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Air Fryer Panko Chicken

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Boneless chicken breasts coated in a seasoned panko breadcrumb crust and air fried until deeply golden and extra crispy. Lighter and crunchier than regular breadcrumbs with minimal oil.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to ½-inch thickness
  • 1½ cups panko breadcrumbs
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • Cooking spray (avocado oil or olive oil spray)

Instructions

  1. Mix panko breadcrumbs with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl. Set up a three-station breading line: seasoned flour, beaten eggs, and the seasoned panko mixture.
  2. Pat chicken dry. Dredge each piece through the flour, shaking off the excess, then dip in egg letting the excess drip off, then press firmly into the panko on all sides.
  3. Place breaded cutlets on a wire rack and let rest for 5 minutes to allow the coating to bond.
  4. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes. Spray the basket lightly with cooking spray.
  5. Arrange cutlets in a single layer without overlapping. Spray tops generously with cooking spray.
  6. Cook for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through and spraying the second side after flipping. Cutlets are done when the crust is deeply golden and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Notes

Keep warm between batches: Hold finished cutlets in a 200°F oven on a wire rack — not a plate — to prevent steam from softening the crust.

Seasoning variations: Add cayenne + hot sauce to the egg for spicy; lemon zest + thyme to panko for herb; ¼ cup Parmesan mixed into panko for extra savory; ranch seasoning powder or everything bagel seasoning in place of individual spices.

Toasted panko tip: Toast panko in a dry pan for 2–3 minutes before breading for extra crunch and deeper color.

Meal prep: Cool completely, refrigerate in a single layer, and reheat in the air fryer at 375°F for 3–4 minutes.

Chicken tenders variation: Use the same method with tenders; reduce cook time to 10 minutes and check internal temp at 8 minutes.

Find it online: https://airfrycentral.com/air-fryer-panko-chicken-extra-crispy-breaded-cutlet/