepare the chicken parmigiana. If you own a large air fryer, place the cutlets back into the air fryer and cover with sauce and cheese. Air fry until hot and the cheese is melted. If you own a smaller air fryer (like we do) you can place the cutlets in a skillet with the base covered in marinara and add more marinara and cheese on top. Cook in a 400 degree F oven until hot and the cheese is melted. Enjoy!
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Air Fryer Chicken Parmigiana
6
servings20
minutes45
minutesA healthier version of traditional chicken parmigiana. Crispy, breaded, cheesy chicken made with our homemade marinara sauce.
Ingredients
3 breasts sliced in half horizontally
2 cups Italian seasoned breadcrumbs or use our quick homemade seasoned breadcrumb recipe in notes
1 egg whisked. Add milk to thin slightly
1/2 cup store bought or homemade Italian dressing
8 oz mozzarella block sliced or bag of shredded mozzarella cheese
2 Tbs Pecorino Romano
- Marinara sauce
28 oz can San Marzano crushed tomato sauce
1 medium onion chopped
2 large garlic cloves minced
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
6-8 large basil leaves (torn)
shake of red pepper flakes or to taste (optional)
extra basil leaves for garnish (optional)
Directions
- Cut chicken in half horizontally. Pound chicken with tenderizer to even thickness. Place chicken and 1/2 cup Italian dressing marinade in a one gallon ziplock bag or a bowl with a cover. Let sit in refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
- While chicken marinates, let’s prepare the marinara sauce. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in any large oven safe skillet ( we prefer cast iron) on medium heat. Add chopped onions and cook for 45 seconds before adding garlic. Cook until onions are translucent and garlic is fragrant. Add 28 oz can of San Marzano tomatoes, salt, black pepper, fresh basil and optional red pepper flakes. Stir to combine. Slow simmer for 30-35 minutes or until sauce thickens slightly.
- Once chicken is marinated, bread the chicken. In a bowl, whisk egg and add milk to thin slightly. Place some breadcrumb in another dish. Dip each piece of chicken in egg mixture and then dredge in breadcrumbs. Repeat with remaining chicken.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In the skillet with marinara sauce, remove enough sauce so that only the bottom is covered. Place cooked cutlets into the skillet with the marinara sauce. Top each cutlet with 2-3 Tbs of the marinara sauce along with sliced cheese or shredded cheese and pecorino Romano cheese. Place in oven until cheese is melted. If you have a larger air fryer, you have the option of finishing this dish in the air fryer. Place the cutlets back in the air fryer in a single layer. Place the sauce and cheese on top and air fry until cheese melts. Top with optional basil.
Recipe Video
Notes
- 2 cups plain breadcrumbs (regular or panko or 1 cup of each), 2 large cloves garlic minced, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 3 Tbs pecorino Romano, 1 tbs parsley. Combine all ingredients. Feel free to add basil, oregano or garlic powder as this recipe can be used as a base and you may substitute ingredients to your liking.
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