Dairy-Free Chicken Parmesan in the Air Fryer
Learn how to make this crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside dairy-free chicken parmesan recipe for a simple dinner everyone will enjoy. Made in the air fryer, this easy chicken parmesan comes together in 15 minutes or less for a quick weeknight dinner!
Chicken parmesan is a cheese lovers dream. With cheese in the breading pan fried and topped with melty mozzarella to finish, this dish is a love letter to the wonders of cheese.
After going dairy-free this delicious meal that had once been a staple in my Italian dinner rotation quickly became a thing of the past until…
The air fryer!
When we started prepping more meals in the air fryer I wanted to see if it could handle a breaded chicken and set off to create a dairy-free chicken parmesan with no cheese or cheese replacements.
Not only did the air fryer cook the chicken without drying it out, it also made a crispy crunchy coating without any of the deep oil frying.
Why We Love Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
There are a number of reasons to love this air fryer version of chicken parmesan. Some of the main reasons we make this recipe on repeat include:
- Quick to make. This recipe from start to finish takes roughly 15 minutes thanks to the air fryer.
- Flavorful. From the juicy chicken to the bright marinara sauce, each bite of this homemade chicken parmesan is delightfully flavorful.
- Pairs well with (almost) everything! You can serve this chicken parm up with so many different sides like pasta, rice, vegetables, garlic bread and more!
Dairy-Free Changes to Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
There are two main changes to this air fryer chicken parmesan to make it deliciously dairy-free.
- No parmesan. With no parmesan cheese in the breading can we even call this chicken parmesan? (I’ll let the internet hash that out…)
- No cheesey topping. Many traditional chicken parmesan recipes call for a coating of mozzarella on top of the sauce topped chicken. In this version we omit the cheese but you are more than welcome to try a mozzarella replacement like Miyoko’s Liquid Mozzarella.
How to Make Dairy-Free Chicken Parmesan in the Air Fryer
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken Breasts– Horizontally sliced into 2 pieces per chicken breast.
- Panko Bread Crumbs– Plain, other kinds might have added dairy so be sure to check that your bread crumbs are not seasoned in any way.
- Seasoning– A blend of Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper season the breading of these chicken breasts.
- Egg– Whisked and used to dip the chicken before breading.
- Marinara Sauce– I like to use a simple marinara that doesn’t have a ton of sugar added like Rao’s but you do you and pick your favorite (dairy-free) marinara sauce.
Step-by-Step Directions for Dairy-Free Chicken Parmesan
- Make breading: In a shallow dish mix together panko, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Set the breading aside.
- Whisk egg: In a second shallow dish whisk 1 egg and set aside.
- Slice the chicken: Cut your chicken breasts horizontally into 2 pieces each.
- Dip the chicken breast into the egg mixture and flip to coat in egg on both sides.
- Bread: Next place the egg coated chicken breast in the seasoned breadcrumbs and press to coat evenly. Flip to make sure both sides are fully covered and transfer to a plate.
- Repeat the egg and panko steps for the remaining 3 chicken pieces.
- Spray the breaded chicken breasts with non-stick spray.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and set the cook time to 8 minutes.
- Air Fry: Once the air fryer is preheated place the chicken breasts in the air fryer and cook until about halfway.
- Flip and top: Halfway through the cook time, flip the chicken and top with a few spoons of marinara sauce.
- Cook until finished and remove from the air fryer.
- Serve and enjoy!
Helpful Kitchen Tools
When you are ready to whip up a batch of this dairy-free air fryer chicken parmesan, here are some kitchen tools you might find helpful.
- Air Fryer– Used to cook the chicken parmesan to a crispy finish.
- Tongs– Great for flipping the chicken in the breading and turning it in the air fryer.
- Shallow Dishes– Used to coat the chicken in an egg wash and then in the dairy-free bread crumbs.
Serving Dairy-Free Chicken Parmesan
There are a number of different ways you can dish out this filling chicken dinner. Some of the ways we like to enjoy it at our home include:
- Served on top of Creamy Orzo Pasta
- Plain Spaghetti with Marinara Sauce
- Lofted on a bowl of Vegan Bruschetta Pasta
- With a loaf of Vegan Garlic Bread
Storing and Reheating Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
I’m going to be honest with you, the first day is definitely the best day for this chicken parm recipe. But if you have leftovers here are some tips for storing and reheating the dairy-free chicken parmesan.
- Storing– Place cooled breaded chicken pieces in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Keep for up to 4 days.
- Reheating– I would suggest reheating in the microwave in 30 second intervals. Another round in the air fryer tends to dry these chicken breasts out too much.
More Chicken Recipes to Make Next
If you tried this dairy-free chicken parmesan recipe please let me know in the comments below!
You can also share a picture of it with me on Instagram by tagging @mylifeafterdairy so I can see all of your life after dairy adventures!
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Dairy-Free Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside this dairy-free chicken parmesan is a simple 15 minute air fryer meal everyone is sure to love!
Ingredients
- 1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs plain
- 1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper
- 1 Egg
- Marinara Sauce
Instructions
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In a shallow dish mix together 1 cup panko, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Set the breading aside.
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In a second shallow dish whisk 1 egg and set aside.
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Cut 2 chicken breasts horizontally into 2 pieces each.
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Dip the chicken breast into the egg mixture and flip to coat in egg on both sides.
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Next place the egg coated chicken breast in the seasoned breadcrumbs and press to coat evenly.
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Flip to make sure both sides are fully covered and transfer to a plate.
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Repeat the egg and panko steps for the remaining 3 chicken pieces.
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Spray the breaded chicken breasts with non-stick spray.
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Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and set the cook time to 8 minutes.
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Once the air fryer is preheated place the chicken breasts in the air fryer and cook until about halfway.
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Cook until finished and remove from the air fryer.
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