I recommend using a parchment paper liner in the air fryer, but you absolutely don’t have to. If you don’t use a liner, some of your breading will stick to the air fryer basket and come off of your chicken. This isn’t the end of the world, but I prefer to keep as much of that crispy, delicious breading on my chicken as possible. The liner also makes cleanup a lot easier. The truth is that some of the breading will stick to the parchment paper, too, but it will be a lot less. I buy these perforated parchment paper liners, which fit my Gowise air fryer basket perfectly. If you don’t have these perforated liners, you can make your own with a hole punch and plain parchment paper. If you don't like using disposable paper liners, reusable silicone air fryer liners are a great option.