These Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Cutlets are crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, and so easy to make. Crispy golden 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 and ready in under 15 minutes.
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If you haven't made breaded 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. No greasy chicken here!
Chicken cutlets are thinly sliced (or pounded) chicken breast that are 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 flavors 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 powder 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 cheese - This not only helps the breading to get extra crispy, but it gives a richer flavor 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 Breaded Chicken Cutlets
- Step 1: Slice the chicken breasts in half lengthways and then pound to make them an even thickness. Use a meat mallet or a rolling pin.
- 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 cooking spray oil. Put the coated chicken into your air fryer (you may have to cook in batches) and air fry at 200°C for 6 minutes. Flip the cutlets over, spray with oil again and cook for a further 6 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
Salads: Serve these 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.
Potatoes: Any of our potato recipes will go with these, but particularly our crispy Air Fryer Potato Wedges.
Tips For Making The BEST Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets
- 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, this helps the breading to stick to them.
- Cook the cutlets in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding (they need to be a single layer), 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 to an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C.
- 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 leftover chicken cutlets in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
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.
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.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Cutlets
Ingredients
- 300 g (10.5 oz) of Chicken breast - approx. 150g/5.25oz per breast
- 40 g (0.75 cups) of Panko breadcrumbs
- 0.5 teaspoon of Garlic granules
- 0.5 teaspoon of Onion granules
- 2 pinch of Fine sea salt
- 2 pinch of Ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning
- 10 g (2 tablespoons) of Parmesan - grated
- 1 Egg
Instructions
- Slice 300 g of Chicken breast in half lengthways and then pound to make them an even thickness.
- On a plate, combine 40 g of Panko breadcrumbs, 0.5 tsp of Garlic granules, 0.5 tsp of Onion granules, 2 pinch of Fine sea salt, 2 pinch of Ground black pepper, 10 g of Parmesan and 1 tbsp of 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 on the Air Fry setting at 200°C for 6 minutes.
- Flip the cutlets over, spray with oil again and cook for a further 6 minutes.
Recipe Video
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
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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!