These Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and so easy to make. Crispy chicken is the BEST thing to make in the air fryer, as it's much healthier than deep frying and it still gives delicious and juicy chicken. Perfect for going on salads or in sandwiches.
If you haven't make chicken cutlets in the air fryer before, then you are missing out. All the crispiness that you would get from frying, but so much lighter and much less oil.
Chicken cutlets are thinly sliced (or pounded) chicken breast that is coated in seasoned breadcrumbs and fried in oil, but we have cooked them in the air fryer to make them lighter.
There are some many different flavours that you can add to the breading of the air fried chicken cutlets too, but the combination of Parmesan and Italian herbs is my favourite. Ready in under 15 minutes, this is a family favourite and so versatile too.
Looking for more air fryer chicken recipes? Why not try our easy Air Fryer Chicken Tacos, simple Air Fryer Whole Chicken or our delicious Air Fryer Chicken Tenders?
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Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Chicken - We used chicken breasts, but you could use skinless and boneless chicken thighs which would give juicier air fryer chicken cutlets.
- Seasoning - We used an Italian seasoning, but added some extra onion and garlic powder, because more is better - right?!
- Breadcrumbs - We used panko breadcrumbs, as they get really crispy. But any breadcrumbs will work.
- Egg - This is used as a binder to make the breadcrumbs stick to the chicken cutlets.
- Parmesan - This not only helps the breading to get extra crispy, but it gives a richer flavour too.
Variations
Spicy Chicken Cutlets: Add ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper to the breadcrumb mixture for a spicy kick.
Gluten-Free Cutlets: Substitute the flour and breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives.
How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets - Step By Step
- Step 1: Slice the chicken breasts in half lengthways and then pound to make them an even thickness.
- Step 2: On a plate, combine the breadcrumbs, garlic, onion, salt, pepper, Parmesan and Italian seasoning. Whisk the egg in a bowl.
- Step 3: Dip the flattened cutlets into the whisked egg and then into the breadcrumb mixture, ensuring they are completely coated.
- Step 4: Spray your air fryer basket with a little oil. Put the coated chicken into your air fryer (you may have to cook in batches) and cook at 200°C for 6 minutes. Flip the cutlets over, spray with oil again and cook for a further 6 minutes.
Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets Serving Suggestions
Salads: Serve the chicken cutlets on top of a fresh garden salad for a light and healthy meal. They go really well with our Butterbean Salad, Chicken Caesar Salad or Mediterranean Rice Salad.
Grains: You can simply serve these air fried chicken cutlets one top of some grains like our Brown Rice and Quinoa Mix.
Sandwiches: Make a delicious air fryer chicken cutlet sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and a smear of our Southwest Chipotle Sauce on a toasted bun.
Pasta: Pair the cutlets with your favourite pasta and our Homemade Tomato Pasta Sauce for a comforting Italian-inspired dinner.
Extra Tips
- Ensure the chicken breasts are pounded to a uniform thickness for even cooking. We recommend about 1cm/0.5 inch thick.
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
- Cook the cutlets in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding, which can prevent them from becoming crispy.
- A light spray of olive oil helps achieve a golden, crispy exterior.
- Remember that every air fryer cooks differently, so keep checking the chicken to make sure it is not cooking too quickly. Using a meat thermometer is always the best way to make sure the chicken is cooked.
- Don't waste the leftover breading ingredients. Combine the leftover egg and breadcrumb mixtures, and fry them in a little oil for a tasty, crunchy topping for salads or casseroles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge.
Yes, you can freeze them before cooking. Lay the breaded cutlets on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Cook from frozen in the air fryer, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
Yes, boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be used. Adjust the cooking time as thighs may take a bit longer to cook through.
Reheat in the air fryer at 175°C/350°F for 3-4 minutes to retain crispiness. Avoid using the microwave as it can make the breading soggy.
We really can't rate the Ninja Foodi Max Dual highly enough. It has a huge 9.5 litre capacity, that allows you to cook two different things at once and it has 6 different cooking functions. It is 65% more efficient than an oven and uses 75% less fat than traditional cooking. And, it is also dishwasher safe.
More Breaded Chicken Recipes
If you’ve tried this air fried chicken cutlets recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
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Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets
Ingredients
- 300 g (10.5 oz) Chicken breast - approx. 150g/5.25oz per breast
- 40 g (0.75 cups) Panko breadcrumbs
- 0.5 teaspoon Garlic granules
- 0.5 teaspoon Onion granules
- 2 pinch Sea salt
- 2 pinch Ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 10 g (2 tablespoon) Parmesan - grated
- 1 Egg
Instructions
- Slice 300 g Chicken breast in half lengthways and then pound to make them an even thickness.
- On a plate, combine 40 g Panko breadcrumbs, 0.5 teaspoon Garlic granules, 0.5 teaspoon Onion granules, 2 pinch Sea salt, 2 pinch Ground black pepper, 10 g Parmesan and 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning.
- Whisk 1 Egg in a bowl.
- Dip the flattened cutlets into the whisked egg and then into the breadcrumb mixture, ensuring they are completely coated.
- Spray your air fryer basket with a little oil.
- Put the coated chicken into your air fryer (you may have to cook in batches) and cook at 200°C for 6 minutes.
- Flip the cutlets over, spray with oil again and cook for a further 6 minutes.
Recipe Tips
- Ensure the chicken breasts are pounded to a uniform thickness for even cooking. We recommend about 1cm/0.5 inch thick.
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
- Cook the cutlets in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding, which can prevent them from becoming crispy.
- A light spray of olive oil helps achieve a golden, crispy exterior.
- Remember that every air fryer cooks differently, so keep checking the chicken to make sure it is not cooking too quickly. Using a meat thermometer is always the best way to make sure the chicken is cooked.
- Don't waste the leftover breading ingredients. Combine the leftover egg and breadcrumb mixtures, and fry them in a little oil for a tasty, crunchy topping for salads or casseroles.
Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
caroline says
Wow, this recipe looks absolutely delicious! I can't wait to try it out this weekend. Thanks for sharing!I recently discovered FoodHub, and it's been a game-changer for me! I love how easy it is to find new recipes, meal ideas, and even local restaurants all in one place. It's like having a personal foodie guide at my fingertips!