Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan with Halloumi

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This Greek-style Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan is easy to make and a delicious change to the classic one.

My Chicken parmesan is prepared the same way as the classic one but I used Greek ingredients and cooked it in the air fryer.

If you don’t want to use the air fryer, you can do it the classic way by frying the chicken first and then baking it.

Actually, the name “Chicken Parmesan” in my recipe is not really correct, as I do not use any parmesan at all but I have kept this name in quotation marks because of the original recipe. I guess it should be called Chicken Halloumi!

When the chicken is cooked, it is then topped with marinara sauce, slices of halloumi (instead of mozzarella) and baked in the oven.

The result is that they are cooked in the air fryer, without wasting all the leftover olive oil in the frying pan and with less calories but still keeping the chicken tender and juicy.

Let’s see what actually is Chicken Parmesan

Chicken parmesan is a classic Italian-American dish consisting of breaded and fried chicken cutlets topped with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese.

It is often served with spaghetti or another type of pasta.

Chicken parmesan typically has a savory and slightly salty flavor, due to the tomato sauce, cheese and seasoning used.

The chicken is breaded and fried or baked, giving it a crispy exterior, while the interior remains tender and juicy.

The melted cheese adds creaminess, and the tomato sauce provides a tangy, acidic taste. Overall, chicken parmesan is a flavorful dish with a balance of salty, savoury, and tangy tastes.

What exactly is something called Greek-style?

Greek-style in a recipe refers to dishes and ingredients that are influenced by the traditional cuisine of Greece.

This may include the use of ingredients such as olive oil, lemon juice, herbs (such as oregano and mint), Greek cheeses, Greek yoghurt, and vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggplants.

Greek-style dishes often feature grilled meats, especially lamb, and fish.

Greek cuisine is characterized by its fresh, bold flavours and healthy ingredients.

Let’s see the changes I made:

Breading the chicken: Instead of using Italian breadcrumbs, I used Greek breadcrumbs. Also instead of using Parmesan, which is very expensive in Greece, I used Greek Kefalotyri.

Herbs: I used Mediterranean Hartwort, Chervil and green onion.

Topping: Instead of using Mozzarella on top, I added slices of Halloumi Cheese.

Why this recipe works so well

In this recipe, the chicken is cooked in the air fryer, which makes it even cheaper because you don’t use olive oil to fry it. You still get super tender and juicy chicken, but it’s quicker and easier.

Using Greek ingredients (such as the cheeses) makes the recipe much cheaper.

What ingredients do you need to make this “Chicken Parmesan”?

The ingredient list for this”Chicken Parmesan” may seem long, but it’s mostly spices that you may already have in your pantry. Here’s what you need:

For the Chicken breading:

• Boneless, skinless chicken breast
• Eggs
• Olive oil
• Garlic
• Salt Salt and pepper to season
• Chicken seasoning
• Ground ginger (optional)
• Parsley or other Greek herbs such as Mediterranean Hartwort, Chervil, green onion
• Breadcrumbs
• Greek Kefalotyri cheese or Parmesan
• Extra virgin olive oil for cooking in the air fryer

For The Marinara Sauce:

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Onion
• Garlic
• Tomato paste
• Tomato puree (Passata)
• Salt and pepper
• Basil and oregano
• Parsley

For the topping:

• Halloumi Cheese (instead of mozzarella)
• Graviera Cheese and Halloumi (instead of grated mozzarella)

How to make this Greek-style Chicken Parmesan

This recipe is really easy to make. Here’s how:

Marinate the chicken:

• Wash and dry the chicken fillets. Cut them into cutlets. Season with salt, pepper, chicken seasoning and ginger.
• Pound the garlic with the salt until it becomes a paste.
• Whisk the eggs with a fork and mix in the olive oil and the parsley or other herbs.
• Put the chicken fillets in the egg mixture, cover with a lid and marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

While the chicken is marinating, prepare the marinara sauce:

• In a small pot heat the olive oil and sauté the onion until translucent.  Add the garlic and sauté for a few minutes.
• Add salt and pepper as well as spices and the tomato passata.
• Stir in some finely chopped basil or parsley and cook until the sauce reduces, for about 20 – 30 minutes.

Note for the sauce:

The sauce was made during winter, so I preferred to use passata, as greenhouse tomatoes are not that good to make sauce.

The sauce can be prepared ahead. You can keep it in the fridge for 3 – 4 days or you can store it in the freezer for months.

Breading the chicken:

Put the breadcrumbs with kefalotyri in a plate and mix to combine. Coat the chicken on all sides.

Cook the chicken fillets in the air fryer:

• Put the breaded chicken fillets in the air fryer’s basket (it can take 3 large fillets) and set to 180^oC.
• Sprinkle a few drops of olive oil on top.  Cook for 15 minutes.

Note: Mine were five large fillets, so I baked them in two batches.

Assembling the dish:

• Transfer the fillets in a casserole dish or Pyrex.
• Cover with the tomato sauce.
• Add 2 slices of halloumi on each fillet.
• Add the grated graviera or halloumi (or both) on top.
• Bake in a preheated oven to 180oC for 20 minutes or until the cheese melts.

Useful Tips

Instead of buying chicken breasts or chicken cutlets, buy a whole chicken. A whole chicken costs almost the same price as the chicken breasts or chicken cutlets needed for this recipe.

What I do is I use a chef’s knife and cut the thighs first. Then remove the wings. Then cut the throat and the back. I remove the skin from the breast and fillet the chicken.

Note:

Nothing is wasted: I use the back, throat, bones removed from the breast and skin of the chicken to make broth. I use the broth to make soup, cook pasta or rice or use it in other recipes.

I store the thighs and wings separately in food bags and put them in the freezer. These can be used to bake, grill or stew.

Bread the chicken properly: Marinate the chicken as above. Then coat in the breadcrumbs and cheese, making sure to press the breadcrumbs firmly onto the chicken so they adhere.

Use any kind of tomato sauce: During summer use ripe tomatoes or during the winter use good quality whole tomatoes in a can or passata.

Cook the chicken evenly: Bake or pan-fry the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, making sure to turn it over halfway through cooking so both sides cook evenly. No need to turn over in the air fryer.

Use plenty of cheese: Add slices of halloumi cheese (or grated if you prefer) on top of each chicken breast and return to the oven to melt the cheese.

Serve with pasta: Serve the “Chicken Parmesan” over cooked pasta and grated Halloumi cheese.

What to serve with Greek-style Chicken Parmesan

Chicken parmesan is often served with pasta, such as spaghetti or linguine. The pasta helps to soak up the delicious tomato sauce and cheese, creating a satisfying meal.

Other side dishes that pair well with “Chicken Parmesan” include:

1. Halloumi Pull-aparts: A crispy and flavorful bread that complements the dish perfectly.
2. Greek Salad: A simple Greek salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, green pepper, olives and feta, dressed with extra virgin olive oil and vinegar, helps to balance out the richness of the dish.
3. Roasted or steamed vegetables: Broccoli, green beans, or carrots are great options that add some color and nutrition to the meal.
4. Rice or mashed potatoes: For a starchy side dish that provides a good base for soaking up the sauce and cheese.

By following these tips and serving the “Chicken Parmesan” with one or more of these sides, you can create a complete and satisfying meal that everyone will enjoy.

Thinking of Buying an Air Fryer, here are some of my favourites.

There are numerous great air fryers on the market these days. These are my two favorites, one basket style and one oven style.

COSORI Pro Air Fryer

NINJA DT201 Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro

Either one will work well with this recipe.

Kopiaste and Kali Orexi!

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