Description
Crispy chicken breast emerges as a golden-brown delight straight from the air fryer, promising juicy perfection with minimal effort. Simple ingredients and quick cooking make this dish a weeknight winner that satisfies hunger and craves flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup buttermilk (or regular milk + 1 teaspoon vinegar as a substitute)
Coating and Seasoning:
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Extras:
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional, for flavor)
- Cooking spray or oil spray
Instructions
- Transform thick chicken breasts into uniform cutlets by slicing lengthwise and gently pounding to ensure consistent thickness.
- Submerge chicken in a zesty buttermilk and hot sauce marinade, allowing flavors to penetrate for a minimum of 15 minutes or ideally overnight for maximum taste infusion.
- Craft a crispy coating by blending panko breadcrumbs with grated Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper to create a flavorful breading mixture.
- Activate the air fryer and preheat to 375F (190C), preparing the cooking environment for golden, crunchy perfection.
- Carefully extract chicken from marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip off, then thoroughly coat each piece in the seasoned breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to ensure complete coverage.
- Lightly mist both sides of the breaded chicken with cooking spray to promote even browning and extra crispiness.
- Arrange chicken pieces in the air fryer basket, maintaining a single layer and working in batches if necessary to prevent overcrowding.
- Cook for 10-12 minutes, rotating halfway through the cooking process, until the exterior achieves a rich golden hue and the internal temperature reaches a safe 165F (74C).
- Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes, enabling juices to redistribute and ensuring maximum tenderness before serving.
Notes
- Evenly slice thick chicken breasts to ensure uniform cooking and prevent dry edges.
- Marinate chicken for maximum flavor infusion, with longer marination times developing deeper taste profiles.
- Opt for fresh breadcrumbs or panko for extra crispiness and lighter texture compared to traditional breadcrumbs.
- Experiment with alternative spices like smoked paprika or cayenne for personalized heat and flavor variations.
- Use a meat thermometer to guarantee precise doneness and avoid overcooking, which can result in dry chicken.
- For gluten-free adaptation, substitute panko with crushed gluten-free crackers or almond flour.
- Pat chicken completely dry before coating to help breadcrumbs adhere better and achieve maximum crispiness.
- Allow chicken to rest after cooking to help redistribute juices and maintain moistness throughout the meat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg