Description
Crispy air fryer chicken breast delivers restaurant-quality crunch without excess oil, promising a healthier spin on classic comfort food. Juicy interior and golden exterior make this simple recipe a quick weeknight winner you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
- ½ cup buttermilk (or regular milk + 1 tsp vinegar)
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp hot sauce (optional)
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- Cooking spray (or oil spray)
Instructions
- Preparation: Slice chicken breasts lengthwise if thick, creating uniform cutlets. Gently tenderize to ensure consistent thickness.
- Marination: Submerge chicken in a zesty blend of buttermilk and hot sauce. Allow flavors to infuse for a minimum of 15 minutes, or ideally overnight for maximum taste penetration.
- Coating Creation: Craft a crispy exterior by combining panko, Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish.
- Equipment Setup: Activate air fryer and calibrate temperature to 375F (190C), allowing 35 minutes for complete preheating.
- Breading Process: Extract chicken from marinade, meticulously pressing each piece into the seasoned breadcrumb mixture, ensuring comprehensive coverage on all surfaces.
- Preparation for Cooking: Apply a delicate mist of cooking spray to enhance crispiness and prevent sticking.
- Cooking Technique: Arrange chicken pieces in a single, uncrowded layer within the air fryer basket. If necessary, cook in multiple batches to maintain optimal air circulation.
- Culinary Execution: Air fry for 10-12 minutes, rotating midway through cooking. Verify doneness by confirming internal temperature reaches 165F (74C) and achieving a golden, appetizing exterior.
- Resting Phase: Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes, enabling juices to redistribute and ensuring maximum tenderness before serving.
Notes
- Buttermilk tenderizes chicken, so letting it sit longer (up to overnight) enhances flavor and moisture without making meat soggy.
- Gently press breadcrumb mixture firmly onto chicken to create a consistent, crispy exterior that adheres well during air frying.
- Use a meat thermometer to confirm chicken reaches 165F, preventing undercooking while maintaining juicy texture.
- Arrange chicken in single layer without touching to guarantee crispy, evenly cooked pieces with proper air circulation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg