Extra Crispy Air Fryer Chicken (Printable)

Golden and juicy chicken cutlets with a crispy coating, prepared quickly using the air fryer method.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)

→ Breading

02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour (120 g)
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 2 tablespoons milk
05 - 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs (90 g)
06 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (40 g)
07 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
12 - Olive oil spray

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
02 - Place chicken breasts between two sheets of parchment paper and pound to 1/2-inch thickness.
03 - Arrange three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs mixed with milk, and one with panko breadcrumbs combined with Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
04 - Dredge each chicken breast in flour, then dip into the egg mixture, and finally coat evenly with the breadcrumb mixture, pressing to adhere.
05 - Lightly spray both sides of each breaded cutlet with olive oil spray.
06 - Place cutlets in a single layer inside the air fryer basket; cook in batches if necessary.
07 - Air fry for 7 to 8 minutes, flip the cutlets, spray again with olive oil, then cook for an additional 6 to 7 minutes until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
08 - Allow cutlets to rest for 2 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Crispy outside, juicy inside, with zero guilt about deep frying.
  • Ready in under 30 minutes from raw chicken to plated dinner.
  • The Parmesan in the coating adds umami depth that regular breading just can't match.
02 -
  • Don't skip the pounding step thinking you can just cook thicker chicken longer—you'll end up with a raw center or an overdone, stringy exterior.
  • The olive oil spray is the difference between a restaurant-quality finish and a dull, sad cutlet; don't be shy with it on the second flip.
03 -
  • If your air fryer basket has a removable insert, spray that too—it prevents sticking and makes cleanup effortless.
  • For a gluten-free version, swap the all-purpose flour and panko with gluten-free equivalents; the results are genuinely identical.
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